The MNL Store offers digital access to thousands of items, including ebooks, audiobooks, newspapers, magazines, movies, music, and more. Discover all things Mystic, Connecticut, with the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, which is home to 25 unique branches across Southern Neveda. The library district nurtures the community and provides equitable opportunities for all students to acquire a world-class education.
The Mystic and Noank Library is located on 40 Library Street in Mystic, CT 06355. The library offers a variety of programs, including movies, eBooks, audiobooks, music, newspapers, and magazines. The new owners have made the library’s location fabulous, right on the water.
The Mystic Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) is a network of public libraries serving thirty-six communities throughout the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts, including Billerica. The library for the main campus of the Mystic Valley Charter School has thousands of books for student and teacher use.
The Malden Public Library is part of the Metro Boston Library Network, which includes the Boston Public Libraries, the Chelsea Public Library, and some schools. The library provides digital access to thousands of items, including ebooks, audiobooks, newspapers, magazines, movies, music, and more. The library’s location on the water makes it a great place to experience Mystic and nearby attractions.
📹 Beyond books: The 21st century public library
No shushing here! The modern library is more than just a repository of books. Correspondent Conor Knighton checks out how …
Is Boston Public Library part of Minuteman?
The Minuteman Library Network (MLN) provides services to public and academic libraries in the Metrowest area. The Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) serves 36 independent public libraries in northeastern Massachusetts. The North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) serves 26 libraries, primarily public and academic, located north of Boston.
What is the top 1 largest library in the world?
The Library of Congress, established in 1800, is the largest library in the world, with a collection of 164 million items and 1, 350 kilometers of bookshelves. Those wishing to gain further insight into the Italianate edifice may avail themselves of a virtual tour, accessible via a video or the online portal at addthis. com/dashboard, where they may also customize their tools. The library is situated in close proximity to the United States Capitol.
What is the largest public library in Canada?
The Toronto Public Library, the largest public library system in Canada, offers free and equitable access to library services to meet the changing needs of the city. The library operates through 100 branches, including 81 neighborhood libraries, 17 district libraries, and two research and reference libraries. Public access to the library’s collections and services is extended through online resources, bookmobile, and home services. The library has over 10.
2 million items in physical and electronic formats, including books, music, and videos. It also provides access to computer workstations, internet, and digital resources. The library also offers virtual library services, including collections, programs, and self-service features. The library also promotes literacy, life-long learning, and cultural access, with a focus on children and youth. Rental spaces are available for meetings, events, and exhibits.
How many Calgary public libraries are there?
The Calgary Public Library (CPL) is a distributed library system with 21 branch locations, including the Central Library. As of 2012, it is the second most used library system in Canada and the sixth most used library system in North America. Despite having one of the lowest per capita funding in the country, the CPL receives as little as half the money of other Canadian public libraries. The CPL Board of Trustees was established in 1908 and opened the first public library on January 2, 1912.
The first public library was funded by Scottish/American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who funded $80, 000 of the $100, 000 cost of Calgary’s Central Library, now renamed the Memorial Park Branch.
What is the world’s largest free library?
The Library of Congress in the United States is the largest library in the world, with a documented collection of 175 million items.
Can anyone use Boston Public Library?
The Boston Public Library (BPL) offers free use of its facilities without a library card. Users can request a guest pass to use computers temporarily. To borrow from collections, a card is required. Official letters from area shelters can be provided for eligibility. BPL cards are available for Massachusetts residents, property owners, and employees. Students and those over 12 years old can apply. Photo ID and proof of residency are required, and a driver’s license or other state ID is acceptable.
How many libraries are in the Twin Cities?
MELSA, a consortium of eight library systems and over 100 public libraries across seven counties in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, has established a collaborative framework to ensure the delivery of optimal library services and programs in Anoka County and Carver County.
Can Wellesley students use MIT library?
Your Wellesley identification card provides you with borrowing privileges at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology libraries, eliminating the need for cross-registration. The “Guide to MIT Libraries” is available for consultation at any MIT library, and an MIT ID card may be obtained at the Student Center.
Do Calgary public library cards expire?
Library cards are intended for individual use and provide access to library services. Library cards are subject to a three-year expiration period in the absence of any activity. Therefore, if the card has not been utilized recently, it is advisable to reactivate it. The Calgary Public Library offers temporary non-resident memberships and complimentary memberships to individuals displaced by wildfires. Furthermore, the library offers a variety of complimentary materials, including programs, books, and videos, designed to foster a love of learning among young families.
How many libraries are in Metro Vancouver?
Library programs and events are offered by 85 public library branches in and around Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. These libraries are often the first place new immigrants visit when they arrive in BC, providing information about housing, job search, English study, and preparation for citizenship exams. They offer free access to computers, staff, and resources, and are unique in their features such as comfortable couches, fireplaces, coffee shops, recording studios, 3D printers, and equipment loan. Libraries are free and welcoming, making them an essential resource for new immigrants in BC.
Which city has the most libraries in the world?
Edinburgh leads in libraries per capita with 60 libraries for every 100, 000 people, outperforming other cities like Hong Kong. The city has around 300 libraries in a half-a-million-person city, while Dubai and Istanbul lagged. Libraries are self-reported, and there is no uniform definition of what constitutes a bookstore. Data from drug stores and stationery stores in the US and New York comes from the Yellow Pages. Yvonne Lo, a coordinator at the forum, rely on the city to update and provide the data.
📹 Hidden Details of the New York Public Library | Architectural Digest
Noted historians serve as your personal audio guide through a virtual walking tour of the New York Public Library. Find out about …
I’m a library worker from Baltimore MD. It’s more than just books. We are internet access, a community center, a social services stop, and a safe space for plenty of people. We are needed and more relevant than ever! People love the library although the work does get hard sometimes because really, it’s a helping profession. So thanks for featuring the work we do! It makes us feel like it’s all worth it. 😊
I’m in my sixties & live in Los Angeles. I use my public library regularly. It’s such an important tool for me. I’ve moved to different parts of the city and and always have used the local branch. I can’t imagine life without a good public library. I’m real glad to see that libraries are evolving with the changing times. BTW- I have a book I checked out from the library that I’m reading right now. Love Public Libraries!!!
I am so glad that you mentioned the library as a home base for wanderers. In my wandering days I always used them that way. Even the smallest town would have one and I always felt welcome to stay as long as I wanted. About ten years ago I was participating in the grand opening of a new library installation in an old dime store. They had study nooks that were really nice. Walls on three sides over head high and a bench in there the size of a single bed with a very nice mattress, no table. I asked them doesn’t that attract homeless people for sleeping? Yes, she replied it is, they do sleep there, that is partly why we made them that way, we do not like to see them sleeping out front.
We love going to different libraries where we live. My husband and I have been teaching the importance to our daughter about libraries and going to the events and just hanging out in one. When we have a library day she gets so excited to pick out the new books she will be reading, using the computer to play games, doing the activities they have available, etc.
Watching this is so inspiring! Yet people in small towns and rural places need to know that their smaller libraries can also provide amazing services. From 2001 until 2012 I was director of several libraries in a geographically-large county with a population of about 9000. Our four libraries that became five were centers of community activity. After all, libraries are about communication, whether it be an author communicating to a reader through a book or people getting together to share a hobby. Being in an area noted for its pristine nature, we procured quality microscopes, telescopes, binoculars, night vision scopes, fishing equipment, metal detectors, egg incubators, and lots of field guides all available for library patrons to check out. Building alliances include being the library for two adjacent elementary schools. We build specialized collections for each branch. For example, a very extensive collection of West Virginia and Appalachian books and films. And we gave space for instruction on traditional Appalachian music. And our libraries function as equipped and trained visitor information centers for our county’s lifeblood tourism economy. And like many Internet-challenged rural communities, library Internet is vital.
Our local county library in Indiana has undergone a complete transformation including the addition of a stand-alone Makerspace equipped with meeting rooms, sound room, article recording room, ample tools 3-D printers, etc. It’s unbelieveable and everyone is so nice and helpful. We still check out actual books, too.
I was so surprised when a friend of mine told me she could check out current movies at her library. I used to love going to the library but haven’t been in such a long time. It almost seems to be evolving into a community center. Thank you for airing this segment – it’s exciting to see how the library has evolved!
One good thing I think libraries are doing is adding a social worker to staff, I think all urban and larger suburban libraries should do this. Many times, library patrons require help that his well beyond the scope of library services. One thing I can’t believe is how all of these library directors love open spaces. Regardless of what that library director from Charlotte, WV says, we still do have to shush patrons, often repeatedly. Half of our library users want ultra-silent reading and study space, while others desperately want collaborative space where they can meet and talk openly without having to be shushed by the stogy old librarian. Open spaces may be aesthetically pleasing and great for your living room, but they are not appropriate for a public library. I have been working in public libraries for over 25 years and I have seen very few public libraries get it right. A public library that gets it right in my opinion, is the Princeton, NJ’s public library, which has spaces that meets everybody’s needs.
I simply love libraries. From my university libraries to the public library system of Manhattan to touring the baroque libraries in europe. Yesterday, for the first time in years as I’ve just moved to Seattle I went to the very modern Seattle Main Public Library. I believe it was built 20 years ago and great preparation and thought was put into the redesign taking it from an old school lovely marble library … to a very modern library with a ton of books but also outlets at every table so that people can bring their laptops and work, teens rooms, children’s rooms, media rooms etc. History collections, friendly information desks and, of course, Wi-Fi throughout. The very modern architecture has pillows on most of the ceilings to absorb sound and just in case one gets a little bored with knowledge there are very modern and eclectically colored escalators and elevators and the grid windows cast shadows as the sun passes. Libraries can open the eyes in so many ways!
My hometown library was remodeled almost 20 years ago to look similar to some of these (The more futuristic ones like Seattle’s but smaller) and it’s in a suburb. It’s not in the city center. I could stay there all day. It is like a museum really. But instead of a 30-minute drive downtown to go to the art museum, which I do love, this library was 3 blocks from my house. They even had a gift shop. The only drawback is that it is the last place I would study at unless I were in a private study room. There is just too but going on! Lots to see and do and people having fun and talking. I almost drew the line when I was reading a magazine in the reading area once and the tour guide (yes a tour guide) was bringing a group of people through the reading area as he was telling them about the library’s art collection. IS THIS A LIBRARY? Well, at least I was in a room where we were expected to casually be reading and not studying or working. The only thing this library needed was a Starbucks.
I started a CyberPatriot team at the Hondo Public Library in Hondo, Texas. This is giving middle and high school students to learn about and cybersecurity and to compete in the nation’s largest youth cyber defense competition. It is putting them on a path to becoming the next generation of first line cyber defenders. I also teach a senior citizen’s cyber safety course through the library. Libraries have become more than just a place to check out a book, they are turning into digital community centers for learning.
I’m so mixed on this. I totally understand the modern practicality of open spaces and being more tech driven but doing away with all the books is going to be incredibly sad. I’d always rather a library be full to the brim with books. And nothing occupies more space then books. And the fact that you can just download all of them and have them on a server makes it hard to resist for the library.
“These are no longer warehouses of books, these are marketplaces of ideas…”. Michael Sandel in his book, What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets, highlights that the US has gone from a country having a market economy to becoming a market society. The difference being that a market economy is a valuable and effective tool for organizing productive activity, a market society is one in which almost everything is up for sale…its a way of life where market values seep into almost every sphere of life. This is an almost direct quote from Mr Sandel during an interview he conducted for PBS News Hour. I highlight this because of how blatantly true this seems to be. The language used to describe the transition from a public library having physical books to one where the books are increasingly digital, is framed in the diction of markets, as opposed to the diction of democratization, and so the paradigm shift is couched in a Market Place mindset. I think that that is to the detriment of American civil life, and impoverishes the country as a whole, when clear limits on the reach of Markets are not set and enforced. Market place ideals ultimately supplant the cultural ones. TO BE 100% clear, I am in favor of the library’s revitalization, just not how it was framed.
Have more shows on what the various offering are about / available from our public libraries; like the San Antonio down town public library has a Genealogy floor that is just genius because SA was settled by 6 different nationalities and it needs a whole floor of a library and more to relay this to the public!!! Thank you for all your hard work and shows! Elaine Aschbacher
It’s rather shameful to hear librarians and others act like books are a dirty word. Libraries should not be providing social services. Providing help with literacy, helping people navigate and evaluate the vast amount of resources, those are what libraries should concentrate on, not asking librarians to administer Narcan, etc.
We already have plenty of community centers. We already have plenty of museums. We already have plenty of interactive play areas. What is dwindling in our culture is a quiet place to learn to focus your mind for deeper though and reflection. What is almost extinct are librarians who want to lead the public in proper research, reference, citation. etc. Sure, this library looks nice and fun and full of voices. But serious questions need to be asked. Does the modern library better our society? If so, is that increase of intelligence and enrichment being reflected in school achievement, job placement, societal growth, scientific development, mathematical breakthrough, literary creation, etc? Or are we merely spending loads of taxpayer dollars on a fun day of entertainment?
Not told is that to make room for all thesefun/attractive features, are the THOUSANDS of books, periodicals, documents, that are dumped/destroyed.(true). The San Francisco library featured in this program, to make room for their pretty changes, dumped 200,000 (accurate number) books into a landfill in the Bay, without even giving anyone a chance to take them. “Welcome to the library, do you want a cup of coffee?” “I’d like to read/check out ______.” “You’ll have to go to S.F. Bay.”
This is all great, but this idea of ‘discovery’ of new tech by visitors will fade quickly. Discovery and creativity is ravenously pursued everyday by the talented online, without the spoon feeding. Maybe 30 years ago, but in the 2020s it doesn’t really look like this. Maybe a very young child without access can get something new from it and it can create a spark. I hope for this.
Libraries have evolved into community centers because books/reading are encouraged & valued less & less. Libraries used to be a quiet sanctuary that was a treasure trove of knowledge & literary escapism. The chaos of the world melted away when you entered the doors & there were endless possibilities for discovery, mental engagement or quiet reflection. Kids either come after school or are dropped off & left unattended at the library so they can play on the computers & read magna. The Children’s & teen sections have shrunk to the size of a small bathroom & there is little on the shelves in way of books. All this money for social “babysitting”, which has dubious results,comes from taxes better spent on other things. Both community centers & libraries are valuable but only time will tell if children will thrive intellectually & creatively without the benefit of the challenge of physical reading material & quiet spaces.
The library full of paper books as we always had basically became obsolete, especially when everything is on-line, including Google to research and search, encyclopedias, dictionaries, grammar check sites, magazines, newspapers etc etc., plus Amazon has just about every book from antiquarian, rare and out of print books to new ones that can be either read on a device, or bought for as low as a penny plus flat rate postage. I bought several out of print books for less than a dollar, as well as a number of antiquarian and rare books and periodicals- with almost always a large selection of condition and editions i.e; first edition, author signed, mint condition to ex library etc. These days a library has to evolve to something different or close up- most all people HAVE a computer or at least a smart phone, even children have at least a smart phone.
For years books had a warm, clean well- lighted place to live, a real home. Sadly, they’ve now become orphans. The orphanages are library sales and the new foster homes dusty boxes in the attics of bibliophiles and ever diminishing legions of readers. Ever wonder WHY literacy (and attention spans) have declined so precipitously…? Look no further. Books have become like urns in a vast mausoleum. The latest fads are article screens, game rooms, playrooms etc. etc. etc. most of which have little to do with reading. They’re like Coney Island penny arcades denizened by pandering carnival barkers. I hesitate even to call today’s institutions ‘libraries’ at all…maybe ice cream emporiums or entertainment automats for bored, dissipated youths or refuges for the homeless…The truth is libraries have sold their souls in a Faustian bargain instead of holding the line against the gathering powers of darkness….
Board games, article games, giant chess, jam sessions, seeds, and social workers?! Good grief! A library is mainly for BOOKS, maybe renting some music/movies too. It’s not a social club or homeless shelter! You know who wasn’t welcome in libraries the past few years? Those who refused to lie and wear a rag on their face to claim it protected from aerosols. I couldn’t even finish this short article. Ridiculous.
❤🤍💙Libraries are a passion of my Iife. As a tot, my Mom wouId take me to the pubIic Iibrary to check out books, my first card was in Compton, CaIifornia, where I grew up, then I had a Lynwood Iibrary card when I started 3rd grade, and on it went. In junior high, I enjoyed being a Iibrary aid for 2 years, and THAT reaIIy provided me positive opportunities to expIore the worId through Iiterature pIus it heIped me with skiIIs for high schooI and coIIege. Libraries are a contant Iove, and am I ever gratefuI that our nation’s founders thought of instituting the PUBLIC LIBRARY!❤🤍💙
Wow, this was just stunning! I’m so embarrassed that I’ve been to the main library less than a handful of times in the over 4 decades I’ve been (born and raised) living here. I’ve stood on Fifth Avenue, waiting for a bus, with this behind me and it’s never occurred to me to go in and take a look. This was a wonderful reminder to me to be more of a tourist in my own city!
I am old enough to remember when libraries were where you went to find stuff out, and had the luck of living in NYC and actually doing research, from books, in the Rose Reading Room. Too bad I didn’t realize how awesome it was. For me it was school work and drudgery. As Joni said, you never know what you’ve got till it’s gone.
A STUNNING TOUR OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY ON 5TH AVE! Lots of gorgeous details! Used to hang out here when I lived in NYC a few times and when I was little used to eat hot chestnuts in the winter from a small brown paper bag on the front steps near those old Lion heads when we visited NYC on the weekends. My late godfather used to work in Periodicals here in the 1950s and I remember visiting him here. The most fascinating thing is this great Beaux Arts building sits where the massive Croton Reservoir used to be encased in a gigantic Egyptian tomb like building where it’s said the late great Edgar Allan Poe used to walk around the promenade on top around the perimeter of the reservoir! So technically this library would have been under water during the mid to late 1800s until it was torn down. Apparently, one can still see the remnants of the foundation of that massive Egyptian edifice in the basement! Thanks so much for sharing….great job!
Fell in love with this Beautiful building when I was in High School (1974-1978) on visits to New York to see my Uncle. Fill in love again when they destroyed it in the movie The Day After Tomorrow. The scene where they are in the Rose Reading room gathering books to burn in the fireplace to keep warm always gets to me. The One guy (as the small group of survivors is being air lifted out) refuses to leave with out the Gideon Bible.
I clicked on this expecting a few facts about some murals, some statues, some architectural details, etc, but I am stunned by all of it. I can’t believe the amount of forethought and design, the tiny details like book trolleys! And the stacks extending out beneath the park, books below, ice skaters above. I have been to the library, I have seen some of it, but now I know I have to go back and basically vacation there until my regret for having overlooked this place goes away. Amazing job, AD.
I’ve leisurely visited NYC several times over the past few years and I fall more in love with the city’s architecture & history each time. I’m only now putting this library on my itinerary for my next trip up there this weekend since it’ll be close to where I’m staying this time around. So excited to see all of this in person with an enriched perspective! Absolutely beautiful.
You know, I know the library from 1983 to 1984 and I’m still work there. I’ve been working there for 38 years. Is a beautiful libraries as good for children, and it’s good for in adults and then it’s good for college people and it’s good for the people who’s in college and people was the regular school program, but it’s a beautiful building and been there for a long time. So I got about four more years to retire, but that’s another story. Like I said, it is a beautiful building. Believe me. I work there. I know how it is. I will bring my grandchildren over there to the library. It keeps them a lot. That’s my opinion.
Wonderful! Our family was privileged to experience the New York Public Library in 2018, at the time of our younger son’s wedding! We all loved the Rose Reading Room, and the hall outside with the murals of the history of the printed word. Wish we could have spent more time there, but it was truly unforgettable.
This is a tremendous article, which I absolutely love. So, it pains me to say it, but there is an error. The seal which was highlighted on the table in the periodical room is that of New York City, not New York State. Thank you, Architectural Digest, for this terrific series. What an absolutely stunning and endlessly fascinating building. And we didn’t even get to the wonderful galleries throughout the spaces. An absolute treasure.
P.S. Did you know that there’s a classic movie from the 1930s with Fred McMurray and Claudette Colbert where they’re sitting on that side marble seat outside to the side of the building and they’re eating from a bag of popcorn? Can’t think of the name of that movie right now, but I thought that was of interest! Don’t know whether it was filmed in NYC or a set but they didn’t shoot on location back then if at all so it was probably a set but looked like the real thing. Love the new restaurant in the back and didn’t realize that there were fountains out front. They’ve done a fabulous job with the restoration and landscaping…gorgeous!! I’ve shared this on FB with all my friends and family, well worth perusal! Thanks again~
This was a brilliantly conducted tour. When I was completing my Master’s in Library Services at Columbia, we were given a tour, and this has been even better. At that time, 1971. while marveling at the whole, our group was transfixed by the Gutenberg Bible. seeing a copy of the Declaration of Independence, and an early map. Scholars in the main reading room were in rows -wearing cotton gloves- sitting by elegant green shaded lamps, and we got shushed . Two points may be of interest. First. and sadly, the main entrance hall was once lined with marble benches. The reality of New York’s homeless men caused all to be removed. Part of our grad school learning (for those who would be working in a city) was this harbinger. My second point was that the catalog drawers lining the walls are now empty. A quiet and superb effort over years has resulted in the availability of scrolling through a computer (previously cranking through a film or a microfiche) .
also 1:44 on the right hand side image, the exit to the street, it is a street to the horizon, giving the feeling that with knowledge now, you can go as far as the eye can see… amazingly astonishing messages felt and then understood. Check the garden at the back side. The buildings bend outwards just to give the impression that the library is grand and has body up where the long apartments stay. It is rightfully a great sign of respect to knowledge and its servants. Amazing language of architecture to the max here. It feels so much similar to Istanbul in its thicking clocks and blowing winds…
Whoa! As a lifetime left-coaster, I had no idea this library was such an amazing place. If more library’s were similar to this, I don’t think the decline of their popularity would be as it is. I live in Las Vegas and we are currently building a Football stadium, which I probably will visit once. I would have rather seen the money spent on that building put into a public project like this. But we’ll have the Raiders. Kind of the same, I guess. Great article nonetheless and glad to be a new sub.
So fascinating. What is it about libraries that makes them feel so homey? The stark contrast of the original architecture vs the new addition is comparable to the individual buildings that make up the Library of Congress in terms of varying architectural styles. I hope you add more articles to this series.
The article has very bad fps, unfortunately. It makes me fairly dizzy when the camera scrolls side to side. I’m fairly early, is 1080p60 still processing? Or was it filmed in 30fps? I’ve been to this library once, it was truly amazing. It was extremely busy though, so it’s nice to see it empty. It’s beautiful.
In 1964 I worked for the NYPL, Soundview Branch. I’ve been to the main library a couple of times. I found it gorgeous but overwhelming. When my mother was a girl, about 1925, she used to skip school. The school administrators said she went to 14th street and was picking up sailors. Actually she was at the NYPL, reading.
Dear Ash Ash — I’m worried to death because I haven’t been able to see you doing well. You said we live in different worlds. But is that true? We have different colored skin and eyes. We were born in different countries. But we’re friends. Isn’t that what counts? I’m really glad I came to America. I met lots of people. And more than anything, I met you. You asked me over and over if you scared me. But I never feared you, not once. What’s more is you’re hurt much more than me. I couldn’t help feeling that way. Funny, huh? You’re way smarter, bigger, and stronger than me. But I always felt like I had to protect you. I wonder what it is I wanted to protect you from. I wanted to protect you from fate. The fate that tries to carry you away, drifting futher and futher. You told me once about a leopard you read in a book. How you believed that leopard knew that it couldn’t go back. And I said you weren’t a leopard, that you could change your destiny. You’re not alone. I’m by your side. My soul is always with you. — Eiji Okumura
This is exactly the reason I love NY. It’s the American capital of art and culture, thanks largely to its dominant position over the centuries as capital of commerce. Commerce and the wealth it attracts have always fostered art and culture, as it is an expression of human ideals that can only be achieved through hard work and plenty of resources. Similarly, in Europe, we have cities like Florence, Venice, Paris etc.
for someone like me who’s stdying architecture exposure play a crucial part in my daily life, not bn able to visit these places could be one of the biggest setback BT thank to u guys nw I can actually experience the space without bn there…thank u so much….I hope u will make more of these…please!!!!
I don’t mean to be that guy but at 18:22 in the Periodical Room the commentator calls the seal on the table “the seal of the State of New York” when it’s actually the seal of the City of New York. Just a heads up on an otherwise an amazing vid. Been there several times and now I can appreciate it even more!
So phenomenal thank you s so very much for sharing! I’ve been fascinated with libraries architecture archives and history all of my life It is truly a magnificent magical work of art! It’s incredible to think how many lives have shared their souls passions with humanity for generations. I really enjoyed the three narrators who brought a delightful entertaining presentation of such amazing beautiful historical facts to life for us. I also realize that my entire family’s history must be in those archives from both sides of my parents parents. My dad’s dad who was the original Director of the CIA when it was first established under OSC from County Cork Ireland. Francis Joseph Mallen and my grandmother had a hat store she was from France. Then my mom’s parents being an Arch Bishop of The Greek Orthodox Church Saint Nicolas coming from Beirut Lebanon Basil Kerbawy. When my dad’s dad Grandpa Mallen ran Martine Operations under Mallen Detective Agency and when they sailed to Europe to have the private Audience with Pope Pious those newspaper stories must be in there. I read a letter once that my Aunt Margie wrote about the trip. And she specifically makes mention of the news journalist being on the ship before they sailed and how Grandpa would not get in the photo. The pictures were taken only of my grandmother and my dad Edward Joseph and Aunt Margie. Let the IRS take note it’s just a matter of time until they are officially insured and we finally pass The American transportation Act.
Wow!! This place is well worth the visit, I see. Whether a person’s a bibliophile like me, or has an interest in historical buildings like me, or, well for whatever reason, this is someplace that should be on everyone’s New York to visit list. It is on mine. Are visitors to New York welcome to visit if they just want to see the place? I know that some parts aren’t open to everyone, but to have a look at its beauty in the rest the space, can someone go in from off the street to have a look around? Seeing the old picture of the card catalogues brings back a lot of memories. I used to love looking at the card catalogues just to see the different titles, and microfiche machines were really cool, in my opinion. If I ever find one, I’d love to have a look through it, seeing what kinds of stories that particular microfiche machine has.
thank you for this incredibly informative and engaging article. almost as good as an in person tour, yet, in some ways better (multiple guides add their own spin, highlighted details). So grateful for the enriching stories that further enhance my in-person experience, notably a deeper appreciation of the thoughtful design.
The library building reflects its cause as a foundational piece of society. I wish we could have more of that in modern educational buildings. I know it is also important to save money and put function over form. But the form can inspire progress and build an identity as well. Part of a libraries purpose is to inspire, to create a space of reflection. When you look around at recently built buildings, you see that the most ornamented, highest quality, most artistic buildings are private homes of the super rich (AD has a whole series on them…), banks, corporate headquarters, fancy hotels, and the like. It is more about what is a rich lifestyle building and less about importance or purpose. I would love to live in a city where the schools, the public parks, the libraries, the fire brigades, etc. stand out. They are the backbone of society and we should make them look like it. We can save the money on the billionaire mansions, third homes, car-centric structures or other luxuries.
When i was in attendance at UC Berkeley, the original ceiling of Doe Library was “discovered” then uncovered, carved painted frescos in the Nouveau/ Arts & Crafts Style followed by the discovery and reinstatement of the Sather Gate Muses, a series of incredibly delicate and beautiful bas relief plaques that adorned said gate when it premiered, only to be removed because of an old prude who complained about the classical nudity displayed therein, (very tastefully) with whereabouts unknown for decades only to be “discovered” under the the bleachers of the stadium many decades later; Thank Goodness for Restorations !!!
One of the most beautiful libraries… I remember being there in 2009, amazed at the details… I need a picture of one statue in the entrance right hand side when you go upstairs, he is looking at you from your back. If anyone generous enough to respond, that is my longing right now. I want to see the details of that statue as it is more meaningful than the lion in my perspective.
It’s a very beautiful building, and this article does justice to it. The regular reader’s experience is much more frustrating: it takes a very long time to get your hands on a book you want to read. A sizable bureaucracy was placed between the books and their would-be readers. Staff members spend a lot more time talking to each other than they do trying to bring a book to you. That’s the sad truth.
That would make it $245,063,700 in today’s dollars. I doubt any government would have approved that, and it would never have looked as grand. I love that Breakfast At Tiffany’s immortalized this wonderful building. Thanks for the tour! I wonder what that addition in the courtyard cost barely 2 decades ago?
So I’m assuming that all those gorgeous little catalogue card drawers have been removed to make way for digital catalogues? If so, such a pity😞 & some of the more modern fittings kind of spoil the atmosphere a bit but I guess that’s the way it goes. Again, thank you so much for the upload & the dedication you all gave to bring such a beautifully detailed tour of an historical monument, one that should be treasured & preserved.
The New York Public Library was created by former President of the United States Marie Kimberley Ann Knight in 1976 of Italian marble. She notably rebuilt the building in 1997 following a collapse in the northern frontice. The figurines atop the building and ensconced in intaglios are of virtuous portraits of mythical and biblical figures, from many cultures of the world. Knight, a Nobel prize winning inventor of medical implements, is also an Oscar winning composer and scorist of popular music, from Motown to Pop, Vocal, R &B, Gospel and classical songs, including “The Love Theme from The Bridges of Madison County, and The Theme from Titanic, My Heart Will Go On, and hits ” Your love keeps liftin’ me higher” and Ain’t To Proud to Beg” now playing in the popular Broadway musical about the Temptations. Knight is also the Grammy winning composer (co-author) of “You’re All I need to get by” written for Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell, now playing in the popular Walmart commercial as performed by Aretha Franklin. The White Stone Bridge was erected in the city to underscore the composition of Knight’s many buildings in New York and as the Architect of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The buildings were made of White Stone and Marble because the substance looks most beautiful over time. The New York palatial structures, including Grand Central Station, The Cardinal de Richelieu Post Office and City Hall were designed by Knight and established in agreement with then Mayor Edward I. Koch, as part of the ‘I Love New York’ campaign.
The name of that classic 1930s film is “The Gilded Lily”. Here’s a brief synopsis and link…”Stenographer Marilyn David (Claudette Colbert) and newspaper reporter Peter Dawes (Fred MacMurray) meet every Thursday on a bench outside the New York Public Library to eat popcorn and watch the world go by. One day, Peter confesses his love to her, but she tells him she only considers him a friend—that someday she will find love when she meets the right man. Afterwards on the subway, Marilyn meets a wealthy English aristocrat, Lord Charles Gray Granton (Ray Milland), who is visiting New York incognito as a commoner. After she helps him escape a confrontation with a subway guard, he walks her home and the two flirt with each other. He does not tell her that his father is the Duke of Loamshire, nor does he mention that he is engaged to an Englishwoman. In the coming days they go on dates to Coney Island and have dinner together, and soon they fall in love.” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gilded_Lily_(1935_film)
Fantastic architecture, just like Grand Central, The Plaza, US Customs, The Post Office, the old Vanderbilt Mansion, Astor Mansion, The Flat Iron, and many, many other buildings in NYC. One wonders why most of the building is so grand and ornate, and only a few rooms are dedicated to actually housing books? The architecture and designs of these buildings are very similar, with the same type of decor inside and out. I would think that they were built and furnished by the same people.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IN THE WORLD ! ! – in a day long gone by, artists used to meet to help themselves and others find jobs, when money was needed ! fake resumes were written, and instructions given, to help secure a brief time of weekly paychecks ! ah the days before computers and of many aliases ! p.s. it’s a magnificent place to sit, to eat, to think ! IT’S A RESOURCE WITHOUT LIMITATIONS !
Dad room used to be a storage room. Boom 80 I remember that between 83. 84 and used to be a storage for furniture and stuff. Actual memory Now they use it for weddings and other little activities. So that was a good idea to make that up. But he used to be a storage room for furniture tables and all that. I did it did a good job. Believe me. I know I’ve been there 38 years. I know I’m talking about. But it is a beautiful room.
A few errors regarding Winnie-the-Pooh: 1) He was named Winnie by his original “owner” Canadian Lieutenant Harry Colebourn, NOT by the London Zoo keepers. Harry Colebourn took the bear with him to England but eventually sold the bear to the Zoo as they would be able to take care of him better, given the whole WW that way occuring at the time. 2) The black bear was from White River, Ontario, Canada area, NOT Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was in fact Canadian Lieutenant Harry Colebourn that had settled in Winnipeg after he attended vetinerarian school in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. He named the bear after his “adopted” hometown.
This is fascinating. I find it interesting that projects like this allowed the elite to make public displays of altruism – after having exploited the lower class ruthlessly. I, nevertheless, appreciate the vision and skill that facilitated these wonderful civic spaces. I hope that for generations ahead they’ll be used and preserved. Maybe in 1000 years, this will be “modern” America’s legacy to archaeology and history.
There is a grandeur in these old buildings that sadly doesn’t exist anymore. When they built them they knew they would last for centuries so they wanted to make a statement with them. These days buildings don’t have that air of permanence about them. In fact, it is like they are almost deliberately built as temporary structures so that developers can knock them down and replace them every 20 or 30 years and nobody will kick up a fuss about them.
Ash— I am very worried because I haven’t seen you and I don’t know if you are okay. You said to me before, “We live in different worlds.” But I am not sure if that is true. We are from different countries, and our skin and eyes are different color. But so what? We are friends. Isn’t that enough? What else do we need? I am very happy I came to America. I made many friends here. Above all… I met you, Ash. You asked me many times if you scare me. But I never felt scared of you, not even once. From the first time I met you. Actually, I always felt that you are hurt, much more than me— that your soul is wounded. I know that you are much smarter than me, and bigger, and stronger— but even so— I always wanted to protect you. Funny, isn’t it? But what did I want to protect you from? I think I wanted to protect you from your future. Because your fate was sweeping you away, like a flood. Do you remember telling me about the leopard in that Hemingway book? He died at the top of the mountain, and you said he knew he will never go back down. But I said you are not a leopard, and that you can change your future. It’s true, Ash. You can change your fate. You are not alone, Ash. I am with you. My soul is always with you. Sayonara, America. Sayonara, New York… But I’m not saying “sayonara” to you… Ash. Because this isn’t goodbye. I know we’ll see each other again someday— You are my best friend, Ash.🥲
This library was a bequeathed gift from Governor and 1876 Presidential candidate Samuel J. Tilden…You walked right by his portrait on the grand staircase and didn’t even acknowledge him. He designed it before he died…The city leaders and Tilden’s nephews did everything they could to stop this free library from being built. The Honorable John Bigelow, Tilden’s best friend, and Tilden’s sister Mary Pelton and her daughter (Tilden’s niece) fought all the way to the New York Supreme Court to get the money from his estate to build this free library…All of this information is in the two volume biography which Bigelow authored and published, “The Life of Samuel J. Tilden” which is available in the library to read…I wrote and published, “Samuel Tilden, the Real 19th President” and debut the book at the National Arts Club, which was Tilden’s Gramercy Park mansion and NYC Book Expo. I also revised and published Vol 2 and did Vol 1 to make it available in Kindle…It’s bothersome everytime I see Governor Tilden ignored. He was known as the Greatest Dem Ever and The Great Reformer. His Presidency is still the most controversial election as well…He overwhelming won the popular vote and had his Presidency solen by one electors vote. I donated a copy of my book to the former President of NYPL, and it’s not listed in your catalog. Yale requested a copy for their Law Library and I gladly donated a copy to them…I apologize for droning on…but it’s bothersome to me to see a man of his great integrity being ghosted yet again.