UPTOWN — Locals can help their neighborhood libraries win $20,000 by sharing personal stories of how the library has impacted them.
Three Uptown branches — the Washington Heights, Fort Washington and Inwood libraries — are vying for the grand prize of the third-annual NYC Neighborhood Library Awards, which would allow them to expand programming for the community, including job-search workshops, assistance for non-English speaking families and computer classes.
Danita Nichols, longtime Inwood resident and library manager of the Inwood branch, said the Northern Manhattan libraries, which work together on several programs throughout the year, could really use the award money to create better services for the community.
“We’re serving diverse communities — many immigrants learning English, parents that need help with their children, and lots and lots of families," Nichols said.
Locals are encouraged to nominate the library of their choice, either by visiting the branch and filling out a form or going online. Residents can describe how they use their library, share a personal experience they've had with the library, and say why they think it deserves to win $20,000.
“We love to hear personal stories; how the library has impacted [residents] and their lives,” said Maria Marcantonio, program officer at the Charles H. Revson Foundation, which launched the award program along with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation in 2013.
The Uptown branches said several residents have already visited the libraries and shared their stories, including some very heartwarming posts online. One resident described the Inwood Library on Facebook, as a "local community center," noting that it had "become a cultural institution in its own right."
An Inwood mother described the Inwood branch as a great way to spend time with her daughter and a quiet place to do her personal studies.
“The library has been a great place to study, where no other study place exists in the neighborhood," she said in her written nomination.
Others nominated their library for the connections they've made there, with one resident describing the Fort Washington branch as her home away from home.
”As a senior citizen, this place is vital to my mental and social wellbeing,” she wrote in her submission.
Nicholas said it's these types of stories that makes her job so enjoyable.
"It's such a feelgood award, and it makes a big difference," Nichols said.
The goal of the NYC Neighborhood Library Awards is to support “places where all are welcome, the programs and resources are free, and librarians are making it all happen on a shoestring budget,” according to the website.
Candidates for the award are eventually narrowed down to 25 libraries citywide, and the organization will announce 10 finalists on WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show in the spring. Only five of those will receive the $20,000 grand prize. The remaining 5 libraries will receive $10,000.
Over 13,000 New Yorkers participated in the nominations last year, according to the Charles H. Revson Foundation.
