Benning/Dorothy I. Height Neighborhood Library
🏢 DC Public Library · Washington, District of Columbia
Benning/Dorothy I. Height Neighborhood Library
Named in honor of civil rights pioneer Dorothy I. Height — president of the National Council of Negro Women for four decades — the Benning/Dorothy I. Height Neighborhood Library brings study rooms, meeting rooms, computer classes and job-seeker resources to Ward 7 residents along Benning Road NE. Open until 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, the branch is a vital workforce and literacy hub on DC's East End.
🕑 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: 3935 Benning Road NE, Washington, DC 20019
Phone: (202) 281-2583
Website: dclibrary.org
Plus Code: 87C5V3V2+MV (Washington, DC)
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📖 About Benning/Dorothy I. Height Neighborhood Library
The Benning/Dorothy I. Height Neighborhood Library, located at 3935 Benning Road NE in Ward 7, is named for Dorothy Irene Height (1912–2010), one of the most influential American civil rights and women's rights leaders of the 20th century. Height served as president of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) from 1957 to 1998 and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Naming this Ward 7 branch in her honor reflects her lifelong commitment to education, community empowerment and civic engagement. The library provides an extensive collection of books along with study rooms, meeting rooms, public computers, computer classes, job-seeker resources, printing, scanning and free Wi-Fi. Assistive technology on-site includes JAWS/ZoomText, Pocketalker, a mail-in ballot drop box and more. An on-site parking lot makes the branch accessible by car. The branch is also a DCPL site for the DC Talking Book & Braille Program and the Books from Birth initiative.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named for civil rights pioneer Dorothy I. Height (1912–2010), NCNW president for four decades and recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Serves Ward 7 residents along Benning Road NE with study rooms, meeting rooms and an extensive book collection
- Computer classes and dedicated job-seeker resources — a workforce hub on DC's East End
- Extended evening hours Monday–Wednesday until 8 p.m.; parking lot on-site
- Full DCPL assistive technology suite plus DC Talking Book & Braille Program access
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Benning cardholders can borrow eBooks, stream media, take online courses and search job databases free through DCPL's digital collections:
📚 Services
- Public computers, computer classes, printing & scanning
- Job Seekers resources: resume help, job databases and career coaching
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Study rooms & meeting rooms (reservable)
- Assistive technology: JAWS/ZoomText, Pocketalker
- DC Talking Book & Braille Program (NLS affiliate)
- Voter registration & mail-in ballot drop box
- Books from Birth — free books for children birth to age 5
- Beyond the Book curated reading resources
- On-site parking lot
🎸 Programs
- All Natural Extravaganza — community wellness event
- Art All Night community programming
- Computer classes for all skill levels
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Summer Reading Challenge
📍 Nearby Libraries in Ward 7 & East 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 Dorothy I. Height, and why is this library named after her?
Dorothy Irene Height (1912–2010) was one of America's foremost civil rights and women's rights leaders. She served as president of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) for 41 years (1957–1998), fought for racial and gender equality alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal (2004) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1994). Naming DC's Ward 7 branch the 'Benning/Dorothy I. Height Neighborhood Library' honors her legacy of education, community uplift and civic engagement.
Does the Benning/Dorothy I. Height Library offer job search help?
Yes — the branch lists Job Seekers resources as a dedicated service, alongside computer classes and public computers. These resources can include resume assistance, job-search databases and career coaching. Contact the branch at (202) 281-2583 or benninglibrary@dc.gov for current program details.
What are the library's hours, and when does it open?
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the branch is open 9 a.m.–8 p.m. On Thursday it opens at noon and closes at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday hours are 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Sunday is 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
Is there parking at the Benning/Dorothy I. Height Library?
Yes — the branch has an on-site parking lot, making it accessible by car for Ward 7 residents along the Benning Road NE corridor.
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