Okay, so I can't say enough good things about the New York Public Library...so let me bring up some of their branches. The Donnell Public Library on 53rd Street in NYC, across from the Museum of Modern Art (M.O.M.A.) is well worth the trip.
A visit to the children’s department at the Donnell Public Library yields a great number of treasures to the eye and intellect. There is a Harry Potter chess set on display as one alights from the elevator and steps on to the third floor. Directly behind that, is a display of the winners and honorees from the N.C. Wyeth Bookmaking Competition. This is an annual contest where children make their own book covers for their favorite works and their craftsmanship rivals that of some adults. One will also be quite amazed by the foreign language collection which not only includes Spanish, but French, Italian, Russian, Chinese and Portuguese. A fine way to make non-English speaking children feel part of the community!
Lastly, the rare books room holds many treasures. Sadly, it is open by appointment and for special tours only. However, the collection includes hundreds of non-catalogued items. A brief dialogue with the librarian on duty informed me that this included an eighteenth century work titled The girl who beat her sister as well as the actual Newbery medal awarded to Eric P. Kelly for the Trumpeter of Krakow. Although the website doesn’t do the facility justice, it is www.nypl.org/branch/central/dlc. A physical visit is much more rewarding, however!
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
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SAVE THE DONNELL
The Donnell Library was sold to a developer who defaulted in February 2009. The NYPL is attempting to negotiate with them to go through with the deal and if they are successful the Donnell will be demolished.To prepare, the collections of the library were dispersed to other libraries (and parts of them destroyed), and a temporary, tiny branch, will open on East 46th between Lexington and Third on Wednesday, April 29 at 4:30. Community Board 5 no longer has a branch library. The NYPLs plan includes selling the Mid Manhattan Library as well as SIBL, the research library-so far. This is the beginning of the death of the branch library system and will further contribute to the demise of the educational system.
We are picketing the new branch and are asking you, your children and your childrens children to join us. The tragedy of the situation is outlined in one of the attachments and a New York Times article that appeared on 23 April is in the other.
If you plan to join us, please hit reply and tell me you will be there. And feel free to forward this email and its attachments to other people (including any electeds and the media) who are interested in SAVE THE DONNELL.
SAVE THE DONNELL and restore it, is an activity of the West 54 - 55 Street Block Association which is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Contributions welcome. Please send checks made out to West 54-55 Street Block Association and in the lower left, Donnell, and send them to Missy Van Buren Brown, Treasurer of the Block Association, 17 West 54 Street, New York, NY 10019. If you have made a pledge at the last Block Association meeting, please send your check as soon as possible to Missy.
Thanks everyone. Looking forward to seeing you. Assembling at 4:15.
RitaSue Siegel
Vice President
West 54 - 55 Street Block Association
17 West 54 Street, 9B
New York, NY 10019
917 806 3947
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