Two Libraries in Low-income Neighborhoods!

Anyone want to place a bet on which one will be completed first? I handicapped Anacostia at 3-to-1.

Yesterday was the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Anacostia Library. Located on the corner of 18th and Good Hope Road SE (one block away from our SE Center!), the library will be 20,000 square feet and will have 32 computers with internet access. We wrote some time ago on this blog that Ward 7 and 8 have a 50% literacy rate. Not only will the library provide a much-needed source of books and computers (both, in my mind, equally important), it will also provide a community space that non-profits like Bread for the City can potentially use for job trainings, panel discussions, and a host of other important things that require a large, safe space. This is what it'll look like:

And here's what it looks like now:

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You can get more information about the Anacostia Library at And Now, Anacostia or on the DCPL website. The Library is scheduled to open in Spring 2010. Considering how long it has taken to get this far, we're not holding our breath, but I really hope it opens as scheduled.

While we're on the subject of libraries, Shaw is getting a new one as well (a block away from our other Center!). The Watha T. Daniels library had a groundbreaking on December 9th, and has been brewing potential ever since (a nice way of saying there's nothing there). Watha is also slotted for 2010, will also be 20,000 square feet, and will have 30 open access computers. Once again, there's information at DCist, and on the DCPL website, and here's what the new building will look like:

Here's 7th and R NW sporting it's current look:

And from the Metro:

Looks like it's ready! Anyone know when they're going to start construction on either of these two projects?