The New York Public Library has thousands of rare books and other digital content not found anywhere else. In order to make their collection more accessible outside the city the library has partnered up with big five publisher Macmillan to distribute a number of adult and children’s titles.
Among the first adult titles will be published by Macmillan are; a book by acclaimed and beloved author and illustrator Maira Kalman celebrating libraries; a book on New York restaurant life, featuring menus from the library’s extensive collection of 45,000 eatery menus; and Book Face, a book bringing together the best posts from the #bookface Instagram sensation. St. Martin’s Press Executive Editor Michael Flamini is overseeing the adult program.
Among the first children’s titles will be: Coloring in the Lions, a coloring book featuring vintage art from the NYPL archive; a yet-to-be-titled picture book starring the stoic lions who stand in front of the Library’s main building, Patience and Fortitude; and a middle grade novel based on a real family who once lived in the library. Publisher Jean Feiwel and Henry Holt Books for Young Readers Editorial Director Christian Trimmer are overseeing the children’s book program.
“For over 100 years, The New York Public Library has collected, preserved, and made accessible to the public millions of significant and enlightening books, manuscripts, photographs, artifacts and more from history – items that have informed and inspired countless new works and ideas,” said NYPL President Tony Marx. “This partnership with Macmillan is a new, wonderful way to share our collections and celebrate the role of libraries with the public. We thank our partners at Macmillan, and look forward to filling our shelves with these new titles.”
John Sargent, the CEO of Macmillan, said, “What a great pleasure it is to be the publishing partner of the NYPL. Their building and the incredible collections it holds has been an inspiration for generations of Americans. It is an honor both personally and professionally to work with them to disseminate this great wealth of content.
It will be interesting to see if the general public outside the New York area will purchase any of these e-books. New York is unlike any other city in the world and constantly draws in people from all walks of life. It remains to be seen if the adult line of books will prove to be popular, but something is strangely compelling about the children’s titles.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
