When Will New NY Public Library Roosevelt Island Branch Location Finally Open? Not As Planned For December 2019, Delayed Until Spring 2020 Says NYPL Spokesperson

When will the New York Public Library (NYPL) open it's new Roosevelt Island branch location on the first floor of 504 Main Street

replacing the current overcrowded and dilapidated branch?

Plans for the new Roosevelt Island NYPL branch library were first announced way back in July 2012 but construction did not start until October 2018. At that time, we were told to expect substantial completion of the new library by December 2019. As we know, that has not happened.

In October 2019, Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder Hudson Related representative Alex Kaplan reported:

... the NY Public Library will open in the Summer of 2020, later than the December 2019 that had been scheduled....

Earlier this week, I asked the NYPL:

... Completion of construction and opening of the new Roosevelt Island Library was scheduled for December 2019/January 2020.

When do you expect the library to open?

A NYPL spokesperson answered:

There was a slight delay, but we expect to move in to the new branch in the spring. When we've confirmed the exact date for the opening, we'll be sure to let you know (and will be sending an email to patrons to notify them as well!)

Below is NYPL January 2016 presentation on the new Roosevelt Island branch library

Roosevelt Island Library - FINAL Presentation 1/2016


and video of the presentation.