The Bloomingdale branch of the New York Public Library at 150 West 100th Street is closing on Feb. 16 for a long term renovation project. The library sent out a notice on Wednesday explaining its plans:
Dear Library Patron,
The New York Public Library’s Bloomingdale branch will close for approximately 15 months beginning on Saturday, February 16, 2019, to undergo an over $3 million improvement project. The branch is scheduled to reopen in 2020.
During this temporary closure, patrons are encouraged to use two nearby branches:
- Morningside Heights Library (2900 Broadway, Manhattan)
- St. Agnes Library (444 Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan)
To further accommodate the community, Bloomingdale Library is partnering with community organizations to continue branch programming in the neighborhood throughout the temporary closure. Please check our website for updated information.
The Bloomingdale improvement project—funded by Mayor Bill de Blasio, The New York City Council, New York City Council Member Mark Levine, and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer—includes a new dedicated teen room that will allow teens to talk, engage in group study, use computers, or work independently without disturbing other patrons. The project also provides much-needed upgrades to the second floor restrooms and adds new drinking fountains.
This important project—which will ensure that Bloomingdale Library can best serve New Yorkers now and in the future—is part of a significant investment in the branches by New York City and The New York Public Library system.
Yours,
Kimberly Spring
Associate Director for West Manhattan Neighborhood Library Network
Disgusting! “two nearby branches”. Let’s see, one is on 81st street (NOT nearby), the other is on 113th street (BARELY “nearby”). Instead of renovating one section at a time, an extremely valuable library to the neighborhood just has to completely close for well over a year? What?! Pathetic. Outrageous!
I totally agree. One would think that much of this project could be done section by section, keeping at least part of the library open. Then if the whole library still needs to be closed, at least that amount of time is minimized. Using a library while adjacent sections are under construction is not ideal, but it is better than nothing. And I highly doubt that doing it this way is saving huge amounts of money.
Maybe Governor Cuomo can find a better way to do this like he did for the east river tunnels and save us from this closure!
I don’t know the circumstances. Could it be a question of asbestos and lead paint making it unsafe to keep parts of the library open? Or increased costs if they do it a bit at a time? (These are questions – I don’t know the answers.)
It is unbelievable that such a valuable resource will be closed for FIFTEEN months!! Atrbtheyveorkingnone hour a day? It should be completed and reopened much faster!!
“The Bloomingdale improvement project—funded by Mayor Bill de Blasio”
Really, he’s funding it out of his own pocket? What a guy. And here I thought he was a cheap, broke political hack without 2 nickels to rub together. Or, maybe the press release is wrong and in fact it’s taxpayers who are footing the bill for this ridiculous “facelift.”
So no taxpayer funds? This is a present from our elected officials’ personal pockets?
“The Bloomingdale improvement project—funded by Mayor Bill de Blasio, The New York City Council, New York City Council Member Mark Levine, and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer…”
Anything I say is going to out me as a curmudgeon.
Watch out Bloomingdale! In 15 years NYPL will be coming back for demolition, if Inwood branch is one to go by. 1998 – 2001 Inwood branch underwent a renovation that “blew away” Tony Marx. 15 years later NYPL wants to demolish it. Instead, they should build the proposed housing/library on a City owned site east of 10th Ave. in Inwood
A TEEN ROOM???? A ROOM WHERE TEENS CAN SIT AND LOOK AT THEIR PHONES….LMFAO
I don’t know if 15 months represents the ideal length of time for this project. But I do know all these people complaining who would lose their mind over “wasteful overtime” and the like if the project were done on an expedited basis. Maintaining “valuable resources” takes CASH and TIME, people.
The number of middle-class people in total denial about the amount they benefit from government “handouts” is always striking. (Don’t say “well, I pay taxes…!” Poor people pay taxes, too, but nothing is cheap or shoddy enough for them from the middle-class POV. But all these “people who work hard and don’t take anything from anyone” suck up the benefits of a civilized government just like everyone else. They just don’t want to admit it.)
15 months!!! 🙁
While 15 months certainly isn’t ideal, I’m glad this space will be given an overhaul. It certainly needs one. Our neighborhood deserves a great library and our teens deserve a great space as well.
15 months!!! Is this another 2nd Avenue Subway undertaking? Shameful.
This library could use an additional floor or two on top of the existing building. This is easily accomplished without disrupting daily library operations. The new space would be used for a host of community related purposes. New up to date reading rooms. Community meeting rooms and conference spaces. An additional poll site for the neighborhood. Westside HS and PS 163 are getting very crowded.
The NYC Board of Elections could use a poll worker training facility. It has been kicked out of many churches its been using through out the city. Only public schools during the month of August can be used as training sites. PS 75 the local training facility with decent air conditioning. The cafeteria is a still a toxic site during training time. The roaches are aggressive. Don’t leave your lunch on a table for too long. This is where kids will be going to school in the fall and eating breakfasts and lunches.