Search

A group of library users and residents of Midtown Manhattan are fuming over what they are calling the inept and heartless handling of the Donnell Library, which was known for its rich holdings of movies, music, foreign language materials and children's books until it closed last year. The New York Public Library shut the Donnell branch, which opened in October 1955, last August, as part of a deal announced in November 2007 to sell the building to Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. for $59 million. The five-story building, at 20 West 53rd Street, was to be razed to make way for an 11-story hotel, but a new library branch would occupy space on the first floor and in the basement. The deal fell apart in March, however, with the hotel company backing out, citing the financial and credit crises. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mentions the nearly four-year-old child, Robert Clark Bailey, who was the first patron at the renovated Great Kills Branch of the New York Public Library on Staten Island. Indication that Bailey's great-grandmother, Florence Ripley, was the first librarian; History of the Great Kills Branch; The cost of renovation.

Reports that the computerized catalog system at the New York Public Library in New York City, New York have been down since March 20, 2000. Problems posted by the incident; Statement issued by Caroline Oyama, the library's public relations manager.

Anticipating a flood of library patrons who received e-readers as holiday gifts, the New York Public Library will offer a free service that teaches users how to download e-books, library officials said. Free e-books are available for New York Public Library members and can be downloaded without a visit to the library. Patrons can find instructions on downloading e-books and other digital materials, including video and music, at nypl.org/ebookcentral. The library will also offer in-person help from Jan. 4 to 13 at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, and at the Mid-Manhattan Library, at 455 Fifth Avenue, at 40th Street. Nearly 22,000 e-books are available through the New York Public Library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If ordinary people were caught doing what Valerie Solanas did, they would probably have their library cards taken away and would be admonished: Don't even think of asking for another book here at the New York Public Library. Ever. But Valerie Solanas -- a feminist loner mainly remembered for shooting Andy Warhol -- was not an ordinary library patron. She marked up a book's cover and several pages inside. Apparently, no one realized what she was doing and alerted the staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the 113th Street public library branch near Columbia University in New York City, and the patrons and librarians there. Description of the library and patrons; Comments on how little money librarians make in New York City; The importance of libraries in society; Plans to move the library to a bigger space; Comments from librarians.

The article offers the author's insights on the availability of ebooks in public libraries in New York and the use of internet in such institutions by library users.

The article focuses on the expansion of the public libraries in New York City in the digital age with the addition of weekend and evening hours, employment of more librarians and staff, and expansion of their catalog. Topics discussed include the popularity of the story time at the libraries in Bronx and Manhattan, the statement of city councilman Andy King regarding the impact of budget cut on libraries, and the growth of the number of users at the Brooklyn Public Library from 2015.