José Vasconcelos Library

Mexico City's José Vasconcelos Library, labeled by the press as the "Megabiblioteca" ("megalibrary"), is considered a controversial and also the largest investment in infrastructure in the Vicente Fox administration. It is dedicated to José Vasconcelos, the former philosopher, presidential candidate and president of the National Library of Mexico. The library is spread on 38,000 square meters [ [http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/guiaocio/8760.html "Arranca la megabiblioteca"] , May 11, 2006.] and had an initial planned cost of 954 million pesos (roughly 98 million US dollars) [ [http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/340992.html "En orden los recursos de Biblioteca Vasconcelos: CAPFCE"] , April 4, 2006.] . The Congress of Mexico proposed plans to reduce the budget of 2006 that included cuts for all three branches of government. The PAN presented an alternative budget that preserved funds for Enciclomedia and the José Vasconcelos Library [ [http://dgcs.pgr.gob.mx/Sintesis/Matutina/Matutina2004/matutinaNov2004/Nov1504.htm Attorney General] .] .

Fox inaugurated the Library May 16, 2006 declaring that this is one of the most advanced constructions of the 21st century, and it would be spoken of throughout the world [ [http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/349449.html "Inaugura Fox megabiblioteca "José Vasconcelos"] , May 16, 2006.] . This inauguration took place a week before the deadline the president had to promote his accomplishments before the 2006 presidential election [ [http://www.universia.net.mx/index.php/news_user/content/view/full/37309/ "La Biblioteca Vasconcelos"] , Universia, May 18, 2006.]

The Library had to be closed down in March 2007 because of defects of construction [http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2007/03/30/index.php?section=cultura&article=a04n1cul "La ASF pide fincar responsabilidad a funcionarios de Vicente Fox"] , March 30, 2007.] . The Superior Auditor of the Federation detected 36 irregularities in its construction and issued 13 motions of responsibility for public servants of the federal government. Among the irregularities found was the misplacement of marble blocks at a cost of 15 million pesos (roughly 1.4 million dollars).

During the Calderón administration efforts to restore it continued with a further investment of 32 million pesos (roughly three million dollars) [ [http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/cultura/52782.html "32 mdp más a la ´megabiblioteca´"] , "El Universal", May 31, 2007.]

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