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Outrage Spreads Over Donnell Library's Closure
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 24, 2009
Modified Apr 24, 2009
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By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 24, 2009
Modified Apr 24, 2009
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Last summer the NYPL shut its five-story, 88,000-square-foot Donnell branch in Midtown Manhattan, which opened in 1955 and was known for its massive collection of movies, music, and children’s books, among other things. The plan was to sell the building for $59 million to Orient-Express Hotels Ltd., who would raze it and build an 11-story hotel, with a new library on the ground floor and in the basement. But then the economy went all oopsy, and Orient-Express backed out last month.
Now some New Yorkers are all up in arms because the library is still closed, with its holdings dispersed to other branches like so many bastard children. RitaSue Siegel, the organizer of a campaign to reopen Donnell, tells the Times, "This is a tragedy being ignored. The NYPL board must be hammered with tales of their irresponsibility." Heidi Singer, a spokeswoman for the library system, says, "We’re now evaluating various alternatives. Our goal was and is to create a new, state-of-the-art library on the Donnell site, replacing an aging, out-of-date building."
And in the meantime she encourages everyone to swing on by the new 2,000-square-foot Grand Central branch on East 46th Street, which she says is "open, inviting and full of light," with "double-high front windows and beautiful, sustainable bamboo cabinetry." (Unlike that dreary old Donnell branch.) But Siegel won't be placated; she's planning to picket the opening of the new branch on Wednesday, and City Council speaker Christine C. Quinn has promised to investigate.
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Donnell Library
new york public library
nypl
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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