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(CNN)The New York Public Library (NYPL) sees more than two and a half million people walk through the imposing doors of its Stephen A. Schwarzman central research center every year.
Located on Fifth Avenue and 42nd street, one of the highlights of the magnificent building’s early 20th century design is its historic Rose Main Reading Room.
We also needed to act responsibly in terms of the period pieces and be faithful to the architectural vision of Carrre and Hastings, who designed the building at the beginning of the 20th century.
That meant finding people who specialize in restoration, and recasting some materials. Fortunately, all of the ceiling is made of plaster.
CNN: Where were the books stored during the renovation?
Kelly:All of the books went to storage as a formality at our space under Bryant Park.
We were so delighted to watch them come back. It was lonely to be in that space without the books.
CNN: Which features were you most impressed by after you saw the renovated reading and catalogue rooms?
Kelly: There are lots of things and everyone has their favorites. The ceiling is spectacular. The mural on the ceiling has been restored. The extraordinary rosettes, the renaissance suggestions that are up there.
Kelly: But for me the great emblem is the windows. They are a soaring space that bring natural light to the room which has a functional capacity and, for many of us, a symbolic function.
The history of evolvement we make available to people is echoed in the windows and the light and space they create for us.
CNN: What is the role of the modern library, given how much information is consumed from digital devices?
Kelly: It’s a hybrid role. We are called upon to provide access to information in digital ways, beyond what one can simply find in Wikipedia on a smartphone.
We are in the information business and while the modality for providing that information has changed, our role has not.
What has happened with the explosion of technology is that the world of the libraries has expanded and grown, I would say geometrically.
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