Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Neighborhood Library
🏢 DC Public Library · Washington, District of Columbia
Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Neighborhood Library
The Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Neighborhood Library stands at 1630 7th Street NW, at the heart of one of DC's most historically significant neighborhoods — once the pre-Harlem center of African-American intellectual life, home to Duke Ellington and near Howard University. Named for civil rights activist and master plumber Watha T. Daniel, who chaired the DC Model Cities Commission from 1968 to 1972, the three-level branch is currently closed for a $7.9 million renovation and is expected to reopen in early 2027.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed (renovation) |
| Tuesday | Closed (renovation) |
| Wednesday | Closed (renovation) |
| Thursday | Closed (renovation) |
| Friday | Closed (renovation) |
| Saturday | Closed (renovation) |
| Sunday | Closed (renovation) |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1630 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 727-1288
Website: dclibrary.org
Plus Code: 87C4WX6G+XX (Washington, DC)
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📖 About Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Neighborhood Library
The Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Neighborhood Library serves one of Washington DC's most storied communities. Shaw emerged from freed-slave encampments in the 1860s and grew into the national center of Black intellectual and cultural life, producing Duke Ellington and anchoring Howard University. The library is named for Watha T. Daniel (1911–1973), who in 1940 became one of the first African Americans licensed as a master plumber in the District, served as the first African American on the DC Plumbing Board, and chaired the DC Model Cities Commission from 1968 to 1972 — an urban renewal effort that helped restore Shaw after the 1968 riots. The branch opened on September 27, 1975, and a 2010 renovation earned the building multiple awards including recognition by The Wall Street Journal as one of the top buildings of that year. Beginning May 18, 2026, the library is temporarily closed for a $7.9 million ARPA-funded renovation by Quinn Evans and Chiaramonte, which will bring refreshed reading rooms, a dedicated children's space with nature-inspired features, an expanded teen section, and updated meeting rooms. Reopening is anticipated in early 2027. During closure, DC residents can use the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library or the Library by Mail service.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named for Watha T. Daniel (1911–1973), one of the first African Americans licensed as a master plumber in DC and chairman of the DC Model Cities Commission
- Opened September 27, 1975, in the Shaw neighborhood — once the pre-Harlem national center of Black intellectual and cultural life near Howard University
- 2010 renovation recognized by The Wall Street Journal as one of the top buildings of the year and recipient of multiple design awards
- Undergoing a $7.9 million ARPA-funded renovation by Quinn Evans & Chiaramonte; reopening anticipated in early 2027
- Three-level branch with children's, teen, adult reading, meeting and program spaces at 1630 7th Street NW in Ward 2
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
DC cardholders can access a full suite of free digital resources through DC Public Library:
📚 Services
- Public computers and printing & scanning
- Assistive technology: JAWS, ZoomText, large-print keyboards, Pocketalker, CCTV magnifier, Ubiduo
- DC Talking Book & Braille Program (NLS)
- Books from Birth early-literacy program
- Meeting & study rooms (available when open)
- Tax preparation assistance (seasonal)
- Voter registration
- Library by Mail (available to eligible DC residents during renovation closure)
🎸 Programs
- Family Story Time for ages 0–5
- Digital Navigator sessions for technology assistance
- Community programs coordinated with the Shaw neighborhood
- Seasonal tax preparation clinics
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northwest Washington
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Washington · Browse all District of Columbia libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Watha T. Daniel, and why is the Shaw library named after him?
Watha T. Daniel (1911–1973) was a civil rights activist and master plumber who in 1940 became one of the first African Americans licensed as a master plumber in the District of Columbia. He later became the first African American appointed to the DC Plumbing Board and served as chairman of the DC Model Cities Commission from 1968 to 1972, guiding urban renewal efforts in Shaw after the 1968 riots. The library at 1630 7th Street NW was dedicated in his honor when it opened on September 27, 1975.
Is the Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library currently open?
No. The library closed on May 18, 2026, for a $7.9 million renovation funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Quinn Evans and Chiaramonte are the design and construction team. The renovation will refresh all three floors, add a dedicated children's area with nature-inspired features, expand the teen section, and update meeting rooms. Reopening is expected in early 2027. During closure, DC residents can use the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library or the free Library by Mail service.
What is the connection between the Shaw neighborhood and African-American history?
Shaw emerged from freed-slave encampments in the 1860s and by the late 19th and early 20th centuries had become the national center of Black intellectual and cultural life — a role historian call 'the pre-Harlem.' Notable figures including Duke Ellington grew up here, and Howard University anchors the neighborhood. After the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. triggered riots that devastated much of the area, community leaders such as Walter Fauntroy and Watha T. Daniel led rebuilding efforts through the Model Inner City Community Organization.
What distinguished the Shaw library's 2010 renovation?
The 2010 renovation of the Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library was widely recognized for its design excellence, earning several architecture and design awards and being named one of the top buildings of 2010 by The Wall Street Journal. The building is a three-level facility that serves Shaw's diverse and growing population of young professionals, families, and longtime residents.
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