The Features

Photos: Old Washington in the Winter

Taft Inauguration

Photo courtesy of the DC Public Library

I love Flickr. Here at We Love DC, we all love Flickr. Without your contributions to our pool, the site would be a lot less colorful. But one of my favorite things about Flickr is The Commons, where museums of the world post selections of their historic photography collections. It can be fun sometimes to spend an hour or two lost in a long-ago world, made all the more enlightening because so many of those photos show scenes of our very city: Washington. As we recover from last week’s snowstorm and as we’re currently dealing with another mess of a weather pattern, it seems like the right time to take a look back at how Washingtonians of the past dealt with winter.

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The Daily Feed

DC Public Libraries Reduce Staff, Programs

Photo courtesy of
‘Wiped-out video shelves at @ArlingtonVALib.’
courtesy of ‘brownpau’

Due to the tightening of its budget, the DC Public Library begins staff reductions today. Most of the current job vacancies will not be filled and an additional 23.5 full time positions are being eliminated, which equates to roughly 40 people. Several programs, including the Youth Outreach Program, have been eliminated and their staff realigned in order to keep as many libraries open as possible. Library hours, however, will not be further reduced.

“The DC Public Library, along with libraries across the country, is facing very difficult economic times,” said Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper. “We realize that the Mayor and the City Council had tough choices to make with next year’s budget. Even with these reductions, we remain committed to continuing to provide District residents with the service they need and expect.”

The library buildings currently under construction (Deanwood, Watha T. Daniel/Shaw, Georgetown, Tenley, Petworth, Mt. Pleasant, Washington Highlands, and Francis Gregory) will still be completed and opened but the new FY2011 budget doesn’t include any funds to design and build any additional buildings.

Essential DC, History, Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed

DC Public Library Joins Flickr Commons

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White House by flickr user DC Public Library Commons

This just in – the D.C. Public Library has joined the Flickr revolution and entered the Commons on Flickr. The Commons on Flickr is basically a place to share public photo archives and gives the public the opportunity to tag things and share personal knowledge.

Flickr says, “The District of Columbia Public Library is a center of activity in the U.S. capital and this 7 set, 145 photo sampling from its collection features historic images of D.C.’s buildings and federal memorials, the Arlington National Cemetery, historic houses, and street scenes. Also featured are portraits of past presidents and other prominent Americans.”

Start browsing, you might be able to find a shot of your street with horse and buggy!