Juanita E. Thornton/Shepherd Park Neighborhood Library
🏢 DC Public Library · Washington, DC
Juanita E. Thornton/Shepherd Park Neighborhood Library
Born of the "Books Not Burgers" movement, this Ward 4 branch was won for the community by activist Juanita E. Thornton — and the $3.3 million building designed by Bryant & Bryant remains the most recently built DC Public Library location designed by an African American architectural firm.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 12pm–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–6pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 7420 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20012
Phone: (202) 541-6100
Website: dclibrary.org
Plus Code: 87C4XXJF+45 (Washington, DC)
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📖 About Juanita E. Thornton/Shepherd Park Neighborhood Library
The Juanita E. Thornton/Shepherd Park Neighborhood Library opened on July 29, 1990, after a remarkable grassroots campaign prevented a fast-food restaurant from replacing a razed lot on Georgia Avenue NW. Community leader Juanita E. Thornton (December 25, 1912 – September 14, 1990) — a retired DC public school teacher who was herself legally blind — rallied neighbors and even elementary school students to petition the mayor and testify before the City Council under the slogan "Books Not Burgers." The $3.3 million building was designed by the firm Bryant & Bryant and is recognized as the most recently built DCPL branch designed by an African American architectural firm. Thornton died just five weeks after the library she fought for opened; the branch was renamed in her honor in October 1992, and her portrait remains on permanent display inside. A $1.1 million renovation in 2015–16 refreshed the facility, which today serves not only Shepherd Park but also Colonial Village, North Portal Estates, North Takoma, and the Walter Reed area of Ward 4.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened July 29, 1990 after the "Books Not Burgers" grassroots campaign kept a fast-food chain off Georgia Avenue NW
- Designed by Bryant & Bryant — the most recently built DCPL branch created by an African American architectural firm
- Named in October 1992 for Juanita E. Thornton (1912–1990), a legally blind retired teacher and activist whose portrait hangs inside
- Renovated in 2015–16 with a $1.1 million investment; ranks fifth highest among 25 DCPL branches in meeting-room usage
- DC Talking Book and Braille Program on-site, plus JAWS/ZoomText, Pocketalker, Ubiduo communicator, audio loops, and large-print keyboards
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
DC library cardholders can stream, download, and research free through DC Public Library's digital suite:
📚 Services
- Books, DVDs, audiobooks, and magazine lending
- Public computers and printing
- DC Talking Book and Braille Program (on-site)
- Assistive technology: JAWS/ZoomText, Pocketalker, Ubiduo, audio loops, large-print keyboards
- Meeting room and study room reservations
- Books from Birth early literacy outreach
- Voter registration assistance
- Job-seeker resources and computer classes
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the branch
- On-site parking lot
🎸 Programs
- Lego Social — drop-in building sessions for children ages 5–12
- Messy Art! — hands-on art activities for children ages 5–12
- Computer classes for adults
- Job-seekers workshops
- Beyond the Book community programming for all ages
📍 Nearby DC Public Library Branches
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Washington · Browse all District of Columbia libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Juanita E. Thornton, and why is this library named for her?
Juanita E. Thornton (December 25, 1912 – September 14, 1990) was a retired DC public school teacher and community activist who was herself legally blind. In 1984, when a vacant lot on Georgia Avenue NW was slated for a Wendy's restaurant, Thornton coined the rallying cry "Books Not Burgers," mobilized Shepherd Elementary School students to write letters to the mayor, and testified before the City Council alongside neighbors. The library she fought for opened July 29, 1990; Thornton died just five weeks later. DC Public Library renamed the branch in her honor in October 1992, and her portrait remains on permanent display inside.
What makes the library building architecturally significant?
The $3.3 million branch was designed by the firm Bryant & Bryant and is recognized as the most recently built DC Public Library location designed by an African American architectural firm — a distinction highlighted by the Friends of the Library and DCPL itself.
Does the library offer services for patrons with visual or hearing disabilities?
Yes. The branch hosts the DC Talking Book and Braille Program and is equipped with a range of assistive technology: JAWS and ZoomText screen-reader software, Pocketalker personal amplifiers, a Ubiduo face-to-face communicator for deaf or hard-of-hearing patrons, audio induction loops, and large-print keyboards.
Which neighborhoods does this branch serve, and why is Thursday's opening different?
Although named for the Shepherd Park neighborhood, the branch is the primary DCPL location for Colonial Village, North Portal Estates, North Takoma, and the Walter Reed area — all in northern Ward 4 near the Maryland border. Thursday hours begin at noon (rather than 9 a.m.) to allow for staff development; all other weekday hours open at 9 or 10 a.m. On Sundays the branch offers a short afternoon shift from 1 to 5 p.m.
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