I love old worldly charm libraries. This is one of them. My friend Shazia and I got a bit lost…read moretrying to find Dumbarton Oaks and decided to step inside here. In us being lost, we found this gem. If I lived in DC this would be my go to library. The librarians are nice and helpful. I have seen other libraries where they do not even want to help you try to find a book. Here they were giving us directions plus providing us information of this library. I really like the way the library is set up. It would be a good place to read, research and study etc. They have cute stairs to lead to the second floor however we didn't get to go there. They only have parallel street parking however, being two hours people were moving their cars etc and we were able to find parking for it being a Saturday. If you are looking for a good place to read or just do your work in peace, this is the place.~

Georgetown Public Library is one of the best libraries in Washington, D.C. First of all, it's on…read moreBook Hill overlooking Georgetown (and Rosslyn's skyline across the Potomac River) in a beautiful, regal brick building. It's several levels full of books, magazines, and reading rooms. The basement has a large kids section with programming for kids- story time, art time, etc. The staff are friendly and the library is clean!

Library of Congress -- A Living Monument to History…read more Few buildings in Washington, D.C. carry the weight of history as effortlessly as the Library of Congress. It is not merely a repository of books, but a living archive of the American story--one that reveals itself the moment you step inside. For visitors to the nation's capital, this is not optional--it is essential. The current exhibition, The Two Georges: Parallel Lives in an Age of Revolution, is particularly compelling. Through the intertwined narratives of George Washington and King George III, the exhibit captures a world on the brink--an undeclared nation edging toward war, a fragile cause facing overwhelming odds, and ultimately, the improbable path to independence. What makes this exhibition stand out is not just its historical scope, but its perspective. It does not present history as a foregone conclusion, but as a series of uncertain, high-stakes decisions made in real time. That tension--between inevitability and risk--is where the story comes alive. Accessible, visually engaging, and intellectually rewarding, this is an experience that resonates across generations. If you find yourself in Washington, make the time. Some places inform you. This one reminds you why the story matters.

I have only visited the Library of Congress at a personal level a couple of times. Other visits…read morewere due to events/meetings there. If you are visiting D.C., I cannot stress the importance of a stop here. To this day, it remains the largest library in the world. Pretty impressive. It's also the oldest federal cultural institution. Periodicals, books, etc. available in over 470 languages. More than 178 million pieces of articles from manuscripts, recordings, photos, printed materials, to books and so on. Library acts as a source of research for Members of Congress and handles copyright laws. This building and all its components are an important part of our nation's history.

Did you know there is a wooden slide in the MLK Jr. Library? You can find it on the second floor,…read moreand it's definitely worth a look! I was visiting for a conference and attended an opening presentation here. The facility is consistently clean, and the staff is always friendly and helpful. It is located right in the heart of DC, making it a great place to visit whether you are there for an event or just exploring the city.

If you know me, you'll know that I will need to visit at least one library in whatever city I am…read morein. And when I heard about the MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. MEMORIAL LIBRARY, of course we had to visit. I wanted to visit so see if they had any special memorial for MLK Jr. If they had I missed it because I have ADHD and got distracted by the rooftop garden, the awesome children's library, the beautiful architecture... and the exhibit they had on local arts on the 4th Floor. Bonus points for sliding down from one floor to the next....

Open every sing day, Mount Pleasant Library is a true neighborhood library. Housed in a historic…read morebuilding with a new renovation and extension, its rooms are filled with books, magazines and art. The first floor has plenty of room to spread out and read in quiet. The kids section is on the second floor and comes with two reading nooks decorated with vintage murals.

A fantastic library, especially with recent renovations and the full re-opening after the early…read morepandemic days. I deeply appreciate that I could check out books even during the worst of the pandemic and these books even arrived in a timely manner. The library has a good book selection, especially for a branch library, and the staff are helpful. The library website for ILL is extremely user-friendly and easy to place holds.

As you like it production: If you're visiting DC and want…read moreto catch a Shakespeare production in an intimate, character-filled theater, this is your place. Their production of As You Like It deserves real praise -- it was funny, engaging, creative, and performed by a very talented cast. What made it especially memorable was the modern-day, DC-inspired interpretation, which gave the play fresh energy while still honoring the spirit of Shakespeare. The cast was lively and audience-engaging in a way that made the whole experience feel immersive rather than foreign. And the theater itself? A gem. In true Shakespeare fashion, it's small and intimate, which makes every seat feel close to the action. The architecture is part of the charm -- rich wood columns, beautiful preserved details, and a space that feels historic in all the right ways. Arrive early to visit the museum. They offer a snack bar with bites and beverages, though fair warning: it's on the pricey side. Overall, a really enjoyable evening and a wonderful pick for theater lovers who appreciate strong performances and a venue with soul.

As someone who loves the Shakespeare Library as a whole (and frequently goes there for shows) this…read moreis exclusively a rating for their afternoon tea. The tea has been lauded as amazing on instagram so when reservations went live in December, I booked our April tea before it sold out in 15 minutes. Directions to finding the room for it, are not clear. Despite what you see in social media, this is in a small room with just quite a few tables - not in their famous cafe. You are given bagged tea (not the brand listed on their menu), and your tray is brought over almost immediately upon seating. It was not explained what any of it was like traditionally is done. The food is TINY, and you barely get a single bite out of each. We didn't receive nor were we offered refills of cream or jam, despite there being four of us. We had the 3PM slot and pretty much everyone was rushed out after an hour. We spent some time just talking at our table and were the last ones there despite it not being closed. We felt very unwelcome by the time we left at 4:30. You pay $85 per person and there are WAY better teas in DC that are cheaper. I would never bring anyone here for their tea, what a disappointment.

First time here as a Grad student…read more Looks great inside and out. They just doubled the amount of computers here. They have a snack room where you can eat your meals and then go off to the reading and web surfing. Lots of floors. They have group study rooms that you can reserve to study in (2 people min.) Printing is 7 cents per page for black and white. The lighting is great and it generally very quiet and provides you with a great place to study. Oh yea, open 24 hours and 7 days a week during the semester!! (except for major holidays!)

The location and hours can't be beat, since it's the only university library that's practically in…read moredowntown DC and boasts 24-hour coffee downstairs. The collection's pretty extensive; I'd say that of the book searches I've done, they have about 70% of what I've needed. The reading rooms can get overcrowded during the school year, and often with students who are working in groups or goofing off. There's a fine line between having a pleasant background buzz and getting distracted by the conversation two tables over, and the latter is too often the case here. The quiet study rooms have widely disregarded "no laptop" signs and few power outlets. That said, crowding should improve once construction is complete. You will need a university ID card to enter; most large universities nationally are members of ARL, and most local universities are members of CIRLA or WRLC. Accessing any of the computers, even for a catalog search, requires signing up at the circulation desk for a temporary network ID (the Starbucks wi-fi works fine in its vicinity), and non-GW users have to leave at midnight.

I had driven past this library several times and today was the first time that I actually set foot…read moreinside. My plan was to go to a cafe further down Georgia Avenue and this place pooped-up again put of the corner of my eye. I need to work remotely today, and working from Starbucks has kind of run its course. I would give this public library a score of 10 out of 10 in terms of all of the things that are important when you are working remotely. It's modern and even the tables and chairs are up-to-date and comfortable. I would say this library has to have been constructed within the last ten years. It's quiet and there's no loud cafe music, which is surprising. There's a 7-11 right across the street, and this important for the most I vikis reasons. I e already been here three hours, and I will probably stay here until 6pm. I will see how the day goes and I am already thinking to make this a spot for me.

I cant say enough how Wonderful DC libraries have become. Aside from having plenty of books,…read morenewspapers and magazines, they also have DVDs, printers, Internet access, meeting/study rooms, a fantastic amount of online services like newspapers, movies, Ancestry.com, childrens area, etc. When they are not too busy being a library, they also collect voting ballots, distribute COVID tests and masks etc. This location is fantastic, steps from the Metro. And they have great hours.

This is an excellent, new, clean, and well organized library in West End. There is a lot of seating…read moreand reading spaces, but it smells foul in some areas because some of the patrons are homeless hanging out/sleeping inside. The service desk employee was friendly and knowledgeable and got me signed up for a new DC Library Card quickly. I love that the library is delivery connected to the Bluestone Lane (cafe/sandwich/breakfast spot).

Agree with the rest of the reviews mentioning the population that tends to hang out here. It…read moredoesn't feel safe or feasible to stay in the library for any prolonged amount of time given the disruptive and sometimes aggressive behavior. If you're a smaller person or look less able to defend yourself, you might not feel safe hanging out in here. Also, if you're smell sensitive, forget it. I really don't mean to sound callous, but a public library is supposed to be for everyone. At times for this library there's really only one kind of community member that seems to feel comfortable hanging around. I don't think this is an acceptable state of things when our tax dollars fund public libraries. I wouldn't take kids here either. I strongly urge the leadership to do something about this problem that many people have now noted. The public library isn't a homeless shelter. Allowing it to turn into one will not fix the systemic issues that lead to homelessness and a lack of shelter space. It simply prevents others from using this public resource as intended. If y'all can call security on a Black teenager that was trying to study in the Children's section and bothering no one, surely you can call security to remove disruptive homeless people.

The brutalist architecture of the library reflects the…read moresocial upheaval at the time of it's opening. That was April 6, 1970, two years after MLK and JFK were assassinated. The Vietnam War was in full bloom. The library was named after Hoya alumnus and Chime member killed in that war. Many students on campus had the military draft hanging over their heads. Modern crises meets Flemish Romanesque Healy Hall. By the way, the stairwell mural is genius (see photos). Fast forward fifty years later, future leaders face similar historic challenges. Bill Clinton, Bradley Cooper and Paul Manafort alumni stories are legendary. Danger is an opportunity to be courageous. Answers can be found in the most unusual places. Hoya Saxa.

This is a good place to study as well, but the midnight mug level can be very loud during exam…read moreweek. I prefer studying here on the main campus as opposed to the DML.

The Northeast DC Library has such a special place in my heart. When I first moved to DC nearly 10…read moreyears ago, I lived two blocks away. I was funemployed for a few months and would stroll over, eat a bagel sandwich from the nearby Jacob's Coffee House, eat it at the outdoor tables under the beautiful trees, then head inside the library to explore books, magazines, and more. I'm a library person through and through so admittedly I love any library, but this one is truly a gem and so important to the neighborhood. I know that it is the fourth-oldest branch in DC and was fully renovated in 2014. There are several levels. The top floor is children and teen books and features board books, all sizes of tables for all sizes of humans, and some toys. Story time happens up there. It is nice that floor is separate so the families with young kids can feel more at ease. The main floor has, in addition to books, magazines, an area to pick up your reserve holds, lots of places to sit (the main reading room), and more. There is a half-floor between the main and upper floor featuring meeting rooms. I believe there is also a large meeting room in the basement that is used for events. And, a general note about DCPL! If you have a card, be sure that you also download the app. You can scan your barcode for self-checkout in person, and manage your library account easily from there. Accessibility: There is a ramp outside, on the right side, near the patio, and there are working elevators inside. So much love for this library. It is cozy, charming, and feels timeless. It will always be there for me, and for you.

As libraries go this one is so enchanting. I love the building... the ambiance .... It's…read morenostalgic! And oddly beautiful.