The Aguilar Branch of The New York Public Library traces its origins to The Aguilar Free Library Society, an institution founded in 1896 to provide reading material to Jewish immigrants.
Indexes/finding aids (note)
Finding aid available at repository and on internet.
Processing action (note)
Cataloged
Author
New York Public Library. Aguilar Branch.
Title
Aguilar Branch records, 1912-1996.
Restricted access
Restricted access; Manuscripts and Archives Division; Permit must be requested at the division indicated.
Biography
The Aguilar Branch of The New York Public Library traces its origins to The Aguilar Free Library Society, an institution founded in 1896 to provide reading material to Jewish immigrants.
It was named for Grace Aguilar, a Sephardic Jewish author. In 1905, the institution merged with The New York Public Library and moved into a new building on East 110th Street, designed by architects Herts and Tallant and built with funds donated by Andrew Carnegie. At this location the branch served Jewish and Italian immigrant populations. After World War II, an influx of Puerto Rican and other Spanish-speaking newcomers led tothe creation of an extensive collection of materials in Spanish. Aguilar was renovated in 1996 as part of the Library's Adopt-A-Branch program. Program and collections include a Language Learning Center for adults, small collections of books in French, Chinese, Arabic, and Urdu, and a Community Information Service Collection.
Indexes
Finding aid available at repository and on internet.
Location of other archival materials
Free Circulating Libraries Records; held by; New York Public Library Archives.