Cleveland Park Library
May 13 Community Meeting
Summary of Breakout Sessions
1. What should be the character of the new Cleveland Park Library?
Exterior Character:
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Fit with historic character of the 1920s residential neighborhood of Cleveland
Park—looking at the building materials & style (cornices, etc.) and paint colors
Like bungalow style found in the neighborhood (period from 1920 to 1950)
21st Century building; do not mimic 1910s architecture
View to the park and natural landscape; reflect the quietness of the park
(benches in back instead of on noisy Connecticut Ave.)
A signature building – the civic building in Cleveland Park
Welcoming, inviting, warm, non-metallic look
Balance function with design
Lots of natural light but not with windows that go to the ground & floor like at
Tenley Library
Solar panels
Most important civic building in Cleveland Park (perhaps only) so it should be
significant
Good landscaping
Avoid architectural novelty features such as the building envelope / façade at the
Tenley-Friendship library.
Most community members requested distinct elevations that relate to the
surrounding neighborhoods for the new library and avoid having a backside of
the building.
A community member noted that “Quaker thinking” with respect to community
service should be considered while developing programming and architectural
character of the new library.
A community member stated that the building exterior should reflect the
“intellectual horsepower” of the Cleveland Park neighborhood.
Incorporate classical elements such as columns/pillars and porches that relate to
the historic Cleveland Park neighborhood.
Massing / Scale: Most community members expressed an interest in retaining
the residential feel and scale of the existing library.
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Group agreed they would like to have a roof terrace as part of the new library.
Interior Character:
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Quiet spaces; circulation pattern. Noisy at the front and quieter in the back
Like the big wood tables (several people said this)
Like Check Out Desk and Children’s near entrance
Human scale; intimacy
Kids love the old wood tables (no plastic!) and nooks & crannies
Place for strollers
Good sight lines
Generous vestibule – area for orientation and transition from Connecticut Ave
Like the cozy, comfortable chairs of the current magazine area but in a quieter
place in new Cleveland Park Library
Wood, leather, natural colors (not brown but not shocking green or other bright
neon colors) – plastic chairs OK for meeting room (mentioned several times)
Plants in the building
Historic CP photos
Classy & classic
Like stack lighting at Tenley Library
Stacks with slanted bottom shelves so easier to see what is on the bottom shelf
Like look of Montgomery County Noyes Children’s Library (historic, over 100
years old, was a subscription library)
Gas fireplace
Comfortable
Hierarchy of spaces – welcoming, obvious spaces, primary spaces
Circulation spaces designed to mitigate noise – good acoustics
Good acoustics
Restrooms that feel safe (not apart from the library where user can feel isolated
and vulnerable)
A few community members noted that they prefer meeting rooms to be similar in
character to the ones at Sidwell Friends School.
Some community members would like to have a cozy interior with wood paneling,
stacks and furniture in the new library.
A community member noted that the location of the circulation desk is critical and
it needs to address security and monitoring of stacks.
A few community members would like to retain some of the historic wood
furniture in the existing library.
Several community members would like to have a cozy periodical area with
ample soft seating.
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Materials: Many in the group would like to retain the light/buffed yellow brick
facade to preserve the character of the existing library. A few community
members would like to incorporate subtle Art Deco elements such as Neon signs
or metal panels as part of the building exterior.
Several participants noted that wood shelving along walls is preferred.
Have low maintenance/durable finishes and furniture in the new library.
Light-filled
Comfortable – physically and aesthetically. Not industrial looking.
Inviting
Large space for children
Exterior should not mimic existing building. Make it more inviting (like the Shaw
Library)
Open space in the center, books surrounding
Operable windows
Warm interior: wood instead of steel finishes
Discrete spaces, perhaps delineated by low bookshelves
Public exterior spaces
Maintain landscaping well
Very accessible meeting room
More, and more types of, meeting rooms
Consider looking to red brick buildings for inspiration
Look to fire house for inspiration
Look to limestone facades for inspiration
Indoor plants
Art
Lots of interior color
Prefer the elevator doors have some transparency
No [ugly] fences on the site
No [harsh] fluorescent lights
Retain the “library” feel
Ensure great acoustics throughout
2. What should be offered in the new library?
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Good response to getting books (satisfied with it at current library too)
Reference books
Places to read – rooftop terrace (outdoor)
More generous area for computers
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Tables with power for customers to plug into
Balance between open tables and carrels for more privacy
Larger auditorium for public meetings
Large area for children’s programs (not small program room); divisible if possible
so can be small or large & so children will not be turned away because of space
Area for films
Coffee shop like Barnes & Noble
Don’t allocate space for coffee shop; can buy coffee in the area
Pleased with services offered now
Children’s room
Children’s restrooms by children’s area
Teen area – not part of the children’s room
Laptops, notebooks, etc. available for customers to take to tables & chairs to use
while at the library
Have a children’s story room, library area and star program room in the new
library.
Most participants would like to have a general meeting space with better
acoustics in the new library.
A few community members want a multipurpose meeting space with partitions to
host concurrent events.
A few community members felt that they need more shelving than the existing
shelving in the library.
A few community members requested augmented collections with diverse
offerings such as jazz, drama and non-fiction.
Several participants would like to have private study rooms that can
accommodate 2-4 people for independent study and collaboration.
Several people stressed that the new library should be deferential to the
single family residential fabric which lies directly behind and to the west of the
site. General consensus was that Cleveland Park has smaller scale
character, it is a residential community.
One individual questioned validity of Art Deco and challenged the idea that
the Kennedy Warren is part of Cleveland Park proper.
Majority of group agreed that the new space should be intimate & welcoming
and not be cavernous or echoic.
Natural light would be a very positive feature.
Many liked the idea of a view shed to the park and had a positive reaction to a
connection to green space both out and inside the project.
One person mentioned that DDOT had studied removing the service lane on
the east side of Connecticut Ave. This would have created an especially wide
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sidewalk with room for outdoor café seating. He requested that we give
thought to the public realm and sidewalk with a focus on creating the anchor
point or seed for an urban sidewalk or plaza along the west side of Conn.
Ave. with the Library project.
People loved the wood furniture and asked if keeping current furniture was
possible. Words like wood, soft, and rounded were used to describe spaces.
“Penetrate into the depths” The idea of discovery was shared by many. The
idea of a Library as a quiet place of discovery was well liked. Someone used
the work “cloister.” The group also agreed that the Library was a place to
discover and meet other people and that the whole library didn’t need to be
quiet, that it was important to have areas of activity and areas of quiet.
Someone mentioned the idea of an inner sanctum as a space of utmost quiet
and reflection.
Most people liked the idea of low lighting levels in the reading room with
individual task lights. Someone mentioned lights with green banker’s shades.
The area should be easy to see and find and be spacious.
No wheels on chairs!
One individual reminded us that the Library is in an Historic District.
Many in group would like to see stairwells, atria or two-story spaces isolated
or designed in a way to isolate spaces and sound. Everyone appreciated
opportunities for light and air and some people mentioned opportunities for
sustainable design strategies that could be used (heat chimney). Primary
concern is sound.
One person highlighted the history of materiality in the neighborhood. Many
buildings use granite from a local quarry. Asked if we could use same
material.
Someone mentioned the Bethesda Library as a place they liked. “Old
Fashioned”
Outdoor space was universally well received. The idea of benches, tables,
and a plaza were all mentioned. Everyone liked the idea of a roof deck and
someone suggested a poetry garden.
Some people thought 400sf was too small a space for story time space. It
was generally agreed that a greater number of larger spaces with flexibility
would be preferential to having a dedicated story time space.
Some people felt having -D printing was unnecessary as it existed at MLK
Library. Others asked for it to be accommodated in the future if omitted from
current program.
Most would like to see an area for stroller parking at story time hours.
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Quiet bathrooms, adjacency to other programs is important. Currently you can
hear flush in meeting room. Separate bathrooms for kids would be nice.
Usable, modern bike racks.
Bottom shelving tilted up for ease of use and access.
20-inch deep shelves for children’s collection instead of carts.
More e-book titles.
More task lighting, warm tones, standing lamps.
Continue to provide service for homeless patrons, perhaps a protected
outdoor space for belongings (shopping carts).
Hand sanitizer or wipes at computers.
Policy guidelines for Library use clearly posted and enforced.
Segregated (but not isolated) children’s area
Stroller parking
Family bathroom in children’s area
Books are still important – easily browsable stacks
Quiet reading rooms
Better sight lines
Keep public desktop computers and add spaces for people bringing their own
laptops
If a teen space, make it inviting to teens. Include a dedicated meeting space
Dynamic, specialized spaces for different groups
Larger children’s space
Possibly kitchenette
Café (rooftop?) – but be sensitive to surrounding neighborhood retailers
Friends space (1,000SF+)
Keep DVDs
More magazine space and broader selection
Charging stations for devices
Genius bar for digital help
Community bulletin boards
Ample shelf space for face-out display
Nice garden, outdoor seating
Keep long tables
Better book return interface
Kid-friendly furniture
Small reading areas
Non-toxic finishes and furniture materials
Book publishing capabilities
3-D printing capabilities
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No computers in kids’ area
Better info desk
Clocks in meeting room that face the presenter
3. How will the new library be used?
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Vending machine so can drink coffee & read
Users: children, people without computers, homeless, WiFi, retirees, students,
local civic groups
Meeting space for local interest clubs (garden clubs, yoga practice, book clubs,
Apple users group, etc.).
Provide showers and services for homeless, followed by comment/question: is
this the role of the library
Meeting spaces of different sizes for different groups
Meeting rooms that can be used after hours (need separate exit and access to
restrooms)—mentioned several times
A few community members noted that computers are over used in the existing
library and they need more browsing stations.
A few community members noted that open shelving are required for patrons to
display or share their personal collections.
Most community members noted that the IT/AV system in the conference room
needs to be updated to host more guest lectures, movie nights and
presentations.
A community member noted that a self-check kiosk with a browsing station that
allows users to check availability of books is required near the circulation desk.
Most community members noted that more signage/way finding is required in the
new library.
A few community members noted that teens/youth don’t use the meeting spaces
due to limited programs/offerings. More youth programs need to be offered
Most community members stated that seniors use computers and the reading
area extensively.
A few community members noted that the existing library had a reference
collection that was closed many years ago. The community members stated that
the reference collection should be included in the new library.
Most people would like to see the newest items up front.
Everyone wants to see and have easier access to librarians. Would like to
see librarians from the entry.
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Most people in the group agreed that the Library should accommodate
different modes of discovery.
Would like to see more public statistics on collections. Having a digital
interface to see what is on display and “amazon-like” digital browsing system
to check out books online.
Group really liked the idea of having classes for technology both future and
current taught by members of the community. Someone suggested teens
could teach classes.
Group learning and collaboration zones were a popular idea. Technology
should be present to allow interaction, maybe laptop screen sharing setup,
smart boards, ability to go online, large central screen.
Enclosed small spaces for classes.
Everyone wants more study rooms.
Someone asked about offering laptops and reducing the number of fixed
computer stations. In particular, they dislike the feel of desktop computers in
the library and would like to see fewer of them. Feel like they interfere with the
character of the library. Felt a more mobile style for technology offers more
flexibility.
One person asked for automatic doors (like the library currently has) rather
than handicap accessible buttons at main doors
Community bulletin space was important to the group.
Would like to see books from the entry.
Some members of the group considered accommodation for parking for
elderly patrons and mothers with young children to be very important.
Several people agreed that Teen space was missing today and that
staggered access at other libraries tended to make teens feel unwelcome.
They would like to see a more welcoming and perhaps dedicated space for
teens. Others in groups were concerned about how accommodating teens
would impact current use patterns at the Library.
Most of the group responded positively to the idea of dedicated Children’s
space. Ideas included a craft/activity space, story time space, dedicated
collections, and the engagement with librarians was stressed as an important
component of Children’s program.
The group likes the Friends’ Book Sales, would like to see dedicated space
for the Friends.
Someone asked for active program out in open spaces. Mentioned these
programs as opportunity for interaction and found conversations. Activity
should exist in common spaces as those types of interactions help to build
community.
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Flexibility of use in spaces is very important. Group stressed that whatever
amount of space that is made available they need more. Having a large
meeting room that separates into two meeting rooms was received very
positively. Everyone agreed that meeting space(s) are a central and vital
function for the community.
Someone asked how much space could be developed below grade and
encouraged us to consider the growth of the community in the future as it lies
at a metro stop could be considerable. Make as much of the Library usable by
the public as is possible.
The group had a short discussion of the split personality of the program being
either Community Center or Library and the merits of both. It was stressed
that the library is the sole meeting space in the community. Meeting spaces
need to be flexible. Part of the group strongly suggested that Cleveland Park
is a different Library which doesn’t need to replicate all the same
programmatic components present elsewhere in the system and asked if
DCPL had considered specialized libraries. Group jumped on this idea and
suggested science libraries, tech libraries, performing arts libraries.
It was generally agreed that access to meeting spaces outside of operating
hours of the Library would be great.
Meeting rooms need to be seen so others can be made aware of groups and
clubs that are active in the community.
The group was interested in having the Library find ways to connect to other
primary organizations within the community (Zoo, etc.).
More interaction with shelves. Maybe standing study areas located in our
around shelving to accommodate note taking or laptops.
The building design should be sustainable. Opportunity to teach should be
used when possible. Example of the Pompidou Center, the idea of building
that shows its systems and how it works. Library should teach about
sustainable building strategies.
As a meeting space
By nannies
For tutoring
For computer usage
For research / writing
For crafts, games for children
For book club meetings
For exhibits
For checking out books
As a place to read
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For children’s story times
For film screenings
As a place for individuals and groups to do work
For concerts
For people to enjoy outdoor public spaces
As a place to buy books
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