Four years of planning, and a $300 million price tag. But the New York Public Library’s large-scale renovation still isn’t impressing a prominent architecture critic. In his review of the project Wednesday, Michael Kimmelman of the New York Times says loud and clear, “I’m not buying it.”

David Giles, research director at the Center for an Urban Future and the author of the report, "Branches of Opportunity", argues that New York City's public libraries deserve even more support in the digital age.

New York Public Library President Anthony Marx talks about the library's plan for its 42nd Street building, and will address the criticism and controversy over those plans. that Scott Sherman and Caleb Crain raised on our show on March 12th

On Sunday, Anthony Marx reversed his 2009 Audi and sideswiped a parked vehicle on E. 138th St. His blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit, according to the criminal complaint.

The "New Chapter" initiative lifts overdue fines for patrons under 18 at New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Library branches through October 31.

Elaine Charnov, director of education, programming and exhibitions at the New York Public Library, talks about the exhibition “Celebrating 100 Years,” which includes artifacts belonging to literary giants such as William Shakespeare, Charlotte Brontë, and Jorge Luis Borges along with historically important items from the Age of Discovery to the creation of the Soviet Union, World War II, the Civil Rights movement, and the AIDS crisis. The exhibition is organized into four thematic sections: Observation, Contemplation, Society, and Creativity, and is on view through December 31.

Forgot to return a library book or DVD? Got library fines that you are reluctant to pay? The solution is here. Programs at libraries in Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island are helping borrowers to wipe the slate clean of their overdue library fines — if they just read.

The school year isn't over yet, and technically it isn't even summer. But as temps soared into the 90s Thursday, the New York Public Library launched its annual summer reading program. And for the first time, the library will let students count Internet reading along with books in their summer diaries.

"Three Faiths: Judaism, Christianity, Islam" opens on Friday at the New York Public Library with some of the library’s most rare and beautiful spiritual texts.

Writer André Aciman spoke about love, literature and his new novel Eight White Nights with NYPL President Paul LeClerc. Listen to their conversation here.

While the state has cut funding for public libraries around the city and many have been scaling back their hours and cutting services, it's not all grim news for the New York Public Library system. Today, a new branch is opening at Battery Park City.

On its first publication in 1759, Voltaire's Candide was banned, pirated, and talked about all over Europe. In 2010, the notorious French satire can be rediscovered by clicking on a newly launched New York Public Library digital exhibit.

Art and life and storytelling are being celebrated at the New York Public Library's main branch on 42nd Street on the day after Thanksgiving.

The library is participating in the National Day ...

Your Uncommon Economic Indicators contributor St. John McKay asks, "What has happened in the church during the recession? Do more or less people go? How about donations?" Here is one of his video contest entries: