“Libraries are the only thing left on the high street that doesn’t want either your soul or your wallet.” —Zadie Smith
Catering to all walks of life, libraries have maintained a relevance and popularity throughout history which transcends major shifts in politics, economics, and technology.
At the border of Chinatown, the Lower East Side, and Soho, the proposed site—Sarah D. Roosevelt Park—currently constitutes a physical and psychological wall between three boroughs which are demographically, culturally, and economically divided. The library is therefore seen as a bridge and condenser, creating an architectural as well as programmatic blending of language and culture.
