Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Inside The NYPL's Eerily Empty Rose Reading Room
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 25, 2015
Modified Nov 25, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Photo by Jonathan Blanc / NYPL
View all 14
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 25, 2015
Modified Nov 25, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Good news: the NYPL's Rose Reading Room will reopen in 2016. That will be nearly two years after it closed its doors when a foot-wide piece of plaster (one of the rosettes) fell from the ceiling, but still ahead of the previously scheduled reopening date in 2017.
On top of the structural concerns regarding the ceiling, asbestos had been discovered in an attic (which is closed off to the public and staff), but yesterday the NYPL issued this promising all-clear update:
"The historic Rose Main Reading Room and Bill Blass Catalog Room will reopen to the public by late fall 2016—several months ahead of the prior schedule.
A thorough inspection found that the ceiling is in good condition. Still, the Library has decided to reinforce all large and medium sized rosettes on the ceiling with steel cables. The latest estimate is that work will be complete by fall 2016. The original estimate was 2017."
They also offered up these spectacular photos of the room in a totally different state than we're used to seeing it in. Click through, and renew your library cards.
For reference, here's what it looked like in less-eerie times:
(Jake Dobkin / Gothamist)
Tagged
nypl
rose reading room
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Standing on the Corner's music honors the ghosts of New York City
The group's frontman Gio Escobar met Gothamist at the 9/11 Memorial to explain the inspiration behind the experimental collective’s new album that, ironically, feels so full of life.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Sep 9, 2026
Brooklyn Public Library launches first ever craft library
Cardholders can borrow tools and kits.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
Brooklyn Public Library launches first ever craft library
Cardholders can borrow tools and kits.
By
Hannah Frishberg
'The Real Housewives of New York City' is back, and so is Carole Radziwill
By
Eddie Mouradian
A lost archive of NYC 9/11 street art memorials comes back online
By
Hannah Frishberg
Some untold 9/11 stories are the strangest ones. They come to light in a new documentary.
By
Stephen Nessen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .