Queens Library is an independent, not-for-profit corporation and is not affiliated with any other library system.
Tilden. The origins of this remarkable institution date back to the time when New York was emerging as one of the world's most important cities. By the second half of the 1. New York had already surpassed Paris in population and was quickly catching up with London, then the world's most populous city. Fortunately, this burgeoning and somewhat brash metropolis counted among its citizens men who foresaw that if New York was indeed to become one of the world's great centers of urban culture, it must also have a great library. Tilden. The origins of this remarkable institution date back to the time when New York was emerging as one of the world's most important cities. Tilden The origins of this remarkable institution date back to the time when New York was emerging as one of the world's most important cities. By the second half of the 19th century, New York had already.By the second half of the 1. New York had already surpassed Paris in population and was quickly catching up with London, then the world's most populous city. Fortunately, this burgeoning and somewhat brash metropolis counted among its citizens men who foresaw that if New York was indeed to become one of the world's great centers of urban culture, it must also have a great library. TildenThe origins of this remarkable institution date back to the time when New York was emerging as one of the world's most important cities. By the second half of the 1. New York had already surpassed Paris in population and was quickly catching up with London, then the world's most populous city. Fortunately, this burgeoning and somewhat brash metropolis counted among its citizens men who foresaw that if New York was indeed to become one of the world's great centers of urban culture, it must also have a great library. Prominent among them was one- time governor Samuel J. Tilden (1. 81. 4- 1. The Astor Library was created through the generosity of John Jacob Astor (1. German immigrant who at his death was the wealthiest man in America. In his will he pledged $4. New York. The Astor Library opened its doors in 1. The New York Shakespeare Festival's Joseph Papp Public Theater. Although the books did not circulate and hours were limited, it was a major resource for reference and research.
By 1. Astor and Lenox libraries were experiencing financial difficulties. The combination of dwindling endowments and expanding collections had compelled their trustees to reconsider their mission. At this juncture, John Bigelow, a New York attorney and Tilden trustee, devised a bold plan whereby the resources of the Astor and Lenox libraries and the Tilden Trust would be combined to form a new entity, to be known as The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations. Bigelow's plan, signed and agreed upon on May 2. Building an Architectural Masterpiece Billings knew exactly what he wanted. His design, briefly sketched on a scrap of paper, became the early blueprint for the majestic structure that has become the landmark building, known for the lions without and the learning within. Billings's plan called for an enormous reading room topping seven floors of stacks and the most rapid delivery system in the world to get the Library's resources as swiftly as possible into the hands of those who requested them.
By the end of 1. 90. In 1. 91. 0, 7. 5 miles of shelves were installed to house the immense collections. More than one million books were set in place for the official dedication of the Library on May 2. Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations had been signed. The ceremony was presided over by President William Howard Taft and was attended by Governor John Alden Dix and Mayor William J. Gaynor. The following morning, New York's very public Public Library officially opened its doors. The response was overwhelming. Between 3. 0,0. 00 and 5. One of the very first items called for was N. The reader filed his slip at 9: 0. A month later, steel baron Andrew Carnegie offered $5. New York City (what are now the five boroughs having been consolidated into the City of New York in 1. City would supply the sites and fund the libraries' maintenance and operations. Later that year The New York Public Library contracted with the City of New York to operate 3. Carnegie branches in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island (Brooklyn and Queens had founded separate library systems before the consolidation of the city; the Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Library remain separate entities). Thus, from the earliest days of The New York Public Library, a tradition of partnership with the city and outreach to the community was established, and continues to this day. Almost overnight, The New York Public Library became a vital part of the intellectual fabric of American life. Among its earliest beneficiaries were recently arrived immigrants, for whom the Library provided contact with the literature and history of their new country as well as the heritage that these people brought with them. Throughout the system, the Library provides free and open access to its physical and electronic collections and information, as well as to its services for people of all ages, from toddlers to teens and adults. Research and circulating collections combined total more than 5. In addition, each year the Library presents thousands of exhibitions and public programs, including classes in technology, literacy, researching, and English for Speakers of Other Languages. The Library serves some 1. Libraryâs website receives 3.
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