WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 11, 2006 – The DC Library Renaissance Project congratulates members of the DC City Council for their successful request to Mayor Williams to withdraw his controversial legislation about a new central library from the FY 2007 Budget Support Act. The legislation, which received no public hearing, would have authorized leasing the iconic Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library and building a new central library on the old Convention Center site.

On April 22, in response to public outcry, Kathy Patterson, Chairman of Committee on Education, Libraries, and Recreation convened an emergency Town Hall, attended by more than 100 people. The majority voiced dismay at the Mayor’s attempt to “bury” the legislation in the budget, as well as concerns about abandoning MLK. At Patterson’s recommendation, her committee voted to ask the Mayor to remove Title II-D “Library Omnibus Financing and Development,” from the 07 Budget Act. The Committee was joined in its request by Council members Sharon Ambrose, Jack Evans and Carol Schwartz. Kwame Brown, Jim Graham and Phil Mendelson also stated their support.

On June 15, as a result of City Council’s actions, members of the public will have the opportunity to give testimony at a formal hearing of the Committee on Education, Libraries, and Recreation. DC Library Renaissance Director Leonard Minsky credited Council with “exercising exemplary oversight. We continue to oppose the Mayor’s proposed relocation of the purpose-built, dedicated-use MLK Library. Now, thanks to Council, the public will have an opportunity to be heard.”

= = =

The June 15 hearing will be held at 10 a.m. at the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W., Council Chamber, Room 500.

Anyone wishing to testify at the hearing should contact Evelyn Bourne-Gould, Legislative Assistant to the Committee on Education, Libraries and Recreation, at 724-8195, or via e-mail at [email protected] All witnesses will be permitted a maximum of three (3) minutes for oral presentation.

# # #

For Immediate Release

Contact: Robin Diener

202/387-7776