Gothamist: New York Public Library Renamed For Wall Street Kingpin

xnan

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:55:54 -0500

C'mon, Jen, it's a library not a museum (see also: this item's headline, the building, and its name--- kinda clarifies things, don't it?). Yes, a lovely & generous gesture but carved into the pediment...hmmmm... I don't think so. Kinda tacky.

Julius O

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 01:39:17 -0500

Great news, and the best place to study. If anything will come out of this, I really hope that they can have extended hours in the Rose Reading Room. They're mostly business hours, and there have been so many times where I wished they were open for just a few hours longer. It's probably not practical to have 24/7 availability, but 8a-8p daily or similar would be a great improvement. That and they really need to fix all the Ethernet jacks at the tables since most of them don't seem to work and there isn't any wireless coverage!

west side Michael

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:32:19 -0500

Gee a few commercials on the superbowl cost that. The man's ego trip is cheap here.

Eoin MacNeill

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:29:36 -0500

Step 1: read "The Gospel of Wealth" by Andrew Carnegie (it is only about 20 pages long). The thrust of the article is: a)compete; b)make fortunes though being the best; c) become a fiduciary for the people; and d) die without a penny, leave nothing to your children, leave well managed and thought out institutions of learning and betterment to society. Step 2: Use the beautiful fluidity of Carnegie's logic and compassion to live a better life. postscript: You can tax private equity all you want, the party is over. Once the government understands something well enough to tax it the smart money has already moved on. I know this for a fact, the dumb money is usually in my pocket (for a very short time). The next big thing is called [insert when the moneymakers want dumb money to cash them out].

blablanyc

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:22:32 -0500

Instead of throwing out or selling your books, try to donate them instead.

Dave Hogarty

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:48:04 -0500

Private philanthropy has been the bedrock of the NYPL from its inception, when the Astor, Lenox, and Tilden libraries merged to create the New York Public Library. Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of a great many of the branch libraries around the three boroughs that the NYPL serves. If he were creating a new building sui generis, I'd say go ahead and slap your name on it. No one seems to object to the name Carnegie Hall. But it seems presumptuous and gauche to crowd your way to the front of the pediment b/c you were the latest to fork over a huge sum. I'm almost embarrassed for the guy.

Goomba

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:41:14 -0500

These rich fanuks think they can buy everything. Oobatz.

Kingpin

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:23:03 -0500

I'm staunchly against it. The New York Public Library is known the world over by that very name. It is not attached to any specific donatee or family and being a public institution I feel it should remain that way. It's one thing to note his donation by adding his name to those of Astor and Lennox on the facade, but it is another to take such a drastic step as to rename it. "The Stephen A. Schwarzman Library" just doesn't have the same ring to it, nor the easy recognition that such a simple name has gotten it. The 'NYPL' has become a household brand in effect... It doesn't need to be changed, and frankly it shouldn't. Quite the first post, eh? Been a long-time Gothamist reader.

EastRiver

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:18:25 -0500

Maybe the government wouldn't need such largesse from private individuals if it would tax private equity at income tax rates and not the end this farce of "carried interest". Schwarzman probably pays an overall lower tax rate than everyone that posts here.

bromius

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:07:25 -0500

Actually, according to the Times, the NYPL will ask the landmark commission for permission to change the library's facade. It'll be literally set in stone.

bromius

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:02:29 -0500

Actually, according to the Times, the NYPL will ask the landmark commission for permission to change the library's facade. It'll be literally set in stone.

thedroog

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:36:38 -0500

um, does anyone else find jen's comment just ever so slightly naive?

Ha Ha Sound

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:50:06 -0500

Schwarzman is quite possibly the most vile man in all of NYC. Remember the jackass who spent $30 million on his own b-day party while the nation was at a war, which was started by his close friend Bush? I've never felt more turned off by reading in my entire life.

dr zippy

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:59:30 -0500

Way to look a gift horse in the mouth! By the way, Schwarzman's name will not be on the facade. The building is landmarked and no changes to the exterior will happen.

Kojak

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:39:21 -0500

The Schwarz is STRONG with Stephen. Strong it is, mMMMmmm

SarahR

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:36:09 -0500

I use the library constantly, and I'm glad for this generous donation. But I think it's tacky for Schwarzman to want his name attached to an institution that belongs to the people (in the best democratic sense of the phrase). When Mellon donated the money to create the National Gallery of Art in the 1930s, he declined to have it named after him, a very classy move. I'm not going to start calling the NYPL the Schwarzman library or whatever. Ick.

Potosi

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:24:52 -0500

This isn't a donation - it's an advertisement. It's generous that he's giving money, but it's totally inappropriate that the Research Library be renamed. I have a feeling this is not going to happen.

Potosi

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:24:45 -0500

This isn't a donation - it's an advertisement. It's generous that he's giving money, but it's totally inappropriate that the Research Library be renamed. I have a feeling this is not going to happen.

Jen Chung

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:05:58 -0500

I'm glad that Schwarzman is donating to the museum. The NYPL system (as well as the Queens and Brooklyn ones) are great resources for New Yorkers.

Aces

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:01:36 -0500

Well, they'll stone you when you're trying to read a book.