The Secret Apartments Hidden Above Carnegie Libraries
What does it mean to live in a library? There’s sort of a cachet to co-habitating with so much art, culture, and knowledge, á la From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, isn’t there? In the 21-st century this would take the form of a quick-edit video posted to social media: “Come with me as I tour a library-turned-apartment!” Or “POV: You live in an old library.” (And then cue all the book-lovers responding with 😍😍😍 [🙄])
I saw this NYT piece the other week about the few remaining custodial apartments in Carnegie-funded libraries of the NYPL system. Say what? Yes, indeed, back in the early 20th century when these libraries were constructed, each beautiful structure housed a family apartment above the stacks for the person responsible for keeping the coal-burning furnace going 24/7.
Most of these apartments have been re-purposed as the libraries were renovated; now, for instance, they might house a teen center or mechanical room. The ones that remain untouched — for now— “are almost like haunted houses” according to Iris Weinshall, the library system’s COO. The article profiles three now-adults (the oldest is 90) who spent part or all of their childhoods living in one of these modest and incredibly unique abodes.
Yet being able to view these (sort of) preserved once-upon-a-time homes reminds us of something very important: Libraries require the labor of actual humans to function properly. Even sans coal-burning furnaces.
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