Newly Renovated Bloomingdale Branch of New York Public Library Will Reopen on Tuesday, July 6th — And It’s Gorgeous!
By Carol Tannenhauser
The newly renovated Bloomingdale branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL) will reopen next Tuesday, July 6th, in time for the NYPL’s system-wide reopening on that date. The branch is located at 150 West 100th Street, between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues.
”Prior to the pandemic , the Bloomingdale Library was in the process of undergoing extensive renovations to improve the infrastructure and accessibility of the branch,” explained Yajaira Mejia, library manager at the Bloomingdale branch, in an email. “While the project was temporarily delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions, it has since been completed.”
The $3-million-dollar renovation, managed by the New York City Department of Design and Construction and Bernheimer Architecture, includes:
- a new dedicated teen room
- upgrades to the second-floor bathrooms
- A roof replacement
- new floors and new carpeting in the first-floor main reading room
- new drinking fountains
- repainting of reading rooms
Beginning on July 6th, the New York Public Library system will resume nearly all of its services, with the exception of programming, which will come back slowly over the summer and into the fall, Mejia wrote. Masks will be required inside the Bloomingdale branch, as the following services are allowed:
- general library use of reading areas and open seating
- unlimited browsing
- return to pre-pandemic computer use protocols (including laptop loan)
“I have missed the wonderful Bloomingdale Library, my regular stop after Whole Foods and Central Park,” wrote local author Sally Koslow (Another Side of Paradise), “and the kids in the family can’t wait for its great children’s rooms to open. A neighborhood gem.”
The project was funded by Mayor de Blasio, City Council Member Mark Levine, and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.
* Readers are writing in requesting information about other NYPL branches. The best place to check out other locations is www.nypl.org/locations, said Amy Geduldig, from the communications department. “There are a few branches that are undergoing renovations and another handful that will reopen later this month. More details about the reopening at all three NYC library systems is available here.”
No mention of accessibility. Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes, according to the NYPL website it is fully accessible.
It always has been. There was an ADA ramp to get to the entrance and it has an elevator. The elevator was even recently replaced.
What wonderful news for the Fourth of July — our neighborhood library, which has been closed for so long, reopening. I can’t wait!
Yay!
Yay! It’s been so long! Can’t wait to get back in there (and take my kiddo for the first time)! 🙂
Correction: The project was funded by US, the taxpayers.
You beat me to it. I guarantee not a cent for funding was given by deBlasio, Levine or Brewer.
I’m so very pleased about this! Will their schedule be on the NYPL website?
Are there public rooms for readings, or giving workshops? I gave a workshop several years ago and might like to do another again. Also readings. Used to give well-attended readings twice a year at Cornelia Street Cafe (now closed).
Jim Story,
author of Problems of Translation or Charlie’s Comic, Terrifying, Romantic, Loopy Round-the-World Journey in Search of Linguistic Happiness. Plus the forthcoming The Condor’s Shadow.
What blessed news. The Bloomingdale branch has been an oasis for our family for over half a century. It also provided an ideal space for writing; I gave several readings from my work there as well. Thank you, powers-that-be, for giving us back our library. Will we see the same friendly librarians again?