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

(rescheduled from December 9 because of bad weather)

WHERE: Steps of the 42nd Street Library, 41st Street and Fifth Avenue

Fearing real books will be evicted from the New York Public Library, theatrical books — props and costumes made of cardboard — will converge at the library, along with performers dressed as real-estate billionaires, for a street theater flash mob to protest the library’s controversial renovation plan. A new group, the Library Lovers League, is organizing the event.

The renovation plan would exile much of the New York Public Library’s research collection to storage in New Jersey, and would sell off the hugely popular Mid-Manhattan branch across the street. It has been strongly criticized by prominent researchers and scholars, as well as by Mayor-elect Bill De Blasio.

Library lovers from around the city, both adults and children, have been making book props and costumes for the event. During the flash mob, mock billionaires will attempt to displace these books to make room for real-estate deals, while the books will alternately lament their fate and seek to stand their ground.  We will have extra props, signs, and leaflets so if you haven’t made your own costume, come anyway!