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WASHINGTON, DC-In an effort to spur the development of a newcentral library, Mayor Anthony A. Williams has introduced theLibrary Transformation Act of 2006. The legislation was submittedto the Council of the District of Columbia and seeks approval ofthe issuance of bonds to finance the revamping of the city's entirelibrary system. It would specifically construct a replacement ofthe central library--the Martin Luther King Jr. MemorialLibrary--on a parcel no larger than one acre at the formerWashington Convention Center site.

According to the Mayor's Task Force on the Future of theDistrict of Columbia Public Library System, the new facility wouldcost $180 million to develop and would take an estimated threeyears to build. DC's current central library is located at 901 GSt, NW, two blocks west the Verizon Center and about two blockssouth of the old convention center locale.