RENOVATION
Special Renovation Issue: Winter 2011
October 19, 2010
Dear Library Member,
We are pleased to report that the fifth floor will re-open on Monday, November 1! This means that we will now have thirty seats available in the Hornblower Room (the Large Study Room) available on a first-come-first-served basis, plus six private writing rooms available for reservation.
- When can I book a writing room?
You may begin booking writing rooms immediately. The procedure for booking rooms remains the same as before: please speak to someone at the Circulation Desk either in person or by telephone to make your reservations. The rules and regulations for using the writing rooms also remain the same.
- Will there still be wireless internet access on the fifth floor?
Absolutely. The Hornblower Room and the six writing rooms will all have wireless internet access.
- Will the reference books that used to be on the fifth floor be available again?
Yes. All of the reference works will be moved back to the fifth floor and housed in newly built bookcases.
- What kind of seating will there be?
All of the seating on the fifth floor, including that in the six writing rooms, will be very comfortable, state of the art Aeron office chairs.
- Will public computer terminals be made available?
Yes. As of now, we plan on having two computer terminals situated just outside the elevator on the fifth floor for short-term public use.
- Will there be lockers?
Yes, we are having beautiful wooden lockers custom made for the fifth floor, although they will not be available until some time after November 1. We will let you know when they will be ready, at which point we will begin assigning lockers based on the waiting list we have been compiling. As before, there will also be three lockers made available for day use.
Here is a photo of the fifth floor as a work in progress. Rest assured, it will look much more polished by November 1:
In other renovation news, the lift in the front entrance will be installed by Handi-Lift on October 21 and 22. During the installation, members will be able to enter the building as usual, but please exercise caution while doing so. We would like to stress the fact that the Handi-Lift is for any Library member needing assistance getting in or out of the building, not just those who use a wheelchair. If you have any questions about how exactly this will work, please see any Library staff member at the Circulation or Reference Desk.
We are pleased that the skylight in the main stairwell is so very stunning. Although no photograph can really do it justice, this picture will give you a sense of just how beautiful it is:
Many people have asked why the skylight was covered in the first place. After digging through various files in the Library archives, including the minutes of the Board of Trustees, it is clear that the Rogers’ House skylight had been damaged in the 1930’s and 1940’s and there were problems with leaks from the skylight in the main stairwell. It seems that at the time, covering over the skylight was the most efficient way of preventing any further damage.
The Library extends many thanks to Ada Peluso and Romano I. Peluso for supporting the restoration of the historic skylight.
Finally, we are very happy to report that all of our wonderful artwork has been returned. Here is a photo of art-storage staff from Gander & White holding the portrait of Catherine Clarkson Goodhue. Don't let her regal demeanor fool you--she is very happy to be home.
September 16, 2010
Dear Library Members,
We asked the staff at the circulation desk to compile a list of the most commonly asked renovation-related questions. So if you have any lingering questions, read on—you may very well find your answer below:
1. The front entryway looks the same. Where’s the handicap access?
As we described in the Renovation Update from August 16, a great deal of work went into preparing the entry way for the Handi-Lift installation—the west wall had to be reinforced, the landing in the middle of the stairs had to be removed, the marble steps had to be lifted and reset, and the stone step at the front entrance had to be lowered so that it would be flush with the pavement. As it now stands, the Hand-Lift will be installed during the first week of October.
2. Is it safe to walk under the scaffolding over the main staircase? And how long will the scaffolding stay there?
Yes, it is absolutely safe to walk under the scaffolding, which will remain in place until the skylight restoration work is complete. We currently expect the finish date to be in mid-October. However, if some safety concern arises requiring the continued presence of the scaffolding, we will leave it as is.
3. When is the fifth floor writing area expected to reopen?
We expect the work to be done around November 1.
4. How and when I can I start reserving the fifth floor private writing rooms?
Once we have a definite opening date for the fifth floor, we will let our members know via Twitter, Facebook, and our electronic updates when and how they can make reservations.
5. How did the building out of the lightwell to the east of the Library building go?
The work was a terrific success. On Friday, September 10, construction workers finished pouring the concrete for the expanded third, fourth, and fifth floors.
6. Now that the lightwell has been filled in, what’s next?
The bulk of our contractor’s attention will now be focused on finishing the fifth floor. This means erecting the walls for the new writing rooms, building and installing the new desks, painting, laying carpet, and ensuring that all electrical and air-conditioning systems are up and running. There is also, however, a lot of work to still to be done restoring the skylight. We have a team of artisans cleaning and repairing the molding around the skylight, and another group working on the glass itself. The final results, which we hope to unveil in mid-October, will be well worth the wait.
7. Is the Peluso Family Exhibition Gallery still open? What about for non-members interested in the Literary Lives exhibition?
Yes, the Gallery is still open. Because of the work over the main stairwell we obviously had to protect some of the exhibition cases with plastic and move others into the Members’ Room. If you need help seeing either of the cases outside the Members’ Room which are covered in plastic, please let someone at the circulation desk know and they will be happy to assist you.
August 26, 2010
Dear Library Members:
The Library will be closed on Friday, September 10 to permit some particularly intrusive renovation work. We apologize for this brief but necessary disruption.
The following day, we will enjoy our first open weekend of the season. We will be open 9-5 on Saturdays and 1-5 on Sundays until next summer.
Questions? Call 212-288-6900 or e-mail renovation@nysoclib.org.
August 16, 2010
Dear Library Members:
We are very happy to report that as of today, August 16, the NYSL is once again open
to members. We apologize for the extended delays but want to assure you that, while
unexpected, they were absolutely necessary, from both a construction and safety
perspective. As originally announced, the fifth floor will remain closed. At present, we
expect it to reopen at the end of October.
As a reminder, we have three different renovation projects in process simultaneously:
- making our main entrance wheelchair-accessible;
- building out the third, fourth,
and fifth floors into the lightwell, thereby increasing the seating in the fifth-floor Large
Study Room by ten seats and the number of individual study rooms from two to six;
and
- restoring the skylight above the main staircase, which was part of the original
John S. Rogers home built in 1917.
Let us assure you that these past six weeks, during which the Library was closed, were
not spent idly. One major project that was accomplished during this time was the
demolition/annihilation of the fifth floor writing room:
Another major undertaking was the removal of the marble slabs from the entryway
steps, which needed to be done in order to make the building wheelchair accessible:
Here are the marble slabs, all piled up in the Lobby and looking a bit like Stonehenge after an
earthquake:
Of course, the entryway staircase needed reinforcing before the marble slabs could be reset, a task
which involved steel and unbelievable amounts of noise:
In order for anyone in a wheelchair to access the building, the old granite slab which formed the first
step up into the building needed to be dropped to sidewalk level:
On a slightly more delicate note, we also began working on the skylight above the main staircase. The
first step in that process was having the glass removed to a studio for restoration. This was a nail-
bitingly tense occasion:
Through it all, however, the Library staff had plenty to do, including sitting outside on the sidewalk
updating members and receiving book returns. All in all, it was a pleasant way to make the best of a
very chaotic situation:
There is, as was mentioned earlier, still some work to be done, which means more noise and dust. We
are confident, however, that the most disruptive work is behind us, so we call all start enjoying our
wonderful Library again. A librarian named Robert Downs (1903-1991) once remarked that "my
lifelong love affair with books and reading continues unaffected by automation, computers, and all
other forms of the twentieth-century gadgetry." Were he alive today and a member of the New York
Society Library, we suspect he might have added "twenty-first century renovations" to the list.
Welcome back!
July 30, 2010
Dear Library Member:
We are writing to inform you that because of further delays, the Library will be unable to reopen on Monday, August 2 as planned. At this point, we expect to reopen on
Monday, August 16.
We wanted to provide a few answers to questions we’ve been receiving this summer:
How can I find out more information?
What about my books on loan and fines?
- A staff member is outside the building Monday to Friday 9-5. You can return any
Library materials during these hours.
- The Library will be charging no late fines on any item until September 13.
- Call the main phone number with any inquiries about books already checked out,
books on hold, or new books you would like to request we order.
- Check our Library catalog
We apologize for the ongoing inconvenience and will do everything we can to ensure that the Library reopens on the 16th, and earlier if at all possible. Thank you for your
understanding.
Sincerely,
Mark Bartlett
Head Librarian
|
June 4, 2010
Dear Library Member:
We are writing to announce new developments in the expansion and renovation of our beautiful Library building, and to tell you about upcoming closings for this purpose. Progress on our long-planned renovation has been made possible through the generous support of the Marshall Hornblower Fund, the Estate of Marion Naumburg, and contributions from Trustees and members.
With support from the Naumburg Estate, we will be installing a wheelchair lift in the entry hall stairwell. For the first time in our long history, we will be proud to say that the Library is accessible to the disabled. With support from the Hornblower Fund, the lightwell space will become increased floor and shelving space on floors three, four and five, and the fifth floor will be reconfigured to increase the seating capacity of the Large Study Room and raise the number of private study rooms from two to six. Improved lighting, furniture, seating, and more book shelving will be features of the new fifth floor. Additional unfinished space added on the third and fourth floors will be completed as funds become available.
We are delighted finally to be able to restore our antique skylight, which is currently concealed by the plaster ceiling above the main stair between the lobby and second floor. Although the restored skylight cannot be naturally lit due to the extension of the floors above it, we will install indirect artificial lighting to approximate the appearance of daylight.
To allow this work, the Library will be closed for two weeks in July, and the fifth floor will be closed for a longer period because of expansion into the lightwell (floors three, four, and five) and refurbishment of the fifth floor.
Although we had initially hoped this interior work could be accomplished without any closing, our architect and contractors advise that the work will be significantly facilitated and expedited by a relatively brief closing. To minimize inconvenience to our members, we have scheduled this to include the Fourth of July holiday weekend, when the Library would be closed anyway. Accordingly, the Library will be closed for nine business days, beginning no sooner than July 6 (Tuesday) and lasting approximately through July 16 (Friday). As of this writing, we plan to open again on July 19, and we will advise if these plans change.
The fifth floor will be closed from June 21 (Monday) through September 17 (Friday). The Whitridge Room on the third floor and desks throughout the stacks will remain available as quiet writing and reading spaces. We will temporarily add more tables to the Whitridge Room, and wireless internet access will be available there. These spaces will remain available on a first come-first served basis.
To ensure that members have enough to read during summer months, we are extending summer loans again, and stack books checked out after May 15 will not be due until September 13. No books will be due while the building is closed to members. No overdue fines will be imposed between June 15 and September 13. Please contact the front desk if you need more time with checked-out items or if you have special requests.
News about the Library’s renovation will be on our website at www.nysoclib.org/renovation.html, on signs throughout the building, and on Facebook and Twitter. Please call the front desk at 212-288-6900 or email
renovation@nysoclib.org with any questions. Thank you for your understanding and support as we proceed with these important renovations to our landmark building, which will make the Library an even better place to bring together books and people.
Sincerely,
Charles G. Berry
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
|
Mark Bartlett
Head Librarian
|
| 
