Step Inside a Secret Library Apartment | Atlas Obscura

[@atlasobscura]

Tell us about your dream apartment -where might it be located? Above a library? (Good choice.) Or maybe it's somewhere a little bit more fantastical! Either way, we'd love to know.

[@samjamtimtam]

I go through MOODS when I'm thinking about my dream apartment. Sometimes I think I want to be in the forest, with a glass roof so I could watch the rainfall. And then there are times I want to be by the ocean and listen to the music of the waves.

[@seasea12]

They should try furnishing these and renting them out for a week, like a vacation place. Book lovers would pay a lot, and it would help make money for the libraries to restore them/etc.

[@seasea12]

I know I'd rather spend a week in a library than a week in Tahiti!

[@rxstarscream]

Really like this idea.

[@atlasobscura]

They're definitely trying to repurpose these apartments and turning them into public spaces like programming rooms, though we do wish that they would be vacation spots! :) Something like Gladstone's Library in Wales, for example, which is a residential library: www.atlasobscura.com/places/gladstones-library

[@stangeric1]

👏👏👏👏

[@GwynethJones]

I would totally stay in a Library VRBO! I'm a Librarian and I think any book lover would enjoy a vacation in a Library and as Seagirl said, it would also raise money for the branch!

[@sharonwashington773]

Wow. This brings back memories! I'm a former custodian's daughter and my family lived in three apartments inside different branches of the NYPL before my father retired. The St. Agnes Branch, The Yorkville Branch and the Harlem Branch. I wrote and performed a solo play which was produced Off-Broadway this past Spring called FEEDING THE DRAGON about my childhood spent in the St. Agnes library. The title comes from when I was a little girl -- watching my father stoke the big coal furnace that looked like a dragon to me. The story is now available on Audible: adbl.co/2MfXlyp Thank you for this video and your original article, and for continuing to share these hidden NYC stories!

[@atlasobscura]

Wow! Thanks Sharon for telling us about your experiences, it sounds like a really fascinating story. How long did you father work in those branches?

[@sharonwashington773]

From the mid to late sixties until the early seventies. We witnessed lots of changes - both good & bad - in the city during those years. He officially retired (and received his union pension as a Library retiree.) in 1973

[@Kitkatrey]

I was just going to comment they should listen to “Feeding The Dragon!” So glad you commented Sharon Washington! I loved your Audible! For so many reasons.

[@sarahprunierlaw9147]

+

[@Chichilovee]

That is so neat

[@thanrose]

All of Atlas Obscura is giving us snippets of the world around us, sights and smells and sounds etc. Because of the personal tour, this one has has a very private and secretive feel to it. Hearing plaster or glass crunch under her feet, gazing through dirty windows and a glimpse of a speckled mirror, doors that resist being opened. Just fabulous! Thank you.

[@atlasobscura]

This is such a lovely comment, thank you! We love bringing bits of the world to life. :)

[@xonicielizabeth]

To live in a library apartment would be a dream!

[@debbieomi]

I lived in my dream apartment, twice. Both were over stores in downtown areas of small towns. High ceilings, super tall windows, quirky size rooms and dripping in character!

[@atlasobscura]

Sounds perfect! "Dripping in character" sounds like the ideal apartment trait to have ;)

[@greenfuzz13]

For over 20 years I have had this recurring dream that looks like this place.

[@carolinedu4013]

The sounds in the video are so pleasant! I came from the Ask A Mortician collaboration, subscribing now :)

[@atlasobscura]

Thanks for visiting and for the sub! So glad to have you here.

[@shinozsnow]

Living above a library that you had access to would be amazing. It would need good floor insulation so you don't annoy anyone during the day, but wow so much reading could be done.

[@UmiSinha]

The apartment would make brilliant writer's retreat. They could give to writers in exchange for mentoring local writers, running workshops or doing readings in the library. Funding might be available to cover the costs too. I'd volunteer as a published writer.

[@atlasobscura]

That's a great idea. Would definitely love to see something like that in action!

[@Cissy2cute]

Excellent idea.

[@cw7792]

yes that is clever. A lot of bookshops have a cosy coffee area so, similarly, this would be a 'Come hear a reading or recital in a writer's home' event - coffee, wine, canapes, cultural discussion afterwards - that sort of thing. No complaints from neighbours about noise either

[@KirstenAlana]

My dream apartment pretty much is this apartment. Classic, perhaps even antique details and big windows, living above a library and having that easy access to books... it doesn't get much better than that for me if I am going to live in a city.

[@chrisitnabergin1992]

Over the library, with all that beautiful natural light. This would be my dream! With walls and walls of books.

[@atlasobscura]

Right? Dream. Apartment.

[@jonritaiuiwarden9984]

Chrisitna Bergin

[@stefanodelempicka6464]

A dream. I also wouldn’t mind to live above a flower shop.

[@atlasobscura]

Quick, would you rather live above a flower shop or a library?

[@LakhnBer]

Library! But living above a flower shop would be charming, too.

[@831Miranda]

YES! And the flower shop would be in an old (and beautiful) building in Paris!!

[@educationtutorials]

How unique, creative and professional, are your intriguing stories. I stumbled upon Atlas Obscura through an FB post on corner stores in different countries. Just watched this video. This is a fresh break from the mundane.

[@atlasobscura]

Thanks for the lovely note, it made our day! Hope you enjoy the rest of our videos.

[@jessicamendes3805]

That would be a really good place to restore and be used as live/work by an artist.❤😍 I would live that.

[@AKorigami]

I thought I went to a school in Talkeetna Alaska when homesteading in the 50-60, and one day several years ago I wanted to stay overnight in Talkeetna but there was no room except the teacher's living quarters above the one room schoolhouse. It was furnished retro. I later was told I was schooled in Montana Creek, but still would love to live in that Talkeetna teachers residence.

[@bryanrrickena]

I have a great apartment in a converted 1911 high school building, it is fun.

[@atlasobscura]

Oh! Where?

[@bryanrrickena]

@@atlasobscura www.fortwortharchitecture.com/md/fwhs.htm

[@Cissy2cute]

It would be heaven for me to live above a library. Reality being what it is, that is prime real estate and if converted once again into apartments it would command high rent (but the wifi would be free). Not just for what it is but the location alone. Would hate to see the original stuff go but it would be a good income generator for library funds.

[@rayva1]

Cissy2cute I remembered the old school that I attended as a kid had a lot of closed off and boarded up secret small rooms, including the school library itself, and I wondered why.

[@googiegress]

@@rayva1 Haunted.

[@MyRandomHoliday]

Author Sharon Washington's autobiographical story takes place in her childhood NYC library apartment. I just downloaded "Feeding the Dragon" from Audible and am really looking forward to the story.

[@atlasobscura]

Oh, no way! Will definitely have to check that book out. Thanks so much for the rec.

[@sharonwashington773]

Thanks for the shout out! Hope you enjoy it.

[@naseralqatami1223]

I would love to own my own house either right on the beach or on a higher ground that over looks the ocean. Of course I absolutely have to have a library in my house!

[@Inkdraft]

A few years ago I spent several weeks doing some research at the Library of Congress. There are underground tunnels connecting the three buildings so that one doesn't have to go outside and cross the streets. I always it would be a great place to live. Of all the places I've been L of C is my favorite.

[@mattsheets5914]

Time 1:21 1:22 does something say hello when she's opening the door. Awesome place.

[@atlasobscura]

We didn't hear it before but now it's all we can hear!

[@LakhnBer]

[sotto voce] Bwahahahaha...

[@chrisitnabergin1992]

I thought I heard it too and then read the comment here and I can definitely hear it!

[@belizeguy]

What a story and my goodness that space ! Thanks

[@ELMS]

There’s a three level apartment located in the peaked roof of the 43-story Smith Building in Seattle. That would be a cool place to live.

[@gstevens6948]

Just watched this again in 2021, fascinating and engaging video.

[@meanjeanmcqueen6171]

I have a 5 year old daughter and it would be the BEST place to have my family live! Literal dream come true! Not to mention it's about twice the size of our current house, lol!

[@atlasobscura]

Having an apartment on top of a library is truly on the top 5 of best places to live! :)

[@dlbstl]

My dream apartment I already lived in for one year. It is on the top floor of an apartment building facing the beautiful Tower Grove Park in St Louis Missouri. My apartment faced a grove of trees, and walking paths.

[@garyjordan7127]

I never knew that these apartments existed. I wonder if an interested party could buy one of them and if so how much? Great Story!

[@atlasobscura]

It sounds like they're converting it into spaces for library resources, but we LOVE the idea of living above a library!

[@duvine3882]

Thanks for not letting this go to waste & benefit all with rooms for meetings, lectures, story telling time, study & reading groups etc. The last thing we need is another rental unit becoming a AirB & Bee's nightmare for funded art & writer's elite's or the rich!.

[@MichelleInMinneapolis]

I kind of have my dream apartment right now. I'm at the end of a long twisting hallway that is one side of the apartment and the other three sides are windows so I basically have no neighbors. And I'm on the 6th floor (the top that is allowed in Uptown) so there is nobody upstairs of me. Also, I have a really fabulous view of downtown Minneapolis. My other dream apartment would probably be somewhere warm like San Francisco or Hawaii.

[@jessicarose1061]

An apartment above a library is a yes for me

[@redrach09]

My dream apartment would be somewhere connected to nature. Like built over the ocean with see thru flooring in some parts or built into the side of a mountain.

[@atlasobscura]

Excellent choice if we do say so ourselves!

[@777jones]

This is my dream. Video proof that the dream is real.

[@inesugi4856]

It now 2024. I would like to know if the apartments are still delapidated or have been renovated? Thank you in advance for your reply and hope you reply. I live i Australia and curious about it. 😊 thank you.

[@amberf6275]

It's too bad they aren't refurbishing them and making something like an artist-in-residence space. That'd be a great way to maintain some of the history while still making it a functional space.

[@atlasobscura]

Wonderful idea! Be inspired by your surroundings, right?

[@Anita4RDH]

So cool!!

[@tawnya0627]

Wow!

[@sophierobinson2738]

This made me sad.

[@dmitrii7661]

Amazing

[@lynazidane6697]

Honestly that's a dream apartment right there.

[@atlasobscura]

Just a little bit of love and it would be perfect!

[@lynazidane6697]

yes!

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

Ooooooo I'd love to live there.

[@milosatin]

Is this the future of Atlas Obscura?

[@atlasobscura]

Boy, we wish living on top of the library COULD be our future.

[@MatthewSawyerPost]

@@atlasobscura legit though, is this now a channel with a full team? What happened to old mate?

[@buny4773]

I want to live there

[@atlasobscura]

Honestly, SAME.

[@bconsilio3764]

I’d love to live in a library! Nothing would ever be overdue Again! And I wouldn’t have to hurry to pick & check out or have to leave before I was ready! Books & books & books! I love books. Sooo many kinds ! Although I’d love to live in an art museum . oh the L’ouvre, the Met, Chicago institute...I could have dinner & hangout with Mona L & Nike or help M. Cassett with the Bath and bedtime and once he was asleep we could have tea. And I could meet all the subjects of artists renderings, fictional or not, I could walk with monet through the gardens at Giverny... Or more realistic I’d love to live on a cruise ship. I saw a feature on 20/20 or such about a woman who does just that. She’s retired, sold everything except basic needs and her sewing machine. When she is in port the staff will transfer her belongings to her next ship. Never carry’s anything! When she is on board and not interested in a port of call she can stay back & sew or knit or read or.... I wish I knew how she worked it out & affords it. She does speak about her lifestyle-logistics and experiences. Wow the people places she experiences. Staff... passengers...ports of call people... I’d take any one of those living situations !!! No questions I’m there! Bernadette 👋🏼👋🏼✌🏼& ’Nanu Nanu!’

[@GABRIEL_CRAFT]

WOULD LOVE TO LIVE HERE. R A D ⚡

[@rayva1]

Your library is in need of a renovation and extension.

[@IamSnowbird]

In my next life I want your job.

[@atlasobscura]

It's a pretty sweet job!

[@aliali-ce3yf]

i don't see the appeal of living in something that old . can't be safe.

[@cra4war]

Or maybe make them apartments for the people that work there 😒

[@Aidan_Au]

And yet, this library is closed because of covid

[@sonijam]

"Public space" - how disappointing.

[@melblair250]

air bnb it !

[@leeluv96]

Amy Adams, is that you? What happened to your red hair?