Friends of SW DCPL

The Friends of Southwest District of Columbia Public Library is a group of residents and friends who love reading and the feel of a book in the hand.  They want to share that love with others and also promote the use of their wonderful library that's located right behind the new Safeway at 4th and M Streets SW.  Volunteers also raise funds to help the library purchase items that are beyond the City's crimped budgets.  SW Friends' book sales have allowed the Library to purchase four new laptops exclusively for the Southwest branch.  Thanks to a generous donor, a battery-charging cart to store them was purchased.

Over the past two summers, SW Friends has donated $6,500 towards the DCPL's Summer Reading Program.  Did you notice the Library was mobbed with children reading up a storm this summer?  Kudos to the staff for getting the kids excited about reading while also keeping order! 

SW Friends also donated $1,500 towards a citywide program to install Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in every branch. AEDs have been installed in all branches and some staff have been trained how to use them in the event a patron or employee has a cardiac arrest.  For those who are worried, once turned on, the AED guides the user through the steps; it performs an EKG and will not administer a shock if the heart is beating.