Hell’s Kitchen lending library set on hearth outdoors PS 111, books destroyed

HELL’S KITCHEN, Manhattan (WABC) — Police are investigating after a lending library close to P.S. 111 in Hell’s Kitchen was set on hearth, destroying the books inside.

Members of the college’s parent-teacher affiliation found what remained of the books Sunday.

PTA President Sonali Khandwala mentioned she was devastated by the injury.

“I used to be heartbroken,” Khandwala mentioned. “I am unable to consider somebody would do this to one thing. That is for our neighborhood.”

The lending library has been within the neighborhood for greater than a yr and operates on the concept that folks can go away a e book and take a e book.

“We’re working with the native precinct. And the principal has been in contact with Energy Station Berkeley over throughout the road to get footage. We’re making an attempt to determine who did it,” Khandwala mentioned.

The loss was private for Khandwala and her daughter, who’ve contributed books to the library.

“We’re at all times placing books within the lending library additionally, so different children can have a chance to learn the identical books. And it is necessary to, you realize, share the love of studying,” she mentioned.

Phrase of the fireplace unfold on social media, prompting help from neighborhood members. Amongst them was Charles Guenancia, proprietor of Cubby’s, who mentioned he had already began constructing one other lending library.

“I supplied to be a bunch for a lending library. I’ve that ledge proper there by the window. And I figured having it’s at a bodily location will maintain issues safer,” Guenancia mentioned.

“I feel that issues like that, a lending library these days, with expertise, with social media, is a kind of issues that’s steeped in custom,” he mentioned.

“I wish to construct neighborhood. I wish to do it through cheeseburger or through tomato soup, through books, no matter means we will do it,” Guenancia mentioned.

In the meantime, efforts are underway to order a brand new lending library for P.S. 111.

“We’re not going to let it take down our neighborhood,” Khandwala mentioned.