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.

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.

This is a great library right in the heart of Westover. Very clean and very bustling, even on…read moreweekday afternoons, especially in the summer. Super family friendly without being very noisy. (I often see elementary and middle school aged kids here, whereas the Ballston branch skews slightly younger.) It's close to a ton of nice restaurants and shops, as well as a post office. The neighborhood is extremely walkable, so it's a great place to spend an afternoon. I'm a big fan of the Arlington public library system and its holdings. It's always a good day to stop by and support your local library!

Neat little library. I am a fan of the aesthetics and design…read more If memory recalls, I stopped by here briefly on my way back, coming from an ice cream spot in Arlington. I liked the layout of the library, but the only thing that throws me off that "urban" vibe I get, same as from the City of Fairfax library. I can't put my finger on it. I would have liked to see more greeneries and windows with pleasing views I guess. Overall, cool spot. I like that it has study areas and computer stations. Not too shabby at all.

The Eric Friedheim Library (EFL) provides specialized research and education services for…read morereporters, editors and other members of the news media. The library lives inside the National Press Club (NPC). But even though it is in the club, it is not of the club. The library is located on the 13th floor of the National Press Building, just inside the entrance to the press club proper. But it is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with its own legal identity. The library provides its research and education services to the general public at modest prices. I have used it fom time to time for decades in my work as a reporter, researcher and author. I have always found the information resources to be helpful, and sometimes to be almost priceless. Frequently, the library resources and staff have been able to advance a story or a research project dramatically or to quash a doomed project very quickly and cheaply. This library's advantages arise partly because its resources have been customized for journalists' needs, in contrast to those of general public libraries. Also, the library staff has an extremely useful knowledge of the other specialist libraries in Washington and the region. That's important because most of the important technical and scientific trade associations and professional societies in this city include specialist libraries with tightly focused resources. Those resources sometimes can be very expensive and not available elsewhere. For example, subscriptions to some specialist periodicals and databases can cost many thousands of dollars annually. On a similar note, visiting the Library O'Congress can be an exercise in futility unless you know which of that organization's many divisions to approach. The EFL staff typically knows the ins and outs of the Library O'Congress and can provide very useful advice. This library avoids the vices of university libraries and the Library O'Congress. Both of those cultures sometimes come across as hidebound, bureaucratic and self-consciously "scholastic" (rather than scholarly). The EFL charges $89.00 for an annual membership. Users can buy a one-day library pass for $5.00. Day-trippers get access to the reading room, computer facilities and limited research services. Press club membership dues include membership in the EFL. Membership in the press club is open to bona fide journalists, who join as "active members" and can vote in club elections. Public relations workers join as "associate members.' They can't vote in NPC elections. Their proportion of the total NPC membership is limited, so as not to dilute the club's mission of service to the news media. Some members qualify because they are nominated as particularly prized sources for reporters. Additional membership categories cover students, spouses and non-residents. There may be a membership category for retired persons.....go check at www.press.org. "There are no office or corporate memberships [in the EFL], and memberships cannot be transferred," according to library rules. In addition to print and online services, the library research staff's focus on journalism issues has created a deep expertise on evolving news media technologies such as Web 2.0 tools. As part of its mission to support the work of NPC members and other media workers, the library offers journalism-related training classes. The classes include hands-on training in tools such as blogging, podcasts, really simple syndication and the like. NPC members receive discounts on the class fees. But the fees for members of the general public are modest, typically $15 for an hour-long class. For NPC and library members, most "research services are completely free, including commercial databases such as NexisLexis. Each member can order four such searches per month (with up to five articles returned per search)," according to the library's Web site. Library membership does not afford access to press club facilities that are reserved for member use only. Note that members of the general public can use the club's Fourth Estate restaurant without joining either the library or the NPC. Many of the club's other events, such as press conferences, are accessible either by bona fide journalists who aren't NPC members or by the general public as well, on a case-by-case basis. Check the calendar at press.org, the club's Web site, for upcoming news events as well as access to additional information about the library.

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.

The Pros: I like the fact that this library is located right next to the metro station. It's also…read morea very modern facility, and nearly half of the second level is dedicated for desktop computer work stations. They have private study rooms that can be reserved by residents. I'm not clear if there is a cost associated with that, because I haven't yet tried to reserve a space. It's also more quiet on the second level compared with the first level which is geared more towards children. The Cons: The library is small, and I could not find a desk when I got there. I've been to two other libraries in the city which provide significantly more space. With no available empty table, I sat at a computer work station desk and tried to navigate space for my laptop.

I love libraries. The Tenleytown public library is among the many where I have ducked in for an…read morehour between business appointments. It works well for that purpose. Although some are critical of the vibe here, I cannot say I have found, on three visits, that is inferior to others in the system, or even discernibly different. I tend to select my retreat based on location, whatever is convenient to the last meeting or the next meeting. I would not criticize this venue. The city must have started a giant renovation project. So many of the branches have bright, well designed, tasteful furnished renovations. It does get a bit hot here. On the scale of concerns, with looming catastrophe from climate change, that hardly ranks as more than a quibble.

If you're a Maryland resident, you're able to get a free DC library card to access any of their…read morepublic libraries! Located in a quieter part of town right off MacArthur Blvd NW with a large parking lot in the back, Palisades Neighborhood Library is one of the smaller ones with a limited selection of books. They have quiet individual study rooms in the rear and plenty of comfortable seating. It's ideal if you want quiet time and avoid being disturbed by noise and people. I found the two nonfiction books I was looking for and a third, so I achieved my needs. I'd be back!

I really enjoy this place. I picked up my book on reserve and it was super easy. Plenty of space to…read moreget work down and kind of a hidden gem to be honest. I love spending time and read. Check is super easy and the people behind the desk are super helpful. Dis you know you can also rent digital audio books and you can access them thru their app? Just a vibe here when the sun comes in during the am.

Great for free printing and copies. They have computers you can use and a copier with a free 20…read morepages. It fit the bill.

This library is located off of Benning Road, in a shared plaza with Safeway. When you enter, there…read moreare some conference rooms that you can reserve, a bathroom (you will need to go upstairs to circulation to request a key, as they are locked at all times), a community bulletin board with local events, and an elevator. When you make your way up the stairs, you have young adult, large-print, audio/dvds, as well as fiction books. If you continue to walk ahead, it is the children's section, with books for toddlers and more for young adult readers. The selection of books are quite limited, so I am wondering if there will ever be more added to the collection anytime soon. There are several computers you can also use with an ID, either to check your email or to play online games. Some study rooms are also upstairs that you can also reserve, but there were plenty of tables and individual desks that were available. The library was overall not too quiet, but the patrons seem to be overall respectful of others. +limited selection of books +locked restrooms (need to request key from circulation) +in the Safeway plaza +plenty of parking