Wilson Library goes beyond books

By Allan Cromley

Barcroft News Staff

 

"People enjoy coming here because it is cozy and homey," says Kathryn Rzasa, branch manager of Woodrow Wilson Library. She spoke as tiny tots mingled with students and adults among books and computers.

              "When I grew up, parents took children to the library. Now we are seeing children bringing parents. A little boy brought another boy and said, 'This is my cousin. I will translate for him.' "

The Woodrow Wilson Library is a miniature United Nations, for many visitors come from Bailey's School and the polyglot housing complex in the backyard of Lake Barcroft.

At one time the 16-member paid staff spoke a total of 16 languages, including English, French, Vietnamese, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese, various Hindi dialects, and amharic (Ethiopian).

In one section there are books in various categories, including Spanish and Vietnamese. Which is used the most? "Vietnamese, by far," Rzasa said.

             About half the children in this zip code (22041) live in homes where English either is not spoken or is the second language.

Monday afternoons are big: That's when Bailey's Elementary School lets out early -- 1 p.m. The library becomes part day care center for a few hours, which Rzasa accepts: "For a lot of them this is just a safe place after school."

One spacious room is the homework center, where volunteers help students keep up with their classes. And there are adult classes in word processing, English, and other subjects.

The library is open Monday-Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It houses 70,000 volumes. There are 16 public-use computers, including 10 for the Internet (with time limits per session), four for catalog searches, and two for games by the tots.

But this is a fraction of what Woodrow Wilson is all about. There are approximately 11,000 visitors a month, and about that many items are circulated monthly.

There are classes in English, a Literacy Council project, with some 45 to 50 volunteers working with adults, two evenings a week. Another corps of volunteers helps process books and keeps the shelves in order.

In fact, volunteers are the lifeblood of the library. Right now they are looking for volunteers in arts and crafts.

Lake Barcroft residents Peg Corl and Priscilla Weck do the flower and plant gardening. Peg also works with the Morning Star Girls, a Spanish outreach group.

To become part of this vibrant community resource, call 703-820-8774.