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Work Wear: Office Style at the New York Public Library

Kurt Wilberding/The Wall Street Journal

It’s not just ladies in sensible shoes and woolen cardigans who work at the New York Public Library. The private, non-profit organization has about 2,000 employees in 90 locations across the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island, and office style ranges from bookish to whimsical.

“Some of my colleagues are from the ‘School of Librarian,’” said Sharon Hewitt Watkins, vice president of finance, wearing a bright green cocktail dress. “I love color. I love accessories.”

Shauntee Burns, a teaching and learning specialist, said: “I definitely like to look like a librarian, but I twist it with a pop of color, so it’s 21st-century librarian.” Jessica Pigza, assistant curator of rare books, added a homespun touch to her librarian look: She sewed her dress and wore it with a vintage shirt and black-frame glasses.

Employees involved in fundraising or special events—such as the “Live from the NYPL” speaker series, which features celebrity speakers like Jay-Z, Umberto Eco and Oliver Stone—tend to dress more formally.

Patrick Hoffman, director of the Theatre on Film and Tape at the Library for the Performing Arts, wears a suit and tie every day. “I’m a firm believer that good clothes open all doors,” he said.

Kurt Wilberding/The Wall Street Journal
The New York Public Library’s 101-year-old Beaux-Arts landmark building, located at Bryant Park, has been featured in movies including ‘Ghostbusters,’ ‘The Adjustment Bureau’ and ‘Sex and the City.’ The Rose Main Reading Room is shown here.

It’s not just ladies in sensible shoes and woolen cardigans who work at the New York Public Library. Leslie Yazel has details on Lunch Break.

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    • Two comments, actually. The first is that I was drawn to Jack Martin’s outfit in the print version of this article because it was a muted, creamy orange. I am surprised at how different the printed colors are from the photos shown here.

      Second comment, also about Jack, is that I was amused to hear his self-absorbed perspective, as if the world, in singular form, is his omnipresent audience: “You’ll rarely see me in navy…”

    • Looking good, NYPL! Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Library have some snappy dressers too. WSJ should do a followup fashion spread on NYC’s other two library systems!
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