Posted: 05/29/2013- Huff Post Books
Malcolm Gladwell launched an extraordinary attack on the New York Public Library (NYPL) today at the International Digital Publishing Forum as part of BookExpo America in New York.
In a Q+A session with Bloomberg Businessweek writer Brad Stone, the Canadian author of The Tipping Point and Blink described the flagship NYPL building in Manhattan as a "massive money sink of a mausoleum."
"Every time I turn around, there's some new extravagant renovation going on in the main building. Why? In my mind, the New York Public Library should be focused on keeping small libraries open, on its branches all over the city."
The NYPL announced a major $300 million renovation of its flagship location last year, to be completed in 2018.
Gladwell continued, "Luxury condos would look wonderful there. Go back into the business of reaching people who do not have access to books. And that is not on the corner of 42nd and Fifth [Avenue]."
In 2009, the author was the guest speaker at the NYPL President's Council Spring Dinner, an event for those who donate $25,000 and above to the library.
A little earlier in the discussion, Gladwell spoke about libraries as "the only place where you can browse [books]. A world in which you can only find things that you have chosen to pursue is an incredibly impoverished one.
"Libraries are also safe havens for people who are not from privileged backgrounds, who do not have access to books and where there is no quiet space to work."
In the session, Gladwell also talked about the future of publishing.
More
Malcolm Gladwell launched an extraordinary attack on the New York Public Library (NYPL) today at the International Digital Publishing Forum as part of BookExpo America in New York.
In a Q+A session with Bloomberg Businessweek writer Brad Stone, the Canadian author of The Tipping Point and Blink described the flagship NYPL building in Manhattan as a "massive money sink of a mausoleum."
"Every time I turn around, there's some new extravagant renovation going on in the main building. Why? In my mind, the New York Public Library should be focused on keeping small libraries open, on its branches all over the city."
The NYPL announced a major $300 million renovation of its flagship location last year, to be completed in 2018.
Gladwell continued, "Luxury condos would look wonderful there. Go back into the business of reaching people who do not have access to books. And that is not on the corner of 42nd and Fifth [Avenue]."
In 2009, the author was the guest speaker at the NYPL President's Council Spring Dinner, an event for those who donate $25,000 and above to the library.
A little earlier in the discussion, Gladwell spoke about libraries as "the only place where you can browse [books]. A world in which you can only find things that you have chosen to pursue is an incredibly impoverished one.
"Libraries are also safe havens for people who are not from privileged backgrounds, who do not have access to books and where there is no quiet space to work."
In the session, Gladwell also talked about the future of publishing.
More
In a Q+A session with Bloomberg Businessweek writer Brad Stone, the Canadian author of The Tipping Point and Blink described the flagship NYPL building in Manhattan as a "massive money sink of a mausoleum."
"Every time I turn around, there's some new extravagant renovation going on in the main building. Why? In my mind, the New York Public Library should be focused on keeping small libraries open, on its branches all over the city."
The NYPL announced a major $300 million renovation of its flagship location last year, to be completed in 2018.
Gladwell continued, "Luxury condos would look wonderful there. Go back into the business of reaching people who do not have access to books. And that is not on the corner of 42nd and Fifth [Avenue]."
In 2009, the author was the guest speaker at the NYPL President's Council Spring Dinner, an event for those who donate $25,000 and above to the library.
A little earlier in the discussion, Gladwell spoke about libraries as "the only place where you can browse [books]. A world in which you can only find things that you have chosen to pursue is an incredibly impoverished one.
In the session, Gladwell also talked about the future of publishing.
More
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