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DC Public Library’s core DC history collection moving to Van Ness

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The Washingtoniana Division at the DC Central Library in 1939. (image from DC Public Library’s online archives)

by Marlene Berlin

Some of DC’s history is moving to Van Ness.

Part of the DC Public Library’s Washingtoniana Collection will be stored at 4340 Connecticut Avenue, in the space that housed the Interim Cleveland Park Library until last May. DCPL holds a lease on the space through July 2019.

We say part, but the list (below) of collections available on-site is the core of DCPL’s DC history holdings, including photos, old city newspapers and genealogy materials such as marriage records.

The Washingtoniana Collection had to find a new home due to the MLK Library renovation. This segment ended up first at the Carnegie Library, with the Historical Society of Washington. Then, together, they packed up and moved to the Newseum for the Apple Store renovations at the Carnegie. Work on the Apple Store has proceeded more quickly than expected. HSW is already preparing to move back into the Carnegie Library, and Washingtoniana’s core collection needs a new, temporary home once again.

Washingtoniana has already started moving into 4340 Connecticut and will open to the public later in the summer. DCPL Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan told ANC 3F at its June 19th meeting that the library would be happy to work with the community to make this collection accessible and active, with walk-in hours and special programming such as house history workshops and neighborhood history tours.

Preliminary hours of operation (all but a few weekday hours will be by appointment only):

Monday: Closed to public (in-house digitization and photo order scanning)
Tuesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
1st and 3rd Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Collections accessible at this location:

  • Evening Star Photo Collection – All subject folders are accessible onsite. Biographical folders must be requested in advance. Contact staff for more details.
  • DC Historical Image Collection – Entire collection is accessible.
  • Vertical Files – All subject files are accessible.
  • Book Collection – Washingtoniana books focusing on neighborhoods.
  • Historic Building Permits (microfilm) – Permits from 1877 to 1949 are accessible.
  • Directories (microfilm) – City directories (1822-1973), Haines Criss-Cross directories (1974-present) and telephone directories (1907-present) are accessible.
  • Historic DC Newspapers (microfilm) – Historic local newspapers not available digitally are accessible on microfilm.
  • Tax assessment directories (microfilm) – Tax assessments (1874-2010) and Lusk’s sales directories are accessible.
  • Genealogy Materials – Print resources and DC marriage records (microfiche) are accessible.
  • DC Community Archives – All processed collections with finding aids available by
    request.
  • Washingtoniana Periodicals – All periodicals are available by request.
  • Yearbook Collection – All yearbooks are available by request.
  • Many more materials available offsite upon request – explore
    dclibrary.org/research/collections to get started; you can also contact a staff member via phone or email for a research consultation and to schedule an appointment

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    Sample programming:

  • House History workshops
  • Know Your Neighborhood lectures, seminars and tours
  • Collaborative DC music programming with UDC (in development)
  • School groups hands-on research instruction
  • Tech truck events – community scanning and maker-space programming with collections

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    Please comment with your suggestions for walk-in hours and programming.

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    Comments

    2. We should try to take advantage of opportunities to access wonderful Washingtonia resources right here in our neighborhood.

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