The Commonwealth Library Council was created by CNMI Public Law 7-18. And in 1992 it replaced the nonprofit Friends of the Library Inc. and the Public School System, as the controlling body for public library services for the island commonwealth. The million dollar central library building was built by private funds on government donated land and was named after its two major donors. In September 1992, the library was transferred to the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Library Council, appointed by the Governor. The library serves the residents of Saipan as the island's public library and also functions as the CNMI State Library.