My Favorite Place

Author Jorge Luis Borges wrote, "I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library." Luckily for me, there's a little slice of paradise right on my block: the West End branch of the D.C. Public Library.

Located on the northeast corner of 24th and L Streets, N.W., the West End Neighborhood Library was built in 1966 and currently houses a collection of over 60,000 books, magazines, newspapers, CDs, tapes, and other items. Living just three doors down, I take frequent advantage of its vast and wonderful resources.

As I enter through the automatic glass doors, a large bulletin board greets me with information on workshops, meetings, and events. It's a great way to connect with my neighbors and to stay on top of what's happening in the community.

Just inside the entrance are bookshelves teeming with donated used books that I can purchase for a dollar or less. There's always a range of both fiction and non-fiction titles to choose from - everything from astral projection to how to improve your golf swing.

A focal point of the branch is the featured-books display. At least once a month, the librarians choose a newsworthy topic and select related books from their collection to display as a theme. It's like having a literary personal shopper! I'm always surprised at how many of them are current bestsellers.

The stacks at the West End library are treasure troves of knowledge. Sometimes I like to browse through them with no particular subject in mind. I inevitably discover dozens of books that pique my interest. And I can try them out risk-free! Other times I'm on a mission for something specific. If I'm planning a trip, for example, I'll check out a Fodor's travel guide so I can read up on my destination before I go.

If I can't find what I'm looking for, no worries. I can search the collection of the entire DC Public Library system on the City Cat computer, place a book on hold, and have it sent to the West End branch for pickup. They even notify me when it comes in. It doesn't get any more convenient than that!

There's much more to the West End library than just books. I often check out music CDs, books on tape, and VHS or DVD videos to enjoy at home. On a rainy day, I can browse leisurely through the current issues of 60 magazines and periodicals, including the daily newspapers. When my home computer crashes, I can reserve a computer with Internet access to surf the Web or to check my email. And every week, I pick up the latest edition of the Current, the City Paper, and other free community newspapers. (Tax forms are available, too, but they aren't nearly as much fun to read.)

The West End library has two meeting rooms on its second floor that are free for community use. My tenant association holds its meetings there, and we are grateful to have the space available to us. The rooms are also used for a variety of free classes, seminars, programs, events, and workshops. There's a book club, a film club, a craft circle, and even a class on Qi Gong, which some of my neighbors swear by.

I've touched on just a few of the benefits provided by the West End branch library. There are also children's programs, large-print books for the visually impaired, study materials for civil service and SAT exams, help for job seekers, and many other valuable programs and materials that serve the community, all free of charge. With the current trend towards privatization and user fees, public libraries are an institution that we should all appreciate and protect.

Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie proclaimed, "There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library." For this and so many other reasons, the West End library is my favorite place.