Library180 isn’t the only public reading room in Lower Manhattan — shout out to Poets House at 10 River Ter. and the Walt Whitman Library at 91 South St. But it is the only one in the neighborhood dedicated to vintage art, architecture, interiors, beauty, fashion and subculture magazines — in short, a candy shop for visual creatives.
Nikki Igol describes the nonprofit she started with Steven Chaiken as “a labor of love.” Igol, an image researcher, started amassing her highly curated personal collection of magazines when she was just 11 years old. For years, that collection — with periodicals ranging in publication dates from the 1960s to the early aughts — lived with her in her apartment in Brooklyn, and she would often have friends in creative industries come over and do image research in her home. Watching her friends thumb through her magazines inspired her to share her darlings with the world.
“It was always a joy to sit with them and help them find what they needed,” Igol said, noting that her collection represents a bygone era of glamour for the glossy print magazines of yore. “I felt compelled to no longer gatekeep this and open it up to the public.”
She did just that: Earlier this summer, the library opened on the 26th floor at 180 Maiden Ln. in one of the WSA buildings, a bonafide artist hub of its own. The corner suite’s sweeping views of the East River and Brooklyn would be enough to inspire creativity, let alone the treasure trove of titles –– everything from Casa Vogue Italia to the full print run of Visionaire, to issues of Japan Architect to Abercrombie & Fitch’s short-lived lifestyle magazine, A&F Quarterly.
With a sleek, modern space, adorned with pops of red Kartell furniture — there’s a large work table and several seats available for those who want to lounge and browse, work or sketch in the library — most people, Igol says, spend hours here. With the added bonus of guest WiFi and paper to draw and take notes, it’s easy to see why. Of the thousands of spines at Library 180, Igol says she has pored over all of them, so she welcomes everyone else to look and touch. Photos are welcome and there’s even a scanner available to use for those who want a hi-res copy of what they uncover.
To Igol, the personal collection deserves a personal touch, which is why the reference library is open to the public on an appointment-only basis, bookable via email.
“I really like to be able to speak to everyone on a one to one level and guide them,” she said.
And downtown is loving it — in less than a month since opening, Library180 has had over 200 appointments and is fully booked about six weeks out.
For now, the space is open three days a week to visitors, with plans to host events like panel discussions starting in the fall. For more information, visit Library180’s website and Instagram page.
