For 50 years, the Jefferson Market Library has been a staple of the Greenwich Village community, offering traditional library services and innovative programs such as Jefferson Market University, popular storytime programs, and exhibitions that celebrate the history of our neighborhood. The building—originally a courthouse well known for its role in notable criminal offenses—is over 100 years old and in need of an update.
I am thrilled to share that the Jefferson Market Library will be undergoing an exciting project that will refresh our much-loved branch, making it more accessible and better able to serve our community. Library patrons will be happy to learn that the $10 million project will include:
- A new, second entrance at 10th Street, designed to support patrons with mobility challenges, parents and caregivers with strollers, and others
- Improvements to the front entrance on Sixth Avenue with more manageable access to the front doors
- Highlighting original details of the building, such as its beautiful stained glass windows
- Adjustments to the lobby, creating a flexible, open space that can be used as a programming space that supports the interests and needs of our patrons
- Updated, accessible bathrooms, as well as modernizing the branch’s technology infrastructure
The Library will close temporarily on April 1st for three months to prepare the building for renovation, after which it will remain open throughout the improvements.
We know that patrons may be concerned about Library access during the temporary closure and the renovation; many of Jefferson Market Library’s staff, including myself, will remain nearby at the Hudson Park Library. Hudson Park will have increased hours during the closure and will offer several programs that Villagers have grown to love at Jefferson Market.
Projects like the one at Jefferson Market Library are possible due to the support of the City, which is currently deciding the budget for next year. The Library is calling for funding to support our branches, and you can voice your support for New York City’s libraries, too! Visit NYPL.org/speakout to learn how you can help.
All of us at Jefferson Market Library are extremely excited about this renovation of the branch! We look forward to seeing all of our patrons when we reopen in July, and invite them to celebrate with us when the project is completed in late 2020.
Special thanks to Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, New York City Council Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, New York State Senator Brad Hoylman, New York State Assembly Member Deborah Glick, and the New York State Education Department.
Frank Collerius is the branch manager of Jefferson Market Library
