Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Neighborhood Library — Attraction in Washington

I am a visitor to the city. Trying to stay out of the way and mind my own business, I was minding my own business in the basement sitting quietly not disturbing a soul. The security guard approached me and told me that I could not sit there nor have my phone plugged up. I got up and began to move and asked why. He said that it was the manager's rule. I thought it was arbitrary but compiled. Then I requested a list of the rules and regulations from the checkout desk. I am a rule follower and I don't like being corrected over simple ordinary things. When I requested the list of rules, regulations and policies, I was told that I would ne notified when I broke a rule. I didn't like this and believe that it is inappropriate for not have these things available if a patron is held accountability. Inform people of your rules prior then it is understandable when a security officer is correcting them. It would have made my visit more pleasant. So word to the wise, don't sit on the floor at the library regardless of whether you are being quiet. Have...

Oh my gosh. I went in and came right out. This place looks and smells more like a homeless shelter. There’s hardly any spots to sit, all the comps were taken up, and the smell - a mixture of Raid and moldy bathroom. I was giving this place the benefit of the doubt, but decided to dip after: Aggressive man catcalled me Bathroom was forever occupied by ppl changing, cleaning themselves up, etc. No space & people camped out for the day The smell

You’re better off working at Compass, which is, granted, also crowded, but at least it doesn’t smell. I don’t blame the ppl there bc these are symptoms of greater problems (inequity, homelessness, etc.), but no, I do not...

The place is absolutely gorgeous! lots of light, space and comfortable chairs. My only complaint is the presence of homeless people, stinky people and crazies that go yelling to themselves around the halls, it can be quite disturbing. So if you need a place of quiet, it's best to go into the study rooms, since the other patrons of the library are not quiet either, it's more of a public good for the neighborhood, so you have children running around, friends talking, and doing projects together on the computers, if only they were more quiet, it would be paradise.

Watch out for your belongings as...