Macomb’s Bridge Library, situated at the border of Harlem and the Bronx (think Yankee Stadium, which is a stone’s throw away), is part of the Harlem River Houses, one of the first housing projects in the city funded by the Federal government. These houses consist of seven buildings, with 571 apartments housing over 1,000 people. The library is located just at the edge of this massive complex.

“It’s hard to find,” “don’t pass it!” and “you may miss it” were some common phrases I heard when I mentioned I was heading that way. They weren't joking; it is indeed tucked away. Fortunately, I was able to spot a bright red door with an even brighter library lion emblazoned over it—its only current sign of designation as a library. 

I met with Alison Williams, the Library Manager, on a quiet Monday afternoon: the restful lull between lunch time frenzy and after school hours, when families with small children and students come to visit. "Welcome to Macomb's Bridge Library, the little engine that could!” she exclaims. And she couldn’t have been more right. Painted in a light orange, reminiscent of the Library lion that covers the front door, Macomb’s Bridge Library is a literal one-room wonder: All books, DVDs, classes, events, movie screenings, and everything else is held in this area. What you see is what you get. Though it is smaller in size compared to other NYPL branches, it hasn't stopped Williams from creating a neighborhood library and staff that is resourceful, knowledgeable, and innovative.

The New York Public Library’s mission is threefold: inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities. For Williams, this third pillar has grounded her vision for making Macomb’s Bridge a more valuable and well-known resource for the neighborhood. Part of this mission began with a strong focus on the adult demographic. While the library is a big draw for pre-k, children, and teens (they’ve started Programs in a Box, part of a STEM program as a way to get students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), Williams wants to reach the adult demographic: “I don’t want them to feel shut out... I really want to focus on the adults.”

And so far, she’s done an amazing job. This past month, the Library finished a Writers Workshop class series, where author Anthony White came to teach. Through this eight-week course, he walked the students through the process of being a writer: From setting the scene, characters, and plot to sending to the editor and understanding the publishing process as a whole, White created a microcosm of the real publishing world at work. The adults in this class, most coming from the surrounding neighborhood, began to critique each other’s work, slowly discovering each other’s—in many cases similar—backgrounds. Many went to the same schools growing up, or knew friends of friends, and through these connections, they began to form friendships of their own. After the final presentation of work and celebration, the day took on a life of its own, as the class began to celebrate outside of the library and further develop memories, friendships, and connections on their own.

Williams recalled another fond memory from earlier that week, involving a film series she started at the branch in partnership with the Library for the Performing Arts. Every third Monday of the month, staff show a movie that relates to the Harlem Experience. A few weeks ago, they showed Dance Theatre of Harlem. During the movie, many adults talked and laughed, but Williams remembers one girl walking up to the front of the room, directly in front of the projector. “She just stood right up there, and her mom kept trying to get her to leave, and she wouldn’t budge,” she said. She was captivated. A week later, she returned to the library, exuberant and chatty.

“Look what I can do!” she yelled  to Williams and the other library staff. She then proceeded to spin, spiral, and pirouette around the room. Watching that movie had inspired the child  so much that the only thing she wanted to do was dance. Anecdotes like these, according to Williams, show success in her goal of having the library provide more meaning to its patrons. She has worked hard to forge and create connections within and around the library.

As Williams fondly calls it, Macomb’s Bridge is “not just your mother’s library”—not just about checking out books, laptops, or Xboxes—it’s an experience: it’s a community.