A Rite of Spring at the MLK Library

Unbelievable. Nice grab!

I bet this photo will be used by the “New Central Library” public relations team to disrespect the MLK once again. After all, everything is the architects fault and having wild life inhabitants is more cause for a new library building.

Milania, I wondered about that prior to posting (though my intent was light hearted humor). I like the library, I’m a big supporter and user, I get easily 95% of the books I read from MLK, and hardly ever spend money at bookstores.

But the library needs to change, either having money put into MLK to fix it up, or starting over at the old convention center site.

Oh my, I’ve seen this in grocery stores and Costco, but not a public library! Not that I see it as evidence the library is crap. I see the broken windows, shredded carpeting, water damaged stacks, and burnt out lightbulbs as evidence the library is crap.

Something needs to change if people are to believe this city actually cares about libraries (and therefore reading, learning, etc.). New library, refurbished MLK, refurbished Carnegie library in Mt Vernon Square, I don’t really care. They’ll probably all cost the same, and it’s more important to me that something get done.

Does anyone know why half of the Old Convention Center parking lot is gated off? There is a trailer in the parking lot, but no other indications of what is going on.

Is the construction beginning there?

to add to jason’s list; don’t forget the often broken elevators, the stairwells that are closed and read “employees only”, the joke of the security entrance/screeners…

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know why there’s a line out the front door of the library in the mornings?

giada: I don’t know how frequently there is a line out the door, but during the last election, there was a line outside and I asked the person what they were waiting for. I think she said she was there to take the GRE.

Anon: We emailed the people at Hines and didn’t get a response. It would probably be easier to ask one of the parking lot attendants.

During winter the long lines every morning were just to getout of the cold, or so I was told by the person in line I asked back in January. The library opens at an odd hour, 9:30 am I think, so most are just waiting for it to open.

In Mayor Fenty’s 100 Days…..and Beyond: 2007 Action Plan for the District, there is an entry under the “Economic Development and Affordable Housing” section for a “Groundbreaking at old Convention Center site” to take place within 4 months of him taking office. Maybe Hines is getting started soon. And, only one-half of the master plan was approved to proceed by Williams just before he left office. This is the half below Eye Street.

Oh yes, that sure is a cute bird. Nice!