Read 'em and weep.

As many large, urban areas have struggled to maintain a questionable building or build a new public library, the federal city, Washington DC, is not without similar conflicts. Add a cast of characters of city level politicians; new land available and city owned blocks away; a sad, but realistic budget; a building designed by a world renowned architect, despite that it is falling down around patrons; and you have questions that have been ignored by officials for decades. The biggest question: What is the best way to revive a decrepit central library, and how do you pay for it? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]