The New York Public Library unveiled on Wednesday a $317 million plan to renovate the flagship branch on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.
The money will be spent to increase the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building's public spaces by 20 percent. The proposed additions include converting former staff or storage space into hubs for research, education and exhibitions; making a new entrance on 40th Street to ease congestion; and developing a new center designed for students. It's expected to be completed in 2021.
"We're putting a stake in the ground, the largest stake we've ever put in terms of facility investments to say more people are using libraries now than ever," said Tony Marx, president and CEO of the New York Public Library.
Yet the plan makes no mention of the stacks, which have remained largely empty since 2013. They currently house books which don't require special preservation conditions from the nearby Mid-Manhattan branch, which is closed until early 2020 for a $200 million renovation. The rest is held in a separate facility under Bryant Park.
"We've got a lot to get done and we're gonna keep thinking and talking to experts and to the public about the stacks," Marx said. "We can't do it all at once because we have to keep this building open while we do this work."
Overall, half a billion dollars from public and private sources have been invested toward the makeover of the two Midtown buildings.