On July 16, the D.C. Library Board of Trustees voted to adopt a new Code of Conduct policy for its buildings. While the code is largely similar to the rules previously in place, some community activists and library workers worry the code will mean people experiencing homelessness will find it harder to use library buildings as a refuge.
The new Code of Conduct, formerly known as the Rules of Behavior, now states not only is lying down, sleeping, or the appearance of sleeping prohibited, as it has been for years, but patrons also cannot take up space “intended for more than one person.” Additionally, though the previous rules said library patrons could not place personal belongings against buildings or leave them unattended, the new code says unattended items both inside and outside will be “searched and removed.”
While rules against sleeping outside of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library have been around since at least 2014, according to the D.C. Register, the library began reinforcing those rules last summer, when it announced a ban on sleeping outside the library and implemented signage and overnight patrols. Many people experiencing homelessness use the MLK Library and other branches to stay safe from the elements, either spending time inside during the day or sleeping under the awning at night. Most people who sleep outside MLK do not set up tents, though they may pack their things up each day and leave them near the building.
During the D.C. Library Board of Trustees meeting, held at MLK, Castor Idae, a representative of Stop the Sweeps D.C., presented a petition with over 1,400 signatures from DMV residents opposing the new policies. Stop the Sweeps is a local group that organizes to oppose encampment closures.
“These rules will just further the hostility of D.C. towards unhoused residents,” Idae testified to the trustees. “Now, people will have to choose between accessing library services and their possessions and potentially vital survival supplies, should they be over the bag limit.”
While the process to update the policy has taken about a year, according to D.C. Library Board of Trustees executive member Richard Reyes-Gavilan, the vote to pass the policy happened quickly, with no discussion on the petition. The trustees present, Shanel O. Anthony, Roswell Encina, Maria Peace, and C. Brian Williams, voted unanimously to adopt the new code. Antonio Williams and Andrew Trueblood were not present.
Before voting on the new policy, Anthony said, “We’re all citizens of the city, and we love the city, so we appreciate all the public comments. I think we can have a code of conduct policy that supports everyone enjoying the library, but also advocates for supporting the unhoused in this city.”
In addition to reinforcing the ban on sleeping, activists worry the library is taking other actions limiting access for people experiencing homelessness. In the spring, a sign was posted on the doors of MLK Library reading: “All unattended items will be removed daily from D.C. Public Library Property beginning April 14, 2025.” Then, in June, the city conducted two encampment sweeps, which displaced at least a dozen people and closed the area outside of MLK where people usually sleep.
“The focus on targeting marginalized people has nothing to do with safety,” testified William Reid, a librarian who has worked primarily at MLK Library for 13 years. “This is emphasized by the lack of action to address safety issues inside this building.”
In his testimonial to the Board of Trustees, Reid said that while policies like the code of conduct apply to everyone in the library, the rules are not enforced equally.
“Will a person who checks out a book and then lounges in front of the library to read be addressed, even though they are technically out of compliance with these policies?” said Reid.
Another librarian, who wished to remain anonymous, told Street Sense librarians feel unsupported by library police when they do enforce policies and try to bar individuals. He feels the library staff are unheard and undermined.
“It frequently appears that library police and administrators are more concerned about getting sued than actual staff and patron safety,” he said.
Neither Stop the Sweeps nor the librarians see the new code as a solution for homelessness, and they anticipate increased police presence with its implementation.
“When there aren’t enough shelter beds, how can we be throwing people out in the rain at a building named Dr. King?” Reid said.
This article originally appeared in Street Sense’s July 30, 2025 edition.
