At a recent DC Public Library (DCPL) Board of Trustees meeting, Neighbor Robert Oliver was presented with a well-deserved letter of appreciation written by Mayor Muriel Bowser.

A resident of North Michigan Park, Mr. Oliver was instrumental in getting the Lamond-Riggs Library Friends group up and running again in 2017 after years of being defunct. That effort was timely for the rebuilding of the neighborhood library. Since reviving the Lamond-Riggs Library Friends, one can often find him at the library pitching in for different events. On more than one occasion, I have seen him picking up trash in the bioretention areas on the library grounds.

In 2021, Mr. Oliver was tapped to be president of the citywide Federation of Friends for DCPL. In addition to his work supporting DCPL, he contributes a lot of time to community work in Riggs Park through the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association development task force.

I often say things do not happen in the neighborhood by magic. It is people like Mr. Oliver who put in the time and effort to make things happen.

Congratulations and thank you to Mr. Oliver!