Going Fishing...

Dear Readers,

I'm about to take a new position on May 22nd, and so will be going offline for the next year.

I do hope to be back online after it wraps up on May 23rd, 2015…tanned, rested, and ready.

In the meantime, thank you for reading this blog, and all the best to all our readers over the coming 12 months.

Sincerely,
Laurence Jarvik

NYPL Saved From Vandals!

http://observer.com/2014/05/nypl-dumps-much-maligned-42nd-street-renovation-plan/

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/08/arts/design/public-library-abandons-plan-to-revamp-42nd-street-building.html?_r=0

The NY Times reports:

"Mr. de Blasio had expressed skepticism about the library’s renovation plan during the mayoral campaign and recently met with Mr. Marx to discuss his views on the project.

"This shift is something of a defeat for the library, which had long defended its plan against a roster of prominent scholars and authors who said the introduction of the circulating library in the research building would diminish its capacities as a center for scholarship.

"The library had heralded the renovation as part of a significant new chapter in the library’s effort to rethink its physical plant in preparation for a digital future in which public access to computers would become as important as books.

"Several factors contributed to the library’s decision: a study that showed the cost of renovating the 42d Street building to be more than expected (the project had originally been estimated at about $300 million); a change in city government; and input from the public, several trustees said. (Four lawsuits have been filed against the project.)

"Scholars and others objected to the plan in part because it required the books in the stacks to be moved to New Jersey — which could cause delays in retrieving them — and many questioned the cost as vague and wasteful. Under the new plan, all of the books will remain on site; the library has found a way to free up additional space in its storage area under Bryant Park."