News & Events

  • Nation Magazine: Mayor de Blasio Can Stop Central Library Plan

    The new issue of the Nation magazine reports that Mayor de Blasio faces a choice: he can follow-through on his campaign pledge to halt the Central Library Plan, but time is running short. De Blasio was right to speak out: the CLP devotes immense resources to the central library, in the heart of Manhattan, while ignoring the…

  • NYPL Sends Out Misleading Appeal in Support of Central Library Plan

    The NYPL has just sent out their annual email asking that people sign a letter to the Mayor urging him to support public libraries.  Buried in the middle of this letter is a highly-misleading pledge of support for the Central Library Plan – a plan that would demolish the research stacks in the 42nd Street Library,…

  • NY Times’ Michael Kimmelman: New Donnell Library Represents “the Logic of Real Estate Developers”

    In an article slamming the expansion plans of the Museum of Modern Art (another real-estate crazed NYC cultural institution), NY Times’ architecture critic Michael Kimmelman also calls out NYPL on the Donnell Library fiasco. The Donnell Library appears to be a model for how the NYPL plans to “transform” libraries (including the Mid-Manhattan), selling off the…

  • Publishers Weekly: Fight over Central Library Plan One of the Top Library Stories of 2013

    A big thank you to Publishers Weekly for picking the NYPL’s controversial Central Library Plan and library advocates’ efforts to save the research stacks from demolition as one of the “Top 10 library stories of 2013” (number 7, to be exact)! From the article: “The NYPL was depicted in the court of public opinion as out of…

  • DC 37, NYC’s Largest Public Employee Union, Slams Sell-off of Libraries

    DC 37, New York City’s largest public employee union, has come out strongly against the selling off of branch libraries as part of NYPL’s renovation plans. “We can solve the funding crisis without selling our cultural heritage,” says Local 1482 President Eileen Muller, quoted in an article published on the DC 37 website  The article…

  • Report from Tuesday’s Court Hearing

    With our allies we prevailed in court on Tuesday. The temporary restraining order which prevents any demolition at the 42nd Street Library was extended! Thanks to all of you who helped fill Judge Wooten’s courtroom for the NYPL hearings on Tuesday. Proceedings took most of the day. Arguments by Michael Hiller of Weiss and Hiller…

  • Report From Books Not Billionaires Event at 42nd Street Library

    Despite frigid weather, there was a great turnout (and lots of press) for Monday’s Books Not Billionaires action at the 42nd Street Library. The event was sponsored by the Library Lovers League. WCBS has a great report on the event. And here are some photos – can you spot the infiltrating billionaires?

  • Court Hearing on Library Plan Lawsuits Tuesday, Dec. 17

    Let’s pack the courtroom! The Court hearing on the lawsuits to halt the Central Library Plan and stop the demolition of the 42nd Street research stacks will be this coming Tuesday: Tuesday, December 17, 11:00 AM 60 Centre Street, courtroom 341 (Subway: 4,5,6 trains to Brooklyn Bridge, R to City Hall, 2 and 3 to…

  • Rain Date! Books Vs. Billionaires Postponed to December 16th

    Books and rain don’t mix, so the Library Lovers League has postponed the Flash Mob to Save NYPL for one week. The new date is noon on Monday, December 16. Spread the word and help make this an even bigger and better event to help save the libraries we love! Event info: www.tinyurl.com/SaveNYPL Follow on Twitter:…

  • Dec. 13 State Assembly Hearing Cancelled – NYPL “Declines to Participate”

    We have just received word that the State Assembly has cancelled its long-planned December 13 hearing on the Central Library Plan because “the NYPL has declined to participate.” There is a possibility that the hearing will be rescheduled some time next year. Why is the NYPL refusing to discuss its plans publicly? When will they…

  • New Criterion Slams Central Library Plan

    The December issue of the New Criterion magazine contains a feature article titled “Philanthropic Tyranny at the NYPL” slamming the proposed Central Library Plan.  Money quote (quite literally): It is conspicuous that the guiding figure of the project was Marshall Rose, the chairman emeritus of the library and perhaps New York’s wealthiest real estate magnate.…

  • December 9th: Books Vs. Billionaires at the 42nd St. Library!

    UPDATE – DUE TO RAIN, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO DECEMBER 16TH Although this event is not sponsored by the Committee to Save the New York Public LIbrary, we encourage everyone to attend! ========== Books Not Billionaires Flash Mob to Save NYPL Monday, December 9 at 12:00 noon sharp Steps of the 42nd Street…