Lou Reed archive opens at New York Public Library, complete with special edition library card
Image courtesy of NYPL.
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, located in Lincoln Center, has just announced that the Lou Reed Archive is open to the public. The archive documents the life and history of the musician, composer, poet, writer, photographer and tai-chi student through his own extensive collection of papers, photographs, recordings and other materials that span Reed’s creative life starting with his 1958 Freeport High School band, the Shades, right up to his last performances in 2013. In addition, the archive’s opening is being celebrated with a special edition library card as well as a display of items in the collection and more events.
The special edition library card features Mick Rock’s iconic picture of Lou Reed. The card is exclusively available while supplies last on-site at the Library for the Performing Arts beginning March 15, 2019. A special library card sign-up station will be available outside the gallery. Anyone with an existing NYPL card can get one for the card replacement fee of $1. If you have never had a NYPL card, you can visit The Library for the Performing Arts to apply in person or click here to apply.
Materials from the Lou Reed Archive will be showcased in a third floor display (free, from March 15-28) to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Reed’s solo album, “New York.” The display follows the album’s history from conception to production using materials from the archive to illustrate the process. For a day (March 28), the Library will transform its Vincent Astor Gallery into a listening room where visitors can hear an array of audio treasures from the Lou Reed Archive.
You can get started in your research on the Velvet Underground icon or find out more here. Follow #LouReedNYPL and Library for the Performing Arts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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