Harold Washington Library (photo)

With the conversion of Chicagos former central library into the Chicago Cultural Center in 1977, a long-term temporary central library was opened in the Mandel Building at 425 North Michigan Avenue and much of the librarys collection was put into storage. A debate on a new central library ensued and continued throughout most of the 1980s, frustrated by a lack of funding. After the turmoil of four mayoral administrations in a 7 year period, finally, in 1986 during Mayor Harold Washingtons tenure, the city and the Library Board picked a location and floated a million bond issue to provide funds for the new building, as well as the entire city-wide, library branch system.