Since the beginning of the last century, the New York Public Library has been open to everyone who wants to read books, listen to informative lectures and have a look at priceless artifacts. However, this socio-cultural institution is famous for many other things. Throughout its existence, it often became the center of exciting events and was used for different purposes. The story tells that the Public Library keeps secrets that many of its visitors don’t even know about. Learn more about them on newyork1.one.
1. The remains of the Croton Reservoir
Previously, there was a reservoir on the site of the New York Public Library. It was built in 1842. This was necessary to stop the flow of the Croton River. Later, the water level dropped and the river itself began to gradually retreat in another direction. Therefore, by 1890, the reservoir was demolished. In 1902, the foundation of the Public Library was built on this place at the initiative of lawyer Samuel J. Tilden and entrepreneur Andrew Carnegie. The latter donated $5 million for the construction of the building.
2. In 1911, the New York Public Library became the largest marble building in the United States
530,000 cubic feet of white Vermont marble was used in the construction of the outside part of the library. The total weight of the marble was six times greater than the amount used for the building of the New York Stock Exchange and the Chamber of Commerce.
Marble was chosen as a building material because it is one of the most reliable and durable materials. In addition, it is resistant to negative external factors, such as water, fungus and mold. The stone has bactericidal properties, so pathogenic microorganisms do not live on it.
3. The marble floor also has its history
All floors are made of marble in the halls and corridors of the New York Public Library. This is an expensive material that needs to be treated with care. Also, marble is very slippery and hard, so you should not move quickly on it. For this reason, in 1911, all library employees got shoes with special rubber soles. They need to walk in them to avoid slipping and spoiling the appearance of the marble floor.
4. There are more than 20 million books in the New York Public Library
On the shelves of this library, there are modern editions and valuable rarities of the past about history, culture, politics, psychology and other areas of knowledge. Some of them are not only inside the building but also under the foundation. At the beginning of the last century, a book depository was built there. The books lie on racks 80 miles long and occupy seven underground floors.
It is also known that in 2012 a study was conducted by the American Library Association. As a result, it turned out that this socio-cultural institution ranks fourth among those libraries in the USA that have the largest number of books.
5. The length of all the shelves of the New York Public Library is 125 miles
Next to the reading tables are shelves where books are compactly arranged. The racks were specially made of steel so that they became a reliable basis for storing various publications. They are also a supporting element of the floor of the main reading room.
One day, the library staff found out an unusual fact. They measured the length of the racks and concluded that if they were all placed in one row, they would have a length of 125 miles. This is another confirmation that the New York Public Library is one of the largest in the United States.
6. There is a book mail in the New York library
Throughout the library’s existence, a book delivery system has been operating here. It is needed for visitors to find the desired edition, as well as to replenish the shelves with new literature in various reading rooms.
Until 1980, the New York Public Library used pneumatic mail. Paper requests for new books from the library’s departments were sent to the vault underground by pneumatic tubes. The staff found the required books and sent them back.
However, over time, this book delivery system became obsolete. In 2006, it was replaced by a modern one, which ensured faster and more convenient movement of paper documents and publications.
7. During the Second World War, a secret storage room was created next to the library
On December 7, 1941, there was an attack by air and submarine forces of the Japanese fleet on Americans who were at the naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The staff of the New York Public Library realized that there was a high probability of an enemy invasion of the US territory. Therefore, they decided to save the most valuable books.
A temporary secret repository was created for this purpose. It was 250 miles from the library. About 12,000 species were moved there. Among them were ancient volumes, manuscripts, archives of scientific data, etc. After the end of the war, they were returned to the Public Library.
8. There used to be a store in the basement of the library
The New York Public Library has always been a popular socio-cultural institution for local residents and tourists. For several centuries, hundreds of visitors have come here every day. The high demand for library services became a motivation for employees to open a store and earn more.
The store was located in the basement of the building. It was opened on June 9, 1920. Everything was sold there except books. You could buy fresh fruits and vegetables, clothes, sewing supplies, etc. Thus, any library visitor could always find the required book and buy everything he needed in one place.
9. The New York Public Library was a popular meeting place for spies
Many facts made the Public Library famous all over the world. It turns out that its visitors do not even suspect that the reading rooms used to host meetings of spies. Historians claim that this is not fiction, as there is evidence to support some of the facts. In July 1987, FBI agent Earl Edwin Pitts met in room 228 with an official Russian representative of the Committee for State Security, who was arrested in 1996. The details of the spies’ meetings are classified in archival documents, so they remain a mystery to most people.
10. The New York Public Library preserves priceless literary artifacts
For several centuries, this library has been one of the main repositories of the historical literary heritage of the United States. Here one can find ancient and priceless books, manuscripts and artifacts that are several hundred years old! The library’s collection includes a copy of Christopher Columbus’ letter that was created in 1943, a manuscript of the US Declaration of Independence, antique Bibles, maps, books, personal belongings of prominent Americans, etc. This has made the New York Public Library a popular place for both reading and sightseeing.