What Do New Yorkers Line Up For At The Start Of Memorial Day Weekend?

Two photos snapped at the corner of Fifth Avenue and East 40th Street at 9am on Friday, May 25th. A line of people going up the avenue and snaking around the corner onto East 40th. What were these good folks waiting on line for? The opening of the Mid Manhattan branch of the New York Public Library. The sheer variety of people, old and young, native and foreign born, in suit and tie or in workman's overalls and cap (how cute is that?) the democracy of desire for the printed word provided for the public, by the public and for free fills be with joy. And who was it who gave the United States its first public library?  Our founding grandfather, Ben Franklin. Hooray for books and booklovers!