The New York Public Library celebrated the reopening of its newly renovated 125th Street branch in East Harlem on Wednesday. 

The 120-year-old landmark building had been closed since August 2021 for the “top-to-bottom” makeover, with the reopening delayed due to proposed budget cuts, the NYPL said in a release.

The branch was one of five historic libraries in “under-resourced neighborhoods” selected for modernization as part of the library’s Carnegie Renovation Program, the release said. 

The building was previously plagued by leaks, and had “a dilapidated third floor unfit for public use,” according to the release. 

Renovations included technology upgrades, new energy-efficient windows, new heating and cooling systems, new accessible restrooms and a new elevator, as well as a new teen center and renovated children’s floor. 

“We are excited to reopen 125th Street, a cornerstone of this vibrant community. Today is a day to celebrate this investment in our future,” NYPL president Anthony Marx said in a statement. “We look forward to serving New Yorkers at this branch for generations to come.” 

In his own statement, Mayor Eric Adams said the city’s libraries “wear so many hats — they’re community hubs, respites from the heat, gateways to the internet, paths to employment, and so much more, particularly for low-income New Yorkers.”

“That’s why we have $900 million in investments lined up for our libraries in the capital plan, and that’s why we’re so excited to see the 125th Street branch of the New York Public Library reopen today,” Adams added. “It will serve New Yorkers from all walks of life — especially those of us who have fallen on harder times — for generations to come.”