Session

Join Nate Hill as he shares the origin story and current evolution of the Library Field, an innovative project by the Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO). Library Field is a unique outdoor space dedicated to advancing the work of libraries and their partners.

In this session, Nate will walk you through the project’s conceptual framework, community engagement efforts, site development journey, and more. You’ll also be invited to share your own ideas for how outdoor library spaces could be used around the world—no idea is too bold or outlandish for Library Field!

About METRO: 
METRO builds a sustainable culture of creativity, collaboration, and open exchange among libraries, archives, museums, and cultural institutions in New York and beyond through leadership, grantmaking, resource sharing, and innovation.

Hosts

Nate Hill
Nate is the Executive Director of METRO – a librarian, artist, and aspiring ecologist. He has worked at Brooklyn, San Jose, and Chattanooga Public Libraries. Passionate about creation, he enjoys building sculptures, gardens, communities, and organizations. 

Shannon Mattern
Shannon is METRO’s first Director of Creative Research and Practice and a Penn Presidential Compact Professor of Media Studies. She has written extensively on libraries, maps, and urban intelligence and collaborated on library design and exhibitions.