New York: Queens Public Library and New York Public Library Celebrate Hip-Hop With Special Edition Cards

From a QNS Report:

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the Queens Public Library (QPL) will release a limited edition library card that honors the genre’s global significance and the role New York City played in its rise as a cultural movement.

The new library cards feature a purple background with a graffiti art-style design that reads “Queens,” as well as an open book, two street signs that say “Public” and “Library” and two smiley-faced spray paint cans. The overall design is the artistic vision of Shirt Kings streetwear.

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In addition to QPL, the New York Public Library (NYPL) will also release a special edition card recognizing hip-hop, but with a different design. Instead of the Shirt Kings, NYPL’s card features the “Wild Style” mural from the original soundtrack of the 1983 film of the same name. Created by Charlie Ahearn and set in the South Bronx, “Wild Style” is considered to be the first-ever hip-hop film.

“The New York Public Library chose the “Wild Style” mural image because the soundtrack’s original cassette is part of NYPL’s extensive hip-hop research collection at the Schomburg Center,” NYPL said in a statement. “The distinct ‘Wild Style’ mural created by artists Zephyr, Revolt, and Sharp serves as the art for the front of the library card, while the back of the card depicts the original soundtrack cassette.”

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See Also: Complete Announcements From Queens Public Library and New York Public Library

Filed under: Libraries, News, Public Libraries