Cleveland Park Library’s Van Ness location is now welcoming readers

Cleveland Park ANC Commissioner Margaret Siegel, DC Council member Mary Cheh, Van Ness Main Street Board Chair Mary Beth Ray, North Cleveland Park ANC Commissioner David Dickinson, and Cleveland Park Library Director Barbara Gauntt cut the ribbon.

Last Monday morning, about 30 people gathered outside UDC’s law school building at 4340 Connecticut Avenue to welcome a newcomer: The interim Cleveland Park Library.

Van Ness Main Street Executive Director Theresa Cameron organized the October 31st ribbon-cutting ceremony, which started just before the library opened for the day. The librarian, Barbara Gauntt, was there to welcome neighbors to this location. She and the DC Public Library staff downtown were very pleased with the turnout and that Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh was there to welcome them. Gauntt also says the interim library welcomed a steady stream of visitors throughout the day.

Cheh was excited to see this community asset come to Van Ness, even if temporary. She told us later in an email: “We’re grateful to UDC for providing space for the temporary Cleveland Park Library. It’s beautifully done, light-filled, and wonderfully convenient. And any items that can’t be obtained at the site can be ordered and received in 24 hours. It’s an excellent home as we await a brand new and expanded library in Cleveland Park.”

Van Ness Main Street President Mary Beth Ray sees this opening as a boon to the vibrancy of Van Ness.

“Van Ness Main Street is delighted to welcome the Cleveland Park library to Van Ness! We have so many devoted readers of all ages who will relish having a library within walking distance,” Ray told us in an email. “Given the absence of community services in Van Ness (no community center, no library, no pool, no post office, not even bathrooms at Forest Hills Playground), we hope to encourage an ongoing library presence here, even if it’s just a satellite library after the Cleveland Park library construction is done.”

The interim library will remain in operation until the new Cleveland Park Library is complete around spring 2018. Here is the schedule of its hours:

Sunday – 1 to 5 p.m.
Monday – 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tuesday – 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Wednesday – 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday – 1 to 9 p.m.
Friday – 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sat – 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

And for updates on schedules and programs, visit dclibrary.org/clevelandpark.