'Floating Library' Coming To Historic Steamship Lilac

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The historic Steamship Lilac offshore from TriBeCa will soon be host to a floating library.

The floating library, described as a "pop-up, mobile device-free public space," will be berthed at the steamship at Pier 25 at Hudson River Park – at the mouth of North Moore Street – from Sept. 6 to Oct. 3, according to a news release.

The library was the spurred of artist Beatrice Glow, and brings together more than 70 participants with a mission, according to the release, "to fortify a space for critical cultural production by pushing boundaries under the open skies that are conducive to fearless dreaming."

The main deck of the ship will be turned into an outdoor reading lounge, offering visitors reading material from "underrepresented" authors, art and poetry books, manifestoes, and a book collection that will be donated to high school students in need once the library closes, the release said.

Also featured will be a listening room featuring sound projects created by artists in response to pieces of literature, the release said.

Free public programming will also be available at more than 20 roundtables. They will include performances and workshops specializing in a variety of specific interest such as "maker culture," "DIY politics," sustainability, and community engagement.

Among the highlights will be book and furniture making workshops, a multimedia sound performance by Pauchi Sasaki in the Petty Officer's room, which is described in the release as being "akin to being inside the belly of a whale."

The Steamship Lilac is currently a museum, but once served as a U.S. Coast Guard vessel. It was built in 1933 to carry supplies over to lighthouses, according to a DNAInfo report.

The ship is open on Thursdays between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., and on weekends between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., the publication reported.

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