The New York Public Library has announced plans for a $30.2 million comprehensive renovation of the 122-year-old Carnegie branch on 10th Street.
The project is currently in the design phase, with construction projected to be completed by Dec. 22, 2028.
According to the NYPL, the renovation will reconfigure the library's layout to create dedicated spaces for children, teens and adults while addressing long-standing accessibility needs. Planned improvements include ADA upgrades to the entrance, bathrooms, and elevator, as well as new furniture, upgraded technology, and modernized building systems.
As part of the planning process, the library is seeking community input. Patrons can complete a survey online here or at a kiosk inside the branch between Avenue A and Avenue B through June 30.
After the survey closes, the NYPL plans to host a community meeting to share the results and gather additional feedback.
As branch manager William Hall noted in an email to patrons, the goal is to ensure the branch can serve the neighborhood for generations to come.
The branch was closed for four months in 2023 (April-August) to, per NYPL officials, "facilitate improvements to the building, including preliminary work on a new Teen Center at the library, as well as replacing the branch's flooring and a fresh coat of paint."
wow! wonderful news for our library community!
ReplyDeleteDid they say when they would be closing?
ReplyDeleteNo mention of a closing date... only that they are currently in the design phase...
DeleteOnce they have a final design they will know how long the project will take. Then they will figure out the timeline. They also will have to make arrangements for the other libraries they will get more patrons. Overall this is great news for the neighborhood. Improvement to the park and library.
DeleteThat’s excellent news! IMO this a great iuse of our tax dollars! While I’ll miss the library during renovations (whenever that ocurs) I look forward to seeing the finished result!
ReplyDeleteYes! Libraries are valuable resources.
ReplyDeleteAny news on the reopening of Hamilton Fish?
ReplyDelete30 million + will balloon to 40 when the city finishes. Sad to say this is a wasted project. The current reno was a complete waste of money... the wood floor is a mess already... There are fewer seats... fewer outlets and less shelf space for books because the desk was moved to the opposite wall... and the lounge seating was discarded. The real problem for the EV is not the Reno... but the closure. If this is a top to bottom project then it will take over a year maybe a year and a 1/2. The project leaders should have rented a space in the EV close to the library to open up a temporary branch. The books and equipment have to be removed anyway. Steiner would have been perfect. Maybe there's still time to find something near by. But right from jump street this project is not being handled well. No one wants the library to close for over a year. Think about the bathhouse in the park. How long did that take? Years!
ReplyDeleteI guess I've lived here for a long time now, but I remember the last time they closed it for a complete renovation. Does it really need this again?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing. Wasn't it closed for well over a year? I remember having to go to Ottendorfer or Hamilton Fish.
DeleteDo we really need libraries these days with the internet and AI? Before the internet this is how research was conducted but I am curious as to who really uses libraries these days and for what purpose that is not available on line? Is $30MM (a huge sum for a renovation) better spend here or is it better to convert the library to more housing - affordable or otherwise? How many people a year use the library?
ReplyDeleteLibraries remain vital institutions in the city, even in (especially in?) this on-line age, so investing in them is important, still.
DeleteAgreed. The library was so important to me growing up in the city. Librarians are and were a big part of my life.
DeleteWho uses libraries?
ReplyDeleteChildren after school on cold and rainy days
Teens who want a safe hangout space
Folks who need to use library computers and internet
And me who reads a lot and likes to hold books in her hand!!
Also many community activities take place there!!
A necessary and welcome part of our community!!
Why so much and for what? It’s a nice facility besides the stairs in the front. How about a coat check for patrons roller suitcases and giant black trash bags so it won’t block the entry.
ReplyDeleteIt’s also for total ADA compliance.
ReplyDeleteLibraries remain vital institutions in all places!!! They are cooling centers, places for safe meet-ups, community centers, a place to get tax forms, print out resumes when your at home printer breaks, computer use, art classes, English as a second language classes, and of course, vital research centers and quiet reading spots. I use the library all the time and value its place in our society and so should everyone——use it or lose it, folks. Good luck with your brain and your use of AI all of you peeps who are calling this a waste of money…. You know nothing about community.