Crowley, Vacca, Constantinides Secure Victory in Recognition of Pelham Parkway at Van Nest Branch of the NYPL

Elected Officials Commend the NYPL for Responding to Local Community

 

(Bronx, NY)  – Today, Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), along with NYC Council Members James Vacca and Costa Constantinides, chair of the NYC Council’s Sub-committee on Libraries, cheered the New York Public Library’s (NYPL) decision to change the name of its Van Nest branch to the “Pelham Parkway – Van Nest Library.”

 

“We are thrilled the New York Public Library has properly recognized the members of the Pelham Parkway community by incorporating the neighborhood in the name of their local library branch,” said the officials in a joint statement. “Pelham Parkway residents are proud of where they’re from and it is only fitting that their library is named after the place they call home. We applaud library officials for recognizing the significance of this issue while preserving the branch’s Van Nest history and applaud them for responding to the continued interest and public support for the name change. We look forward to the unveiling and celebration of its new sign.”

 

Originally located in Van Nest, the library moved to the Pelham Parkway neighborhood in 1968, where it has remained for over 45 years. Until now, its name had never been updated to reflect its current location.

 

In February, the officials called for the name change in a letter addressed to NYPL President Anthony Marx.

 

The name change was fully supported by Bronx Community Board 11, the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association and the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance.

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