12. Library Way

Walking down 41st street towards the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of the New York Public library, pedestrians can get a sample of the literary treasures that await them before even entering the building. The two blocks between Park and 5th Avenue, dubbed Library Way in 2003 by legislation signed by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, are lined with 32 intricately designed bronze plaques emblazoned with quotes from literary giants like Emily Dickinson, Gertrude Stein, William Butler Yeats, and Ernest Hemingway. The quotations were selected in 1996 by a distinguished panel of literary experts and librarians who chose excerpts from some of literature’s most prominent works that best represented the importance and impact of literature.

The plaques were created by sculptor Gregg LeFevre in 1998 and each feature a unique visual interpretation of the accompanying quote. They were made possible by a partnership between the Grand Central Partnership, the New York Public Library and property owners and commercial tenants along 41st street. The installation received the “Excellence in Design” award by the New York City Arts Commission in 1998.