Cultural Heavyweights Let Public Library Know They Don't Like Planned Revamp May 9, 2012, 5:10 pm More than 700 scholars, writers, publishers, artists and others sent a letter to the New York Public Library on Wednesday protesting the $300 million restructuring of the 42nd Street flagship building and calling for a public discussion of the plan. The signers include the writers Salman Rushdie and Jonathan Lethem, the cartoonist Art Spiegelman and the historian Natalie Zemon Davis. In particular the critics take issue with the notion that the renovation, known as the Central Library Plan, will make the library more democratic. "More space, more computers, a café, and a lending library will not improve an already democratic institution," the letter said. The letter, which was addressed to the library's president, Anthony W. Marx, also called on the library to restore staff positions that were reduced by budget cuts. Mr. Marx was not immediately available for comment.