[Photo yesterday by Steven]
The Ottendorfer Library, 135 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street, closes on Monday for upgrades that will keep the branch out of commission for at least six months.
Here's the message via branch manager Kristin Kuehl...
The New York Public Library's oldest branch, the Ottendorfer Library, will close temporarily on August 6 to install a new fire alarm and life safety system. The 8,000-square-foot Ottendorfer Library opened in 1884 as New York City's first free public library.
The upgrades at Ottendorfer Library will strengthen the well-being of a historic New York City building as well as further support nearly 135 years of library service to the Lower East Side community.
Due to the building's age and landmark status, the project is expected to take six months. The branch ... will reopen in early 2019. While Ottendorfer Library is closed, patrons are advised to use the Tompkins Square Library at 331 East 10th Street.
As for the Tompkins Square branch between Avenue A and Avenue B ... check out their free activities (link here) for August.
12 comments:
Love this place.
I met my dashing husband here in 2010. He was returning a book just as i entered through the door. At first, It was maddening because he was such a big, strong man in a rush to leave. He apologized profusely after he aggressively ran into me without looking. We began talking after I berated him, he gave me his number, we had a date, and the rest is history. Every year, on the day we met, on Feb 9th, we visit the library together, and check out a book. I hope this special place reopens in time for our anniversary. I also didn't realize how old it truly was. Remarkable and beautiful at the same time.
We will miss you, Ottendorfer!
Come back to us soon, Ottendorfer! You are a vital part of our neighborhood!
Thanks for sharing this!
This place is the best - a lot has to do with the people that work there -
they are people friendly !
They are super nice and accommodating - Going To Miss Them !
@9:06 - what a wonderful story!
This is tangential to the main story, but I wonder: do NYPL locations ever get checked for bedbugs? Truly just wondering.
I've become a bit leery about bringing home books from the library OR from 2nd hand bookstores ever since someone I know got bedbugs from a book she bought at one of the best-known second-hand bookstores in NYC.
I also worry about picking up bedbugs from sitting at the library. I'm probably just paranoid, but that's why I wonder about whether libraries get checked for bedbugs.
I just love the story from @ 9:06. Romance is alive and well in NYC! Hope this can happen to me...
Anonymous, what a wonderful story. Wishing you and your spouse many more happy, book-filled years together.
I too will miss Ottendorfer and its competent, sweet librarians and staff. Miss Thea FTW.
There's always a cart of books where people can leave/take what they want, sometimes cds as well. I hope there's such a cart at Tompkins. I've found and left some treasures on that cart.
I want to fall in love at the library too :)
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