The New York Public Library Secures New, Larger Home for the Van Cortlandt Branch in the Bronx

Purchase of property on Cannon Place will double the size of the beloved branch, which will open at its new location in 2019

  The New York Public Library has finalized its purchase of a 5,800-square-foot building that will now be transformed into the new, larger home of the Van Cortlandt branch in the Bronx.

The new property at 3882 Cannon Place is only three blocks from the existing 2,700-square-foot branch and more than double the size, allowing the Library to better accommodate the growing community with more space for reading, programs, computers, and more. The new location also has an outdoor space.

The Van Cortlandt Library has been at its original one-room location at 3874 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx since 1968. Even with limited space, the branch has seen a 49 percent increase in program attendance in recent years – and needs to expand.

City Council Member Andrew Cohen, State Senator Jeff Klein, Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. allocated over $2 million for the project, which is expected to be complete in spring 2019.

The Library will now begin work on transforming the new space into a branch library. To do this, it will launch a “Building for You” community engagement campaign, soliciting feedback from the community on its wants and needs for a new space to help inform design and plans. In the coming months, the Library will conduct a survey in the existing branch and online, and will hold community meetings.

“For decades the Van Cortlandt Library has been a fixture in this vibrant community, serving a diverse neighborhood that has embraced the resources and services our branch offers. With a new, larger facility – Van Cortlandt Library will have even greater opportunities for our patrons, enhancing our collections and adding new programs that will bring more support to the community we call home. We thank Council member Andrew Cohen, State Senator Jeff Klein, Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. for their generous support and look forward to enjoying the Library’s next chapter together,” said Van Cortlandt Library Manager Peter Pamphile.