Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (MLKML) is the central building of the District of Columbia Public Library. It was built to honor Martin Luther King Jr., an important leader who worked for fairness and equality for all people in the United States. The library stands at 901 G St. NW in Downtown Washington, D.C., right between 9th and 10th Streets.

It is close to the Gallery Place station and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The library is located in areas known as Chinatown, Mount Vernon Square, and Penn Quarter, making it a special place for people to learn and read in the heart of the city.

History

See also: Carnegie Library of Washington D.C.

The city’s old central library, in Mount Vernon Square, was given by industrialist Andrew Carnegie and opened in 1903.

In 1961, a report showed the old library was too small and outdated. It was located in a poor area, and the report suggested building a new library downtown for about $12 million.

Construction

Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed the four-story, 400,000 square foot (37,000 m²) building using steel, brick, and glass. This was an example of modern architecture in Washington, D.C.. The library was completed in 1972 for $18 million. By the early 2000s, the building needed lots of repairs.

On June 28, 2007, the District of Columbia’s Historic Preservation Review Board named the building a historic landmark. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

The lobby has a large mural of Martin Luther King Jr. made by artist Don Miller.

Renovation

The Mecanoo architecture firm was chosen to renovate the library, starting on March 4, 2017. The renovation cost $211 million, and the library reopened in 2020 after 3½ years. The whole inside was redone, adding a new auditorium, dance studio, recording studios, tool library, offices, and a rooftop garden.

Covid-19

When the library reopened after the renovation, the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting the United States. The library closed again but helped the city by offering COVID-19 testing and masks while still giving some library services.

Accessibility

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library makes sure everyone can visit easily, following special rules to help people with different needs. All doors and elevators can be used by people using wheelchairs, and there are special computers for those who have trouble seeing or using their hands.

The library also has comfy lighting for reading, good air conditioning for summer, and heat for winter. There are restrooms on many floors, including family restrooms with baby changing stations. The library has stairs at the front and back for everyday use and in case of emergencies.

The library holds special collections like books and photos about the history of Washington, D.C., and materials about African American culture. In summer 2023, it displayed special drawings by Leonardo da Vinci. There is also a big auditorium on the fifth floor for performances, talks, and movies. Outside, there is a garden with nice views and covered areas to sit.

Landmark designations

In June 2007, important groups decided that the outside and main areas of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library were special and should be protected. This library is now part of a list of important places in the city. Later that same year, it was also added to a national list of historic places.

Main article: National Register of Historic Places