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 "Black and Trans" by Skyler, Illustration First Runner Up
This summer DC Public Library, in partnership with Pepco and the DC Public Library Foundation, hosted Know Your Power, a civic engagement art contest for D.C. teens. As a part of the contest, teens aged 13-19 could participate in a variety of workshops and programs to hone their writing, fine art, photography and music practices. They were then invited to submit their own works that speak truth to power and raise awareness of the important issues facing us today. We are happy to congratulate this year’s winners, and all who participated, on their moving pieces!
Writing First Place Winner | Camila Reinoso, Above Their Shoulders
16 years old, Takoma Park Library
"My poem was inspired by every person I've ever seen living on the streets. We as individuals and as a society tend to look away from problems, thinking that if we don't look them right in the eye, they might disappear. When I noticed that I had the same habit, I started making a conscious effort to think about the people I saw like I would anyone else."
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Illustration First Place Winner | Skye Jones, Sink
18 years old, Benning/Dorothy I. Height Library
"This piece represents the continuous fight African Americans have to experience. We have not had a place to rest for hundreds of years. We are constantly having to tell people we have value and deserve all the freedoms others have. We are tired, but we cannot rest."
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Music First Place Winner | Madison Mack, Summer Fling
16 years old, Anacostia Library
"Summer Fling" transports the listener into the halcyon days of summer by using both clean and distorted guitar riffs to tease the listener into remembering the best moments of summers past.
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Photography First Place Winner | Adam McCoyer, Gentrification in DC
18 years old, Woodridge Library
“I tell the story of gentrification in my neighborhood of Brookland and the nearby neighborhood of what's now called NoMa. I start by showing some of the new developments in those areas, and then I show the darker side of that development."
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The winners in the four categories Illustration, Writing, Music and Photography will receive prizes that help them continue to explore their creativity, including a laptop for writing, a Canon EOS 4000D for photography, a Wacom CTL4100 Intuos Graphics Drawing Tablet for illustration and a Fender Electric Guitar for music.
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Summer travels to new places may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still learn a new language! Mango Languages is an interactive online resource providing audio tutorials that help practice reading, listening, and speaking in over 70 different languages. Or maybe you’re looking to strengthen your English skills - Mango also offers English as a Second Language (ESL) courses for Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Vietnamese speakers.
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This October, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library is excited to welcome an exciting array of authors for engaging conversations about ! Join us throughout the month for a host of conversations on everything from otherworldly legacies to creating inclusive spaces grounded in the love of music. Talks include:
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Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. | Ingrid Rojas Contreras: The Man Who Could Move Clouds
Join us for this virtual author talk where Ingrid and Lupita will discuss the inspiration for the memoir The Man Who Could Move Clouds, longlisted for the 2022 National Book Award for Nonfiction and Time Best Book of the Summer.
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Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. | Our Missing Hearts: An Evening with Celeste Ng
Join the Library, Loyalty Bookstore and Celest Ng, the number one bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere, for a conversation on her new title - a deeply suspenseful and heartrending novel about the unbreakable love between a mother and child in a society consumed by fear.
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Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. | Inciting Joy: An Evening with Ross Gay
Join the Library and Loyalty Bookstores for an intimate and electrifying collection of essays from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Delights. In these gorgeously written and timely pieces, prize-winning poet and author Ross Gay considers the joy we incite when we care for each other, especially during life’s inevitable hardships.
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Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. | Fashion Intel Talks Presents: Who was Anne Lowe Really?
Join us for a fun, investigative discussion on the life of Anne Lowe, the first African American to become a noted Fashion Designer. Fashion journalist and IP attorney Mariessa Terrell and author Piper Huguely will discuss By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer, to the Social Register.
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Friday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. | Well-Read Black Girl: A conversation with Alex Elle and Denene Millner
Join the Library for the kickoff celebration of the 6th Annual Well-Read Black Girl Festival featuring authors Alex Elle and Denene Millner - a beautiful prelude to the weekend celebration of books with heartfelt conversations, wellness panels, poetry readings and more!
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 A massive “thank you” to everyone who joined us at Art All Night and helped celebrate the end of Banned Books Week. We were so grateful to celebrate the freedom to read alongside such a talented city and its vibrant residents. We hope you enjoyed viewing yourself in the pages of some of the most banned and challenged books of 2022 with our interactive displays - make sure to tag us in your photos on social media! - and got a chance to browse our makers market full of stunning works of art and craftsmanship from DMV locals. Take a look at some of the highlights below and visit our social media for more from the weekend’s events. We can’t wait to see you next year!
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This Week At the Library
See what programs are coming up this week in person and online at the Library!
Ward 1 | Mt. Pleasant Library
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La Magia del Arcoiris | Saturday, Oct. 8, 11 a.m.
Teatro de La Luna will perform La Magia del Arcoiris, a bilingual play dedicated to children and families! Sing along and learn how to keep our planet clean.
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Ward 2 | West End Library
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August Wilson Plays: A discussion group | Thursday, Oct. 6. 6:30 p.m.
Join virtually for a ten-week series where to read and discuss plays written by renowned playwright August Wilson. The group will focus specifically on his American Century Cycle of ten plays, and read one play per week.
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Ward 3 | Tenley-Friendship Library
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Job Seekers Workshop | Thursday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m.
Learn how to craft an eye-catching resume and compelling cover letter in a hands-on workshop and be on your way to meeting your professional goals!
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Ward 4 | Takoma Park Library
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Family Story Time | Wednesday, Oct. 5, 10:20 a.m.
Fun for the entire family, these 30-40 minute story times are packed full of books and activities designed to be enjoyed by all ages.
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Ward 5 | Woodridge Library
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Rehearsal: Thriller Night | Wednesday, Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m.
Have fun learning and rehearsing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” throughout the month of October and perform it alongside Library staff, patrons and community members on Halloween!
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Ward 6 | Northwest One Library
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Baby and Toddler Story Time | Tuesday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m.
These 20-30 minute story times are full of books, songs, rhymes and fingerplays for children from birth to two years old.
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Ward 7 | Benning/Dorothy I. Height Library
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Book Bookie with Ms. Better-Rice | Wednesday, Oct. 5, 1 p.m.
Get up and get moving at Book Boogie! These 20-30-minute programs and activities are designed to help develop language and early-learning skills.
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Ward 8 | Anacostia Library
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Video Visitation | Thursday, Oct. 6, 1:45 p.m.
Video Visitation for family and friends of DC Jail inmates through visitation stations at the Anacostia library.
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Central Library | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
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Info Session: Apply to MLK Library Exhibits Program | Wednesday, Oct. 5, 12 p.m.
Learn how to apply to have the MLK Library host your exhibition starting Summer 2023! Applications are due Friday, October 28.
Can't make this info session? There will be another on Oct. 19 at 12 p.m.
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Find all upcoming programs in your library or online on our calendar!
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 In observance of Indiginous People’s Day on Monday, Oct. 10, DC Public Library will have one library open in each of D.C.’s eight wards from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. They are:
As a reminder, the DC Public Library is open 24/7, 365 days a year online! You can sign up for a Library Card, watch virtual programs, check out books and magazines, stream movies and music, work on your resume, get homework help and so much more.
*Specialty departments like the Adult Learning Department, Center for Accessibility, the Labs at DC Public Library and The People's Archive are not open on holidays.
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 Rock the Park is back at Franklin Park this year as the two-day ROCK THE PARK WKNDR Festival, presented in partnership with DowntownDC BID and curators Abby O’Neill and Adrian Loving. Headlined by internationally renowned DJs such as Kenny Dope and DJ Jazzy Jeff, the free event will take place on Oct. 8-9 from 4-10 p.m. and will feature local performers and DJs from across the country for an early autumn weekend of incredible dance music. In addition to seven performers, Rock the Park DC WKNDR will offer a beer garden, local food trucks, special event-branded swag, and more. The family-friendly event is free and open to all.
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