Elmer Holmes Bobst Library

Ever imagine a library so imposing, it sparks protests? This is Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, a behemoth of knowledge and controversy. NYU’s main library, Bobst, opened on September 12, 1973. It stands tall at 70 Washington Square South. Elmer Holmes Bobst, the library’s namesake, donated a hefty $11.5 million towards its completion. This pharmaceutical magnate and confidant of President Nixon was a long-time trustee of NYU. Bobst Library isn’t just any library. It’s a 12-story, 425,000 square-foot structure designed by architectural giants Philip Johnson and Richard Foster. It holds over 3.3 million volumes, 20,000 journals, and 3.5 million microforms. It’s a bustling hub, serving over 6,500 users daily and circulating almost a million books annually. However, Bobst Library’s construction wasn’t without its battles. Greenwich Village activists like Jane Jacobs protested its sheer size. They feared the shadow it would cast over Washington Square Park. This imposing red sandstone building, meant to blend with the neighborhood, had its own construction woes. A sandstone quarry in Massachusetts, supplying the distinct red stone, went bankrupt mid-project. NYU, surprisingly, bought the quarry to ensure completion. The library’s grand atrium wasn’t always as it appears. Tragically, after a series of student suicides, protective barriers were installed. The floor-to-ceiling metal screens, added later, resemble a digital waterfall. They represent a somber chapter in the library’s history. Bobst Library even housed a homeless student nicknamed “Bobst Boy.” He couldn’t afford housing, highlighting the challenges faced by some students. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, a place of knowledge, has also been a space of controversy, tragedy, and resilience. It stands as a testament to the complex interplay of philanthropy, architecture, and human experience within the heart of Greenwich Village.