Inside the New York Public Library’s Library Lions Gala

On Monday, November 3, The New York Public Library held its annual Library Lions Gala. The evening both raises funds for the 92 city-wide branches of the literary institution as well as honors prominent literary figures for their contributions to American culture.

This year, honorees Elizabeth Kolbert, film director Spike Lee, historian Jon Meacham, playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, and author Amy Tan were all awarded the prestigious Library Lions medal. Anthony Marx, President of The New York Public Library, also gave a special acknowledgment to Louisiana librarian Amanda Jones, a leading anti-censorship advocate who has fought against book banning.

Indeed, the New York Public Library has always been a bastion of education and original thought; below its coffers sits an original copy of the Bill of Rights. Supporting the library (and all libraries) is akin to supporting freedom itself. As Marx said, “Everyone is welcome at the library.”

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer gave a brief speech to the crowd who sat in the Library’s historic Rose Room, where he congratulated Kolbert, Tan, Meacham, and his “brother from Brooklyn” Lee. Then, he mentioned he thought long and hard about what his wife, Iris Weinshall—would want him to say. “She'd say, 'Chuck, there are a lot of speakers tonight, all of them more interesting than you. They're always too long, so you better make this one real short’,” he theorized. Then, he ripped up the rest of his speech in jest. “Well, I always listen to my wife”.

After dinner, which included crab and avocado salad, guests headed back down for the after-party in the historic Astor Hall, where dessert and cocktails were served.