The New York Public Library Initiates Plan to Renovate Port Richmond Branch

MARCH 30, 2017 – A historic 112-year-old library is receiving a much-needed renovation and The New York Public Library is asking its patrons to share their insight.

New York Public Library President Tony Marx was joined by City Council Member Deborah Rose and Staten Island Deputy Borough President Edward Burke today to officially kick off a $20 million renovation of the Port Richmond Library and will launch a survey designed to solicit feedback from the public about how the branch can better serve them.

“Port Richmond Library has been an integral resource in the community for over a century - growing and evolving with the neighborhood to provide residents with books, computers, after-school programs, ESOL classes - significant resources they need to thrive in this great city,” said NYPL President Tony Marx. “In a true testament to the legacy of the Port Richmond Library, we are deeply appreciative of the city's investment in our libraries and the opportunity to preserve and update this historic building  so that it may serve the community for years to come.”

The public survey, which is part of the Library’s “Building for You” campaign, was created to allow the public to identify elements in the updated branch that will address their needs. The survey will be available this week via an on-site kiosk and online at www.nypl.org/capitalprojects.

The Library also announced that early work has begun on the project including the hiring of architecture firm Cannon Design. Standards have been developed for modernizing and updating the century-old branch, while preserving details of the iconic Carnegie building. A conditions assessment of the three-story, 9,000 square-foot building has also been performed and detected significant improvements to be made, such as:

• updates to accommodate code compliancy;
• replacements of the building’s windows and floors;
• upgrades to HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems;
• new restrooms;
• the installation of an elevator and exterior ramp; and
• the transformation of the Library’s vacant third-floor apartment that was once home to the on-site custodian into public or mechanical space, significantly improving space availability for resources and services in the branch.

The project was announced shortly after the city’s historic $300 million 10-year capital investment in libraries in Fiscal Year 2016. The New York Public Library is using its share of the funding to completely renovate five original Carnegie libraries in high-needs areas of New York City, including Melrose and Hunts Point Libraries in the Bronx, Port Richmond in Staten Island, and Fort Washington and 125th Street in Manhattan. The Port Richmond project also includes funds from Council Member Rose and the Staten Island Borough President.

“With a presence on the North Shore for more than a century, the Port Richmond Library has played an important role here, promoting literacy and ongoing education for generations and, more recently, bridging the digital divide. I'm proud to have contributed to the next chapter in the history of the Port Richmond Library, and I invite local residents to join us Thursday and be a part of the evolving future of this important institution,” said City Council Member Deborah Rose.  

“I encourage all those who use the Port Richmond Library to participate in this survey process to ensure your input is heard and considered,” said Staten Island Borough President James Oddo. “The renovation of this historic branch represents a large investment in the community that will modernize it for the 21st Century. This truly is a unique opportunity to participate in the planning process. You have a voice. Use it!”    

Community meetings to update the public on the project will be held in the future.

The schematic design process will incorporate assessments of the building and public feedback. The branch is expected to close in late 2018 for construction and reopen in 2020.

The Port Richmond Library, located at 75 Bennett Street in Staten Island, opened in 1905 with funds from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. With more than 70,000 visits last year, the branch works closely with local organizations and offers a robust suite of services to provide patrons in the community with access to after-school programs, English Literacy classes, and technology workshops. The library's holdings include large young adult and Spanish language collections. Port Richmond also houses a small collection of materials on the history of Staten Island.  

Media Contact:  Amy Geduldig | 212.592.7177 | AmyGeduldig@nypl.org

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The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves more than 18 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.