New Library for the “Preppies” at DC Prep’s Benning Site

By Audrey Williams

DC Public Library (DCPL) and DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) recently launched a pilot partnership to establish a first-of-its-kind lending library within a DC public charter school. 

DCPL Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan and PCSB Executive Director Scott Pearson got together over dinner last year, and the idea for this partnership was born.  Reyes-Gavilan’s idea was to bring DCPL out of the traditional library building and into the students in school.  Last summer the call went out to public charter schools across the city, asking those who did not already have a library in their school to agree to participate in the partnership.  DC Prep jumped at the idea to locate the library at its recently-renovated Benning school in Ward 7 (housing both the Benning Elementary and Middle school campuses).  The school  was ultimately selected for the pilot program. 

DC Public Library, working with school officials, created a lending collection of 5,000-8,000 books that is housed in the school and circulated using the DCPL catalog system. The collection consists of multiple copies of paperbacks and selected hardcovers that are selected jointly by the school and DCPL.  Materials checked out and removed from the school library – which is housed at Benning Elementary Campus, but used by Preppies from Benning Middle Campus as well – may be returned to any of the 26 DCPL locations.

The intent of this pilot goes far beyond simply lending books at the school. DC Prep is fully integrating the library into school activities, including using library materials to support the curriculum, having classes visit the library during school hours for read alouds and “book shopping” trips, and having the school librarian assist teachers with classroom instruction on relevant topics.  The pilot project will evaluate the impact of a school library on student reading time, student achievement, and the school’s connection to the nearest neighborhood library.

A few weeks before the DC Prep library opened, DCPL staff checked in with some of the elementary school “Preppies” (what students are called at DC Prep) about what they liked about going to the library.  “There are a lot of fun books there,” said a male 3rd grader. One first grader described how much he enjoyed the library as it taught him about books.  They also liked the computers and story times.

The majority of the kids surveyed thought they were good readers – some read faster than other kids.  Some thought they could figure out words better than others.  Nearly half thought reading was relaxing and made them feel good.  One student didn’t like the fact that “you had to be quiet” and wished there was food.  Other than that, these Preppies enjoy going to the library – one that will surely foster their love of reading for years to come. 

For additional coverage and photos of the DC Prep library featured in The Washington Post, click here.

Audrey Williams is PCSB's Manager of Intergovernmental Relations and School Support.

DCPL, PCSB, and DC Prep PCSB partnered to establish a first-of-its-kind lending library.