The New York Public Libraryis a very special place.Even though it is in the busiest part of the city,(1)_____________________Even more unusual in crowded New York,its rooms are very large.The roof of the main reading room is 51 feet high.Here a reader can sit and think,and work in comfort.(2)___________________________________It owns one of the first copies of a Shakespeare's play,a Bible printed in the 15th century,and a letter written by Columbusin which he tells of the finding of the New World.Every New Yorker can see and use the library's riches free,but the cost of running the libraryhas risen rapidly in recent years.And the library does not have enough moneyto continue its work.(3)_________________________________Now it is closed at those times to save money.The library is trying in every possible wayto raise more money to meet its increasing costs.Well-known New York writers and artistsare trying to help,so are the universitieswhose students use the library,and the governments of New York Cityand New York State.But the problems remain serious.Yet ways must be found to save the public library.Because as one writer said,the public libraryis one of the most important buildings in New York City,it contains all our knowledge.
