Riverside Branch, NYPL, June 10, 1928. The Riverside Library actually dates to 1897 when the Riverside Association donated its collection to the New York Free Circulating Library. That library merged with the New York Public Library in 1901 and the Riverside Branch moved into its new Carnegie-funded home a few years later. Designed by Carrère & Hastings and opened in 1905, this Carnegie library survived until 1969 when it was replaced by a new library building on the same site. The library remained in the mid century building at 190 Amsterdam Avenue until 1992. That year it moved to new building at 127 Amsterdam and the (glaringly mid century built) library was purchased by the West End Synagogue who have retained most of its 1960s facade, including the NYPL signage.

📚In 1901 after selling his corporation for $500 million, steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie announced a $5.2 million donation to the City of New York for the construction of public library buildings. With this gift, 67 branch libraries were constructed in the five boroughs between 1903 and 1929. 📚