On a recent spring afternoon, Malik and Miguel Bonilla did what they often do after their school day at P.S. 126 is over: they went to their local library. 

Malik, a 4th-grader and avid reader, estimated that he visited the High Bridge branch of the New York Public Library, at W. 168th Street and Woodycrest Avenue, about twice a month in search of books whose topics range from the lives and adventures of teachers to the trials and tribulations of adults kept awake at night by werewolves.  His brother Miguel, a sixth-grader, said he came more often than that —maybe once or twice a week—to research ancient cultures or to browse comic books.
But when the Bonilla brothers approached the entrance to the two-story, beige-walled building, an unpleasant surprise was waiting for them. A typed sheet of paper fixed to the door read simply: “This branch will be closing for renovation. Last day open to the public will be: May 25, 2007.”

“I thought it was really bad,” Miguel said. “ ‘Cause a lot of kids come here to read books. And when they wanna come, there’s gonna be no library.”

The renovation of the library has been under discussion among library and city officials for some time; branch librarian Margaret Fleesak said she has mentioned the issue in her annual report for the past three years.  Rumor became reality last month, when the New York Public Library announced the High Bridge branch would close in May.

The $5.2 million  overhaul of the library will include the addition of 2100  square feet in total space, a teen room, an elevator, community room, windows, bathrooms, and additional computers.

The vast majority of the funding for the project was provided by Councilmember Helen Diane Foster, whose pitched in $4.6 million. $337,000 was contributed by Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg added $150,000.

What the sign on the front entrance of the library did not indicate was when the building is expected to reopen: roughly two years from now.“Get out of here!” exclaimed library patron Craig Green, 49, when informed of the length of time the building’s doors would be shut. 

Green, who now lives on Fordham Road, was born and raised in Highbridge and recalled visiting the library after school when he attended P.S. 11 in the early 1960s (the original library , opened in 1904, was eventually torn down due to termite infestation, and replaced with the current structure in 1976).

Green’s concern was shared by Greta Dunkley, 64, a Highbridge resident for 30 years who welcomed the renovations but worried about the length of time it would take to complete them. “That’s excellent, don’t get me wrong,” Dunkley said. “It’s needed. But two years is too long for these kids.” 

John Ryan Martine, a spokesperson for the New York City department of design and construction—the agency managing the renovations—said the department expects construction to be finished by the fall of 2008. 

A New York Public libary spokesperson said that additional time would be needed to move back into the library and install new equipment. 
In general, library patrons and staff, and local officials expressed conflicting feelings about the library’s closing.

“It’s a good thing, it’s a bad thing,” said Community Board 4 District Manager David
Mojica, referring to the full renovations, on the one hand, and loss of books, on the other.Mojica said the board is in discussions with local schools and community organizations to disperse books from the High Bridge library to these locations.
Mojica added he wished incentives had been offered to finish construction within 2 years, with penalties imposed for not meeting that deadline.

Employees and local adults expressed particular concern about the impact the library’s closing would have on young residents. The library has effectively served as a daycare center for many neighborhood children from the time they get off school until their parents finish their workdays.“Now, a parent has to come out earlier from their job, or pay for babysitters,” said Carmen Nunez, office manager at the Highbridge Community Life Center’s Get and Give Afterschool Program, which is held right across the street from the library .

Library employees and patrons also pointed out that many families in Highbridge do not own a personal computer, which means that library terminals have been the only resource children have to do research for school assignments.

The three closest libraries are the Francis Martin Branch, on University Avenue between 174th and 175th; the Sedgwick Branch, on Martin Luther King Blvd and 176th Street; and the Grand Concourse Branch, at E. 173rd and Grand Concourse.

Fleesak expressed confidence that neighborhood children wouldn’t have too much trouble accessing these libraries. Others disagreed. “Unless they live around there, it’s gonna be very difficult for them,” Nunez said.

Of course, it is not just children who frequently mine the shelves of the High Bridge library for knowledge in a rich diversity of topics. The history section consists of works such as Alex Haley’s  “Roots,” Elie Wiesel’s “After the Darkness: Reflections on the Holocaust,” Edward Gibbon’s “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,”  and books  about Ancient Rome and Babylon. Books on famous historical figures such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Tchaikovsky can be located in the biography section..

The library also has a test preparation section , featuring a section of books that  offers guidance for standardized college entrance examinations, such as the LSAT and GMAT.
In additon, there are four shelves, consisting of three rows each, of books written in Spanish.

But the most popular works among adults, according to assistant branch librarian Christopher Whitaker, are self-help and urban fiction books.

The majority of the library’s books will be stored in a Manhattan annex during the closure of the library, Fleesak said.

Martine asked that library patrons be understanding of the lengthy closure. “We realize libraries are an important part of every community, and take every measure not to have to close during renovations,” Martine said in an emailed statement. “But some renovations, such as this, are extensive, and the work to be done requires us to close the branch – for efficiency, as well as for the safety of the staff and patrons.”

Green and Dunkley are two adults who have been visiting the library for decades, and they stood in the biography section one afternoon trading memories of childhood afternoons spent at 78 W. 168th Street. Green recalled the library when it housed only books—no computers, no daily newspapers. He and Dunkley both remembered the days when the library was open six days a week, closed only on Sundays, and also said library rules had relaxed over the years.

“It was nice and quiet,” Green laughed. “Very strict.”

“Very quiet,” Dunkley agreed.

As the two ended their conversation and went their separate ways, Green offered a parting request to those in charge of renovations.

“Tell ‘em speed it up!” Green said.