Washington, DC – Today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, DC Public Library (DCPL) Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper and District Department of the Environment (DDOE) Director Christophe Tulou joined Ward 2 residents for a ribbon cutting of the new Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library at 1630 7th Street, NW.

"The District has worked hard over the past four years to improve public libraries and facilities,” says Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. "The new buildings opening this year like this one in Shaw and the ones opening in the coming year are world-class. This is a great day for the Shaw community and the city."

"The community made the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw interim library a vital part of their neighborhood over the past three years,” said Ginnie Cooper. “I am confident that the new, larger, Shaw library will be a bustling community hub that appeals to everyone.”

The new three-story library is approximately 22,000 square-feet and features separate reading areas for adults, teens and children, a children’s programming room, space for 80,000 books, DVDs, CDs and other library materials, 32 public access computers with free Wi-Fi Internet access, comfortable seating for 200 customers, a large programming room for up to 100 people, two conference rooms and a vending area.

The $15 million library is expected to receive a LEED Silver certification for using environmentally responsible features including: energy efficient lighting, low-flow faucets and toilets, recycled materials in flooring, countertops and wood finishes, and natural light that helps conserve energy and decreases utility costs. In addition, the library boasts a vegetative “green” roof that absorbs and slowly releases water into the city's sewage system, decreasing the amount of raw sewage that can flow into rivers and decreasing the likelihood of flooding during heavy rainfall. Funded by the EPA with an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant of $330,000, the roof also controls utility costs by reducing the amount of ultraviolet radiation in the building. 

The Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library was designed by the architecture firm of Davis, Brody, Bond Aedas. Forrester Construction managed the library construction. DCPL expects to open two additional libraries this year: Georgetown Neighborhood Library in October and Tenleytown Neighborhood Library in December.

Media Contacts

• George Williams, (202) 596-0345

• Kate Stanton, (202) 727-2823