A central library as a grand place

Musicians will get out from behind closed practice-room doors and onto the concert stage today at the Harold Washington Library. (Rich Hein/Sun-Times)

The Harold Washington Library in Chicago has music practice rooms. See "Musicians come out of their rooms for library concert," from the Chicago Sun-Times.

The never properly vetted DC Library plan (Which doesn't appear to be online anymore) didn't reach very far in calling for expanded services and capabilities at the Central Library.

One of the reasons I was against the grand plan for building a new library is that the new library as planned didn't seem all that grand.

Many people had great suggestions during the various "listening sessions" where citizens spoke but weren't likely listened too, certainly the Library Master Plan never changed. I remember at a session I attended, having an excellent auditorium space was suggested, just one of many ideas. (Have you ever been to the auditorium at the Sackler Museum or the National Gallery?)

And the DC Government has never done a good job about advocating for appropriately mixed use public spaces, including libraries. The Hollywood library in Portland is a good example. And now the DC Public Library system isn't really open to proper consideration of mixed use proposals, and they are riling up local library activists to oppose them. This, when properly done, a library can be part of an excellent mixed use project, and in ways that strengthen the overall project as well as the library.