West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT
    • ADVERTISE
    • GET WSR FREE IN YOUR INBOX
    • SEND US TIPS AND IDEAS
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

Favorite WSR Stories

    SUPPORT THE RAG
    Get the neighborhood news that matters.
    Sign up for our free newsletter

    The Upper West Side Version of a Data Center

    September 20, 2026 | 8:17 AM
    in ABSURDITY, ART, COLUMNS
    25

    By Gary Martin

    Gary B. Martin is an illustrator and animator who has lived on the Upper West Side for more than 30 years. His illustrations appear in the Rag on Sundays, chronicling life in the neighborhood, New York City, and the Universe. See them all here. For a broader range of Gary’s work, including animations and other motion graphics, please visit www.martoons.com

    Listen to Rag Radio’s interview with Gary Martin — HERE.

    Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And you can Support the Rag here.

    Share this article:
    SUPPORT THE RAG
    Leave a comment

    Please limit comments to 150 words and keep them civil and relevant to the article at hand. Comments are closed after six days. Our primary goal is to create a safe and respectful space where a broad spectrum of voices can be heard. We welcome diverse viewpoints and encourage readers to engage critically with one another’s ideas, but never at the expense of civility. Disagreement is expected—even encouraged—but it must be expressed with care and consideration. Comments that take cheap shots, escalate conflict, or veer into ideological warfare detract from the constructive spirit we aim to cultivate. A detailed statement on comments and WSR policy can be read here.

    guest

    guest

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    25 Comments
    Amy
    Amy
    16 days ago

    Amen to that!😄 More power to the lions!

    12
    Reply
    Alice
    Alice
    16 days ago

    I love the NYPLs

    10
    Reply
    Mark
    Mark
    16 days ago

    Best kind of data center EVER!

    13
    Reply
    Ken
    Ken
    16 days ago

    Good One! – That will even pass the Governor’s Review Process!

    1
    Reply
    Bill Given
    Bill Given
    16 days ago

    Bringing life back to its simplest form makes it all the easier. Thanks, Gary.

    6
    Reply
    Mary McCarthy
    Mary McCarthy
    16 days ago

    “Artificial intelligence is likely to be either the best or worst thing to happen to humanity.” — Stephen Hawking

    5
    Reply
    Rosie
    Rosie
    16 days ago

    In the land before time, before AI, you could trust the information you got from your local library and from the ultimate heroes of the data revolution — librarians! They’re never give the credit they’re due! Keep libraries! Lose data centers!

    15
    Reply
    D M
    D M
    16 days ago
    Reply to  Rosie

    Lose data centers? Let’s not get carried away. It is not either or.

    5
    Reply
    Therese Case
    Therese Case
    16 days ago

    Totally agree!

    4
    Reply
    SusiQW
    SusiQW
    16 days ago

    Hear, hear!💯

    2
    Reply
    Edith
    Edith
    16 days ago

    Hear hear!

    2
    Reply
    Neal
    Neal
    16 days ago

    Proud to say my library card is in a disgraceful condition due to overuse.

    5
    Reply
    Mia Trachinger
    Mia Trachinger
    16 days ago

    Aw! Melts my heart. I just finished Susan Orleans library fire book, which describes libraries as evolving into community centers full of resources and life.

    5
    Reply
    Susan
    Susan
    16 days ago

    So true!

    4
    Reply
    Joanna
    Joanna
    16 days ago

    Yes!! You’re reminding me how nice it is to spend time in the library.

    2
    Reply
    Macadoody
    Macadoody
    16 days ago

    Wholeheartedly AGREE!!!!!!!!!!!

    2
    Reply
    Pat Hogan
    Pat Hogan
    16 days ago

    So many mixed feelings about AI. But going to the physical 4 walls of libraries makes me warm and fuzzy inside!

    2
    Reply
    Joe Chiplock
    Joe Chiplock
    16 days ago

    ABSOLUTELY!

    1
    Reply
    Debfrombrooklyn
    Debfrombrooklyn
    16 days ago

    Aw, shucks. I have a card to New York Public and Brooklyn Public. I mostly order and check out from BPL The Friend’s Groups at most branches are impressive. Thanks for the reminder!

    1
    Reply
    Gabriella Radujko
    Gabriella Radujko
    16 days ago

    Refreshing and true…let’s run this one every week as an homage to libraries in New York City and every city, town and village nationwide.

    2
    Reply
    Sue Taffet
    Sue Taffet
    16 days ago

    Excellent! We should all use that “data center”!

    2
    Reply
    Steve M
    Steve M
    15 days ago

    What is a data center but a faster, more effective and more comprehensive library in digital form? I’ll gladly take it! Luddites will be left behind in the dust of history.

    2
    Reply
    Eljay
    Eljay
    15 days ago

    Hear! Hear!

    1
    Reply
    Peter Birkenhead
    Peter Birkenhead
    14 days ago

    Second that emotion!

    1
    Reply
    Tuna Jack
    Tuna Jack
    14 days ago

    That’s refreshing!

    0
    Reply

    YOU MIGHT LIKE...

    Graffiti Removed From Historic Facade of Former UWS Metro Theater: ‘It Symbolizes Movement’
    ART

    Graffiti Removed From Historic Facade of Former UWS Metro Theater: ‘It Symbolizes Movement’

    October 6, 2026 | 4:43 PM
    COLUMNS

    Upper West Side Historical Photo Challenge No. 37

    October 6, 2026 | 8:00 AM
    Previous Post

    From a Gated Campus in Washington D.C. to a Gated Campus in Morningside Heights: What Are We Losing?

    Next Post

    Upper West Side Sunday Crossword Puzzle

    this week's events image
    Next Post
    Introducing the Upper West Side Sunday Crossword Puzzle

    Upper West Side Sunday Crossword Puzzle

    More Than Comfortable Shoes: Harry’s Finds New Purpose on the Upper West Side

    More Than Comfortable Shoes: Harry's Finds New Purpose on the Upper West Side

    Monday Bulletin: Popular Central Park Pumpkin Flotilla Put on Hold; UWSer Competes on New Season of Survivor; UWS Eateries Highlighted in New Photo Book on City Diners; Saturday Night Live Studio to Make Way for Brain Center

    • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
    • NEWSLETTER
    • WSR MERCH!
    • ADVERTISE
    • EVENTS
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS OF USE
    • SITE MAP
    Site design by RLDGROUP

    © 2026 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • TOP NEWS
    • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
    • OPEN/CLOSED
    • FOOD
    • SCHOOLS
    • OUTDOORS
    • REAL ESTATE
    • ART & CULTURE
    • POLITICS
    • COLUMNS
    • CRIME
    • HISTORY
    • ABSURDITY
    • ABOUT
      • OUR STORY
      • CONTRIBUTORS
      • CONTACT US
      • GET WSR FREE IN YOUR INBOX
      • SEND US TIPS AND IDEAS
    • WSR SHOP

    © 2026 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.