Chatham Square Library Nominated for the NYC Neighborhood Library Awards
Photo: NYPL.org
The “NYC Neighborhood Library Awards” just announced its ten finalists (across the five boroughs) for this year’s “Oscars of the Libraries,” and one Lower East Side library happened to make the cut.
The Chatham Square Library is officially in the running for receiving some extra funds to invest into additional programming and services for the Chinatown community at large. This awards ceremony shines a light on public libraries being paramount within their communities, as well as a haven for patrons to take advantage of free offerings and resources throughout the year. And on a tight budget to boot. This is all thanks to an initiative by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the Charles H. Revson Foundation, and the Heckscher Foundation.
But the real library love in this story comes from the patrons. An overwhelming 24,000 people wrote to the awards committee singing their library’s praises. They shared stories about librarians going the extra mile, generously engaging the community in services and resources that have proved to be life-changing.
One patron from Chatham wrote, “This is the library I have been going to since I was 10 years old as a new immigrant without knowing any English. At first, it was a resource center for Chinese language books, newspaper and magazines for me and my family. Now, I am a parent with 2 young children and I have come full circle to return to this library to get Chinese books to teach my kids Chinese language. Without this library, I wouldn’t have retained my Chinese language, nor improved my English.”
Nominated branches were narrowed down based on patrons’ nominations, circulation data, program attendance, on site visits, and the recommendations of a philanthropic review committee. Winners will be selected and announced this coming October, by a panel of judges including authors Francine Prose, Min Jin Lee, and Eric Klinenberg; Executive Director of the National Book Foundation Lisa Lucas; and Commissioner & CEO of Chicago Public Library Brian Bannon. Judges will select the top five winners for a $20,000 prize and the remaining finalists will receive $10,000 to spend on their branch.
Recent Stories
Samesa is the First Vendor Casualty in the New Essex Market
Open only six months, the first vendor of the new Essex Market has gone belly up. Not one of the long-timers, though. Samesa ended its brief run earlier this month. Established by brothers Max and Eli Sussman in 2016, Samesa first announced its Lower East Side grab-and-go stall one year ago. The Middle Eastern restaurant […]
‘GoNightclubbing’ with Pat Ivers and Emily Armstrong at The 72 Gallery [INTERVIEW]
Thirty-nine years ago, a new nightclub called Danceteria featured a video installation which recreating a suburban living room. The twist was that the giant old-school TV, housed in a mid-century wood cabinet, wasn’t playing reruns of I Love Lucy. Instead, there was a live feed of bands such as Iggy Pop, The Dead Boys, and […]
Market Line Debuts Beneath Essex Market this Friday
Come Friday, Essex Crossing hits another goal. Debut of the Market Line. There have been no official communications about the launch, but this date is two days later than participating vendors had previously communicated. (And a full season later than publicized at the Market itself.) Once fully operational, the Market Line is to occupy 150,000 […]
LES Synagogue Pursues Removal of Deed Restriction to Redevelop for Residential
As reported last month, the Lutowisker Synagogue on the eastern fringe of Delancey Street is headed toward redevelopment. The congregation, which owns the building and has been present on the Lower East Side since 1877, hopes to construct housing atop its house of worship. The proposal as it stands is to expand the building at […]
Famous Hakki Opens ‘Cluck’s’ Fried Chicken Spot on Essex Street
Famous pizza maker Hakki Akdeniz just unveiled his latest fast food concept. It’s chicken-focused fast food and seems poised to collect plenty of cash from weekend revelers in Hell Square. Cluck’s debuted last week at 115 Essex Street, mere steps from Hakki’s Champion Pizza. The signature menu offering here is the “chicken cone,” which is […]
