When branches of the New York City Public Library were built almost 100 years ago, they included apartments for caretakers.

Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (who also made the construction of the first public library in Waterloo possible) had given over $5 million to the City of New York to construct the branches in its various boroughs. Each would need to have a custodian to keep the home fires burning, the buildings warm and the books safe and dry.

Learn more about the apartments in an article by Sarah Laskow on Atlas Obscura.

You can also read about Ronald Clark, who spent years living in one of the library apartments. Just click here.