Was cool and one of the most beautiful buildings I've seen…read more Old bible. Books. Paintings. Sculptures. Stairs. Reading room with no books?

I have only visited the Library of Congress at a personal level a couple of times. Other visits…read morewere due to events/meetings there. If you are visiting D.C., I cannot stress the importance of a stop here. To this day, it remains the largest library in the world. Pretty impressive. It's also the oldest federal cultural institution. Periodicals, books, etc. available in over 470 languages. More than 178 million pieces of articles from manuscripts, recordings, photos, printed materials, to books and so on. Library acts as a source of research for Members of Congress and handles copyright laws. This building and all its components are an important part of our nation's history.

I had always dreamed of going to The Folger Shakespeare Library. I finally got the opportunity to…read morego there for a workshop this past March! It was everything I dreamed of and more! The Teacher Weekend Intensive was so amazing. I learned some new techniques to use when working with my students on a Shakespeare production (or any production). The instructors were engaging and listened to our concerns as classroom teachers trying to help students learn to love The Bard as we do. The exhibits were incredible! I could go there every day and never tire of being in the space and learning new information. The performance of AS YOU LIKE IT was very good. The concept was clear and the actors performed well. They were fun and engaging. i cannot wait to go back to Washington D.C. and to the Folger again!

As someone who loves the Shakespeare Library as a whole (and frequently goes there for shows) this…read moreis exclusively a rating for their afternoon tea. The tea has been lauded as amazing on instagram so when reservations went live in December, I booked our April tea before it sold out in 15 minutes. Directions to finding the room for it, are not clear. Despite what you see in social media, this is in a small room with just quite a few tables - not in their famous cafe. You are given bagged tea (not the brand listed on their menu), and your tray is brought over almost immediately upon seating. It was not explained what any of it was like traditionally is done. The food is TINY, and you barely get a single bite out of each. We didn't receive nor were we offered refills of cream or jam, despite there being four of us. We had the 3PM slot and pretty much everyone was rushed out after an hour. We spent some time just talking at our table and were the last ones there despite it not being closed. We felt very unwelcome by the time we left at 4:30. You pay $85 per person and there are WAY better teas in DC that are cheaper. I would never bring anyone here for their tea, what a disappointment.

The Northeast DC Library has such a special place in my heart. When I first moved to DC nearly 10…read moreyears ago, I lived two blocks away. I was funemployed for a few months and would stroll over, eat a bagel sandwich from the nearby Jacob's Coffee House, eat it at the outdoor tables under the beautiful trees, then head inside the library to explore books, magazines, and more. I'm a library person through and through so admittedly I love any library, but this one is truly a gem and so important to the neighborhood. I know that it is the fourth-oldest branch in DC and was fully renovated in 2014. There are several levels. The top floor is children and teen books and features board books, all sizes of tables for all sizes of humans, and some toys. Story time happens up there. It is nice that floor is separate so the families with young kids can feel more at ease. The main floor has, in addition to books, magazines, an area to pick up your reserve holds, lots of places to sit (the main reading room), and more. There is a half-floor between the main and upper floor featuring meeting rooms. I believe there is also a large meeting room in the basement that is used for events. And, a general note about DCPL! If you have a card, be sure that you also download the app. You can scan your barcode for self-checkout in person, and manage your library account easily from there. Accessibility: There is a ramp outside, on the right side, near the patio, and there are working elevators inside. So much love for this library. It is cozy, charming, and feels timeless. It will always be there for me, and for you.

As libraries go this one is so enchanting. I love the building... the ambiance .... It's…read morenostalgic! And oddly beautiful.

Sometimes it feels like nothing nice gets built anymore. But somehow, Southwest did end up with…read morethis library, a pleasing wood-accented construction adjacent to the park. The library is smaller inside than it looks, and while it did have a small outdoor balcony, this was closed for some reason despite the pristine weather. It was an easy place to sit and charge a device or use wifi. There were some meeting rooms and an event calendar, and it was a reasonably well-attended space.

As a long-time patron of the Hill's SE Library (under construction), I visited Southwest…read moreNeighborhood Library TWICE this week - once for a community meeting; and once to pick up a print job I had emailed over. The staff are so kind, considerate, knowledgeable, and addressed my every need. On BOTH visits, the Library was full-up with guests; which makes me feel extra grateful for its presence in our community. I just WISH I could rate SW Neighborhood Library with TEN STARS! Thanks to its team, and see you again soon! Best, Anne

Didn't do the tour this time. Like the White House, the interior isn't worth the wait (we didn't…read moresee the chambers of the deliberative bodies) Glad I did I it before though. My rating is for the building. This is architecturally the most breathtaking building in our great country. Worth going up to take a picture or just take it in If a natural beauty site can be five stars why can't this sublime building? Sigh

The United States Capitol is one of those places that is hard to put into words even after I have…read morebeen there. Standing in front of it for the first time, the scale and the history of what the building represents hit differently than any photo or textbook ever prepared me for. The exterior alone was worth the trip, but stepping inside was where it really got me. Tours are free and worth booking in advance through my representative's office if I wanted a more personal experience, though the general public tours are well organized and cover a lot of ground. Security moved quickly and the process for getting in was straightforward. The viewing gallery pass system is a separate step that felt a little clunky, so I factored that in and did not expect it to be seamless. Inside, the dome area is the centerpiece and genuinely one of the more impressive architectural spaces I have walked through in this country. The statuary hall has pieces representing every state, and the artwork throughout the building carries a lot of the same weight I would expect from a place this tied to American history. It did not feel exactly like a museum, more like a building that happens to have centuries of context built into every room. I would plan for a couple of hours at minimum to take it in properly rather than just moving through. Weekdays tend to feel calmer and the guided tours give a lot more context than wandering on my own would.

Did you know there is a wooden slide in the MLK Jr. Library? You can find it on the second floor,…read moreand it's definitely worth a look! I was visiting for a conference and attended an opening presentation here. The facility is consistently clean, and the staff is always friendly and helpful. It is located right in the heart of DC, making it a great place to visit whether you are there for an event or just exploring the city.

If you know me, you'll know that I will need to visit at least one library in whatever city I am…read morein. And when I heard about the MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. MEMORIAL LIBRARY, of course we had to visit. I wanted to visit so see if they had any special memorial for MLK Jr. If they had I missed it because I have ADHD and got distracted by the rooftop garden, the awesome children's library, the beautiful architecture... and the exhibit they had on local arts on the 4th Floor. Bonus points for sliding down from one floor to the next....

I had driven past this library several times and today was the first time that I actually set foot…read moreinside. My plan was to go to a cafe further down Georgia Avenue and this place pooped-up again put of the corner of my eye. I need to work remotely today, and working from Starbucks has kind of run its course. I would give this public library a score of 10 out of 10 in terms of all of the things that are important when you are working remotely. It's modern and even the tables and chairs are up-to-date and comfortable. I would say this library has to have been constructed within the last ten years. It's quiet and there's no loud cafe music, which is surprising. There's a 7-11 right across the street, and this important for the most I vikis reasons. I e already been here three hours, and I will probably stay here until 6pm. I will see how the day goes and I am already thinking to make this a spot for me.

I cant say enough how Wonderful DC libraries have become. Aside from having plenty of books,…read morenewspapers and magazines, they also have DVDs, printers, Internet access, meeting/study rooms, a fantastic amount of online services like newspapers, movies, Ancestry.com, childrens area, etc. When they are not too busy being a library, they also collect voting ballots, distribute COVID tests and masks etc. This location is fantastic, steps from the Metro. And they have great hours.

The James Madison Memorial Building is part of the Library of Congress, but is often overlooked…read more It's close to the US Capitol Building and mainly houses the administrative offices for the Library of Congress. However, tourists should note four things worth visiting: 1) You can get a readers card for free in just 5-15 minutes during the week to go into the famous Reading Room in the Library of Congress. 2) There's a beautiful marble lobby with a statue of James Madison inside. 3) The outside is beautiful to photograph and many DC Instagrammers highlight the tall columns in their feeds. 4) There are picnic tables outside for you to enjoy lunch or the sunshine with a good book. If you just have 36 hours in DC, skip this one, but if you live here, stop by this lesser known building.

Some extra things you may not know about when visiting the library of congress. You can come here…read moreand get your official library readers card. They also have some small exhibits that change from time to time. Cool spot, but certainly not part of "must see D.C."

Open every sing day, Mount Pleasant Library is a true neighborhood library. Housed in a historic…read morebuilding with a new renovation and extension, its rooms are filled with books, magazines and art. The first floor has plenty of room to spread out and read in quiet. The kids section is on the second floor and comes with two reading nooks decorated with vintage murals.

A fantastic library, especially with recent renovations and the full re-opening after the early…read morepandemic days. I deeply appreciate that I could check out books even during the worst of the pandemic and these books even arrived in a timely manner. The library has a good book selection, especially for a branch library, and the staff are helpful. The library website for ILL is extremely user-friendly and easy to place holds.