Aguilar Library

Built for a community and named for a literary star, the Aguilar Library stands as a testament to the power of books. The Aguilar Free Library Society was founded in 1886. It sought to provide literature for immigrant Jews, largely in the East Village and Lower East Side. The society honored Grace Aguilar, a British novelist and essayist of Sephardic Jewish descent. Though none of the original downtown locations remain, the Aguilar Library at 174 East 110th Street carries on her name. The library was originally designed in 1898-99 by Herts & Tallant. These architects were famous for their theatrical designs, and the Aguilar Library reflects this. The Landmarks Preservation Commission described it as having an “almost theatrical manner, as if the proscenium arch were framing a stage.” Initially a late Romanesque Revival/Art Nouveau design, the library’s exterior underwent a dramatic transformation in 1904-1905. It became part of the New York Public Library system in 1903. With funds from Andrew Carnegie, the building was expanded. Herts & Tallant returned to redesign the facade, creating a more imposing presence. The renovated building featured an enlarged facade, additional floors, and an expanded rear. This remodel effectively tripled the library’s size. The building now showcased a grand Classical Revival style. The interior, however, retained its unique charm, including a hanging gallery with a cast-iron railing and pressed-glass floor. Today, the Aguilar Library stands as a reminder of the city’s rich history of private philanthropy supporting public libraries. It also reflects the changing demographics of East Harlem. Initially serving a largely Jewish immigrant population, it later became a resource for Italian and then predominantly Puerto Rican, Mexican, Dominican, and African American communities. After World War II, the library responded to the influx of Spanish-speaking residents by developing an extensive collection of Spanish-language materials. The Aguilar Library continues to be a vibrant community hub, offering a wealth of knowledge and resources to all who enter its doors.