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Five years after releasing an ambitious blueprint to modernize its campus, the DC Public Library has revised its Next Libris Facilities Master Plan to reflect profound shifts in how residents use libraries. While maintaining its commitment to completing existing projects, the update charts a course for library services through 2030 that combines traditional expansion with innovative service models.
The Library is moving forward with six major construction projects that are currently funded: Congress Heights, Chevy Chase, Edgewood/Eckington, Deanwood, Rosedale and Shepherd Park. Refresh projects are already underway at the Mount Pleasant Library and planned for the Petworth and Shaw/Watha T. Daniel libraries. These projects represent the initial version of Next Libris and the updated plan incorporates new information.
Demographic data has refined the system's planning assumptions. While the District's population fell 5 percent during the pandemic to 670,050 in 2021, new projections show growth to 728,606 residents by 2030 and 844,411 by 2050—more modest than the previous forecast of 1 million residents. The District's elderly population is growing faster than the youth, which informs how future Library spaces could be designed.
Next Libris also responds to dramatic changes in Library usage patterns. Digital book borrowing has more than doubled since 2018, with particularly strong adoption in Wards 1, 2, 3 and 6. Physical visits dropped from 3.8 million in fiscal year 2019 to 3.3 million in 2024, with 11 of 26 locations seeing visits drop by more than 30 percent. The modernized Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, which reopened in September 2020, drew 737,000 visitors in fiscal year 2024, becoming a regional destination but affecting usage at nearby locations, a decline that has prompted a rethinking of traditional service models.
In response to these usage and demographic shifts, the Library is considering approaches where creative, cost-efficient service delivery models could meet community needs. This idea emerged from analysis showing that physical proximity to Library locations doesn't always correlate with usage, suggesting room for innovative solutions beyond traditional facilities.
The update also transforms the Library's approach to renovations. Instead of limited refresh projects focused on furniture and minor updates, the system will pursue holistic renovations that upgrade buildings, make them more energy-efficient, and redesign spaces. This could include reconfiguring layouts for accessibility, improving lighting, adding more seating and updating technology. These changes align with the District's Building Energy Performance Standards and climate goals.
Even the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library will need updates by 2030. Already in its fifth year of operation after a $211 million renovation, its 2014 design predates significant shifts in how residents use libraries. The plan identifies opportunities to maximize underused spaces, such as the building's large loggia, which is just outside the entrance.
Construction costs have escalated dramatically since the original 2020 plan, requiring budget planning to account for 8 percent to 10 percent annual increases rather than the previous 3 percent to 6 percent.
Even as Next Libris evolves, certain principles remain constant. The plan aligns with the District's comprehensive plan and housing production goals. All recommendations require support from the Library Board of Trustees and elected officials, with future capital projects proceeding only when operating funding is guaranteed.
By combining new facilities, holistic renovations and flexible service models, the library is adapting to meet the evolving needs of District residents while ensuring equitable access to resources.
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