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The NYPL Brings A 'Subway Library' Underground
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 8, 2017
Modified Jun 8, 2017
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Courtesy of the NYPL
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 8, 2017
Modified Jun 8, 2017
Share
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It probably couldn't hurt to bring a book with you underground—the longer the better, since you never know how long you'll be trapped in the subway—but if you forget one, it won't be a problem now. The NYPL and MTA have teamed up to launch Subway Library, "a free platform where you can browse and download books, short stories, chapters and excerpts that can be read quickly and easily during your commute." The NYPL created the system, which works off Transit Wireless and is powered by the same tech as their SimplyE e-reader.
The books (which are now available) are delivered under the following categories:
- New York Stories, including excerpts from titles such as Soar by David Banks and At Balthazar by Reggie Nadelson
- New & Noteworthy, which offers excerpts of recently released titles, including Swing Time by Zadie Smith and Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
- Select Shorts, which includes The Soul Is Not A Smithy by David Foster Wallace and The Graveless Doll of Eric Mutis by Karen Russell
- Children, with titles including Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes and Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket
- Young Adult, with excerpts and titles such as Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
To celebrate the launch—which brings " thousands of free stories" to straphangers, according to NYPL President Tony Marx—a subway train has been "wrapped" to look like a library. You can find the train running alternately on both the 6 Av corridor and the 8 Av corridor lines on the E and F lines.
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library train
nypl
subway library
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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