New York Public Library Agrees in Court to Delay Central Library Plan

In the past eight days we’ve posted (see below) about two lawsuits that have been filed to stop the New York Public Library’s Central Library renovation plan.

• Another Lawsuit Filed To Stop New York Public Library Renovation (Central Library Plan) (July 11, 2013)

• New York: Lawsuit Filed to Stop New York Public Library Renovation (July 4, 2013)

Today, the following update.
From the WSJ:

The New York Public Library agreed Friday to delay construction on a controversial renovation of its flagship Fifth Avenue building until at least October, in response to the second lawsuit filed this month to stop the dismantling of century-old book stacks.
At an appearance in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, the library’s attorney, Richard Leland, signed an agreement stipulating that the library would not undertake any construction on the stacks until the later of two dates: a court hearing scheduled for October, or the completion of an environmental review being conducted by the city.
[Clip]
We trust that the Library’s trustees will… use this opportunity to open up the Central Library Plan to a full, independent review,” said Michael Hiller, the attorney for Citizens Defending Libraries, which filed the second suit and held a rally Friday in front of the Schwarzman building.

Read the Complete Article
In Other NYPL/Central Library Plan News Today: Public Advocate Questions Library Plan to Renovate Fifth Avenue Branch (via NY Times)

Filed under: Libraries, News, Public Libraries