Vote For Midtown Branches In NYC's Library Display Contest

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Two library branches in Midtown and Hell's Kitchen are in the running for a citywide contest that will crown the most elaborate book displays across the five boroughs.

The Columbus and 58th Street locations are among 130 branches across the city's three library systems that have set up displays celebrating arts and culture for the contest, which run through the Culture Pass initiative that gives library cardholders access to cultural institutions.

New Yorkers can vote on their favorite displays starting this week until Nov. 12, when the set-ups with the most votes will move to a final round of judging, organizers said.

Here's a look at the two Midtown contestants, whose displays will be on view until Nov. 30:

Columbus Library (742 10th Ave.):

Based in the heart of Hell's Kitchen, the display at the Columbus Library display pays tribute to New York as "the red carpet of culture, the most ethnically diverse city in the world."

"No other city has contributed more to the collective consciousness with art, fashion and music," a description reads. "From the roaring 20's until now, the culture of NYC is unmatched by any other place."

Images of the library's display show landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and the Stephen A. Schwarzman library building at Bryant Park, set atop a carpeted "stage." The books shown include New York Deco, an architecture photography book by Richard Berenholtz, and Art Hiding in New York, an illustrated guide by Lori Zimmer and Maria Krasinski.

58th Street Library (127 East 58th St.):

This East Side branch created a display that celebrates "the daringness of NYC’s art scene, with a gold motif and bright NYC balloons to draw the patron in."

"A 'skyscraper' features highlights of the participating organizations offering Culture Passes," the description reads. "Displayed in gold frames are books about art and/or NYC culture available for circulation."

All libraries' setups can be found online. After New Yorkers vote for their favorites, a panel of judges will select first place and runner-up winners for each library system and an overall best-of-show display, organizers said.

The judging panel includes New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Gonzalo Casals, Artist and Founder of The Free Black Women's Library Ola RonkeAkinmowo, Children's Book Author and Illustrator Pat Cummings, Charles H. Revson Foundation President Julie Sandorf, and Improv Everywhere Founder Charlie Todd.

Culture Pass, a joint initiative across all three library systems, has given out more than 100,000 free passes to library cardholders since its start in 2018. It is funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), Charles H. Revson Foundation, The New York Community Trust, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Patch reporter Anna Quinn contributed.