THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN’S REPORT

LIBRARY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

MARCH 25, 2009

1. MOTHER GOOSE MARCHES ON IN RHYTHM AND RHYME

Mother Goose has been on center stage throughout the city in the last few months,
thanks to the Library’s youth services outreach. Traditional rhymes are important in
the early literacy development of young children. In one event, library staff led a
Mother Goose Circus at a charter school for 90 children from Head Start to pre-K to
kindergarten. The children walked through the traditional “three rings” to learn
rhymes, act them out, and gain from other literacy-enhancing activities. In another
event, library staff visited several day care centers at pick-up time to show parents
how they can engage in learning activities in a fun way with their young children.

2. TEENS OF DISTINCTION BUILD YOUNG ADULT SERVICES

The Library’s Teens of Distinction are improving YA programs throughout the
Library. Some highlights:
■ Teens will soon have a comprehensive guide to employment in DC that offers
practical help on how to find jobs, make the best impression through the application
process, and, if successful, keep the job. The guide is being researched and written by
the teen who works in the Technology Division at MLK Memorial Library.
■ Teens who go to Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Interim and Cleveland Park
Neighborhood Libraries find reviews of books written by their peers. The six teens
who work at those locations regularly read and write reviews of YA books, which are
then inserted as bookmarks in the collection. The bookmarked books don’t stay on the
shelves for long!
■ The YA Division at MLK Memorial Library buzzes with activity, thanks to a
regularly scheduled (and teen led) book discussion group, a weekly modern dance
class, and programs, such as a beading workshop, that are arranged by teen workers
in response to expressed interest.
■ Piano lessons are offered now on Saturdays at Shepherd Park Neighborhood
Library, thanks to the teen assigned there who is the instructor.

3. DCPL GIVEN HIGH MARKS BY THE OFFICE OF UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS

The Office of Unified Communications is the city agency that oversees all other city
agencies with regard to business customer service performance. Key determinants of
their evaluation are staff responsiveness to letters, phone calls, e-mails, and in face-
to-face contact with the public. We were just notified that the Library ranked third
highest citywide for the first quarter of 2009!

4. PICTURING AMERICA UNLOCKS HISTORY THROUGH THE CREATIVE ARTS

The collection of large art prints awarded to the Library through an NEH grant is at
the core of ongoing adult, teen, and children’s programs throughout the Library.
Nancy Davenport and Wendy Lukehart are spearheading this effort. At Tenley
Interim Library, a photograph of Abraham Lincoln prompted chronicler Bill Mayhew

Document #8
Board of Library Trustees Meeting
March 25, 2009
 to tell stories from Appalachia in honor of the 16th President’s early childhood years
in Kentucky. The 40 children who attended sang songs about Lincoln and learned
how to make rag dolls. The YA Division at MLK Memorial Library used a famous
Dorothea Lange photograph and works by Annie Leibovitz and Diane Arbus, among
others, for a discussion about Women’s History. Attendees then worked on a collage
to create their own “visual stories” about women.

5. TAKOMA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY RE-OPENS EARLY

The newly renovated Takoma Park Neighborhood Library re-opened this month. This
$1.9 million project finished a month ahead of schedule. Mayor Fenty took a preview
tour and attended the official opening.

6. DCPL REPRESENTED AT THE 2009 WASHINGTON BUSINESS SUMMIT

DCPL’s Chief Business Coordinator, Eric Coard, and Chief Procurement Officer,
Wayne Minor, served as panelists earlier this month in a workshop on business
opportunities in the District, which was the opening session of the 2009 Washington
Business Summit held at the Convention Center.

7. COMPUTER LAB AT MLK MEMORIAL LIBRARY HOSTS THE SBA

Thanks to the initiative of Board member Brenda Richardson, the Computer
Training Center at MLK Memorial Library was the recent venue for certification
training sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Washington
Metropolitan Area District Office and the Ward 8 Business Council.

8. SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT DCPL’S MULTILINGUAL COLLECTION

Pat McKinlay, of the Arts and Literature Division at MLK Memorial Library,
represented DCPL at the Goethe-Institut’s poetry project, Time Shadows: City Life.
The project prompted displays and programs around Chinatown that reflect the
theme. Ms. McKinlay spoke about the Division’s growing collection of books in
Chinese, German, Arabic, French, and Spanish, among other languages. MLK
Memorial Library’s 9th Street window currently showcases poetry and displays in
Chinese, German, and English.

9. TOM SUSMAN HONORED WITH THE ALA’S JAMES MADISON AWARD

The American Library Association announced earlier this month that Tom Susman is
the winner of the annual James Madison Award. Tom, who is director of the
American Bar Association’s Government Affairs Office, recently stepped down as
the Chair of the Library Foundation Board, and is still a member of the Board. The
James Madison Award “was established by the ALA in 1986 to honor individuals or
groups who have championed, protected and promoted public access to government
information and the public’s ‘right to know’ on the national level.” ALA President
Jim Rettig said, “Tom has stood shoulder to shoulder with our nation’s librarians in
our efforts to make government information available to the public and our long
historic fights to protect library patrons’ privacy.” Congratulations, Tom!

Document #8
Board of Library Trustees Meeting
March 25, 2009
 10. ’TIS THE SEASON FOR TAXES
The AARP hosts free tax assistance programs for several weeks prior to the April 15th
filing deadline for all residents at many library locations—always on a set day of the
week at a set time. Many who come for help express their appreciation for this
service.

11. CLEVELAND PARK LIBRARY HOSTS BOOK DISCUSSION SERIES

Let’s Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness, a monthly discussion series of five books at
Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library, began in January with 18 participants, and
will continue through May. The Friends of Cleveland Park Library generously
supported the program, which is sponsored by the American Library Association and
The Fetzer Institute, a nonprofit organization. The books are written by a diverse
group of authors, from Toni Morrison to James Joyce. The discussions are led by Dr.
Phil Burnham who teaches at George Mason University.

12. NEW FACES IN HUMAN RESOURCES

■ Barbara L. Kirven is the new head of Human Resources Department. Ms. Kirven
will refine procedures used for staff recruitment, placement, and retention, to foster
an employee-oriented, high-performance culture at the Library. Ms. Kirven most
recently was executive director of human resources at Anne Arundel Community
College. She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Howard University.
■ Angela R. Simpson is DCPL’s new workforce training and development manager.
Ms. Simpson will develop training policies and procedures in accordance with the
Library’s strategic plans, goals, and objectives, and monitor the overall training plan
for the Library. Ms. Simpson most recently served as a human resource development
representative at Safeway, Inc., where she managed the company’s $10 million
training program. Ms. Simpson attended St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Document #8
Board of Library Trustees Meeting
March 25, 2009