MLK Library Friends
MLK Library Friends is a nonprofit organization that supports the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library through volunteer activities, fundraising and advocacy.
The Board
A board is responsible for the organization on a daily basis. Board members are elected annually in October by the membership. Board meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month and are open to the public. Members are encouraged to attend. Board officers for 2025-2026 term are:
- Robin Diener, President
- David Weiner, Vice President
- Bonnie Boyd, Treasurer
- Wendy Blair, Recording Secretary
- Rondelle Magie Jordan, At-Large
- Anthony Smith, At-Large
- Avni Trasi, At-Large
At-Large Board member Julian Goldsmith has moved to Argentina for the year. Julian had been working on our project of teen talks about foreign movies, and hopes to return to continue with it.
President Diener then introduced five new At Large Candidates for the 2024-2025 MLK Executive Board, as follows:
Bonnie Boyd (ward 2 resident) has an abiding interest in libraries: “I love books and I love the Public Library. It is one of the most beneficial public services in existence. I would like to do my part in strengthening it and helping its stakeholders.” In addition, Bonnie has retail experience having worked at Barnes and Noble and at True Value Hardware. Her knowledge of board service encompasses separate stints as Secretary, Treasurer, and President of her condo association.
Rondell Magie Jordan (ward 2 resident) is a civil rights attorney who has defended low-income families from eviction, protected migrant farm workers from labor and sexual trafficking, and represented justice-involved youth in juvenile court. Rondell in interested in helping launch our library based adult literacy tutoring effort next year, especially enlisting college students in the program.
Anthony Smith is a lifelong Washingtonian who grew up in Ward 2. He and his partner and their 6 children live near the NW One library branch that is slated to be relocated. Anthony has helped the MLK Friends by lending his time and truck to pick up overflow books from other library branches for resale on our honor cart, and has spent time helping shelve and display the donated volumes in the Friends Room. He looks forward to being trained as an adult literacy tutor.
Avni Trasi (ward 1 resident) is a tech designer and artist who has been an active volunteer for the Punk Archives of MLK’s Washingtoniana division. As someone who likes to sew, she is interested in supporting and promoting MLK’s Fabrication Labs and MakerSpace. She is also concerned about issues confronting DC’s unhoused and, in particular, ways the Library Friends can be of help.
Available for download are our bylaws adopted January 4, 2022 (pdf opens in a new window).
Board Activities and Projects
Creating and participating in opportunities to discuss the renovation and overhaul of the landmarked central library building, and advising decision makers of members views
Expanding membership to library users throughout the District of Columbia
Supporting the Adult Literacy Resource Center at MLK in expanding and strengthening adult literacy programs throughout the library system as outlined in the Mayor’s Adult Literacy Council Report — Recommendation 4.0
In addition, the board is eager to help the DC Public Library explore solutions to the dilemmas posed for the city’s central library – Martin Luther King, Jr, Memorial – by homelessness in the District of Columbia. Our 2014 report “Sanctuary of Mind” (pdf) describes some thoughts on homelessness.
Contact Us
To submit questions and comments, please email info[at]mlklibraryfriends.org.