Country United States Established 1972 Opened 1972 Phone +1 202-727-0321 | Type Public library Website dclibrary.org/mlk Architectural style International Style | |
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Location 901 G St. NW, Washington, D.C. Branch of District of Columbia Public Library Address 901 G St NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA Architects Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Francine Houben Similar Shaw Library, S Dillon Ripley Center, The Historical Society of, Church of the Epiphany, Dr Martin Luther King Jr Library | ||
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The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (MLKML) is the central facility of the District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL). Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed the 400,000 square foot (37,000 m²) steel, brick, and glass structure, and it is a rare example of modern architecture in Washington, D.C.
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Construction
This library was Mies's last building, his only public library, and his only building constructed in Washington, D.C. The building was completed in 1972 at a cost of $18 million. Maintenance was then somewhat neglected and there were problems with the HVAC system. DCPL has recently restored lighting on the entire first floor. DCPL has also recently completed elevator and restroom renovations throughout the building.
On March 4, 2017, the building closed to begin a modernization, including a major reconstruction of the interior of the building. The modernization process is expected to last for three years, with a planned re-opening in 2020. Interim services for the central library begin May 8, 2017. A "Library Express" location and administrative offices will be located at 1990 K Street NW and an operations center established at 1709 3rd Street NE.
Landmark status
On June 28, 2007 the District of Columbia’s Historic Preservation Review Board designated this building a historic landmark. The designation, which applies to the exterior as well as interior spaces, seeks to preserve Mies' original design while allowing the library necessary flexibility to operate as a contemporary library facility. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
Named in honor of the American civil rights leader, the building's lobby includes a large mural of Martin Luther King, Jr. by artist Don Miller.
Prior to 1972, Washington's central library was a 1903 Andrew Carnegie-funded building located in Mount Vernon Square. That building was used by the University of the District of Columbia, and is currently occupied by the Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
Special collections
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library houses several of the library system's special collections. The Washingtoniana collection includes books, newspaper archives, maps, census records, and oral histories related to the city's history with 1.3 million photographs from the Washington Star newspaper and the theatrical video collections of the Washington Area Performing Arts Video Archive.
The Black Studies Center was established along with the MLK Library in 1972 to collect documents related to the African diaspora focusing on African American culture.
Digital Commons
In July 2013 the DC Public Library opened an 11,000-square-foot Digital Commons in the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. The new facility includes a 3-D printer, an Espresso Book Machine, and rows of computers. The Digital Commons also includes a "Dream Lab" composed of meeting spaces and cubicles with devices for collaborative work. The Library Systems hopes to attract startup companies and community organizations without permanent offices to use wireless Internet, DVD players, projectors, and Smart Boards.
Center for Accessibility
The Center for Accessibility in room 215 has Braille magazines and specialists in adaptive technologies to assist disabled people.
Teen Space
Located on the second floor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Teen Space is designed to meet the academic and recreational needs of young adults age 12-19. Staff is available to assist teens, teachers, care providers and parents.
The collection in Teen Space is primarily composed of recreational reading material. Patrons can find award winning fiction titles, popular non-fiction, graphic novels, magazines, audio books and music. The library also offers an online collection of downloadable audio books, movies, music and language learning software.
The Teen Space staff is readily available to assist with questions, book selection and library tours. Visit and enjoy a movie on our flat screen TV, use any of our 20, fully loaded iMac computers or have a study session in our meeting room. Teen Space is also equipped with a recording studio. The studio’s free to teens who have completed the mandatory orientation session.
Regularly scheduled programs are posted in Teen Space. Teens are invited to participate in video games, card games and board games. With permission from the library staff, teens are welcome to bring their own game consoles.