A bid to give New York's largest public library a make-over has prompted international condemnation.

Officials say the renovations, which will see thousands of books moved off-site, are long overdue, and are necessary to modernise the facility and save money.

But dewey-eyed scholars fear the plans are bound to end a chapter in the life of the library, which is used by researchers from around the globe.

Al Jazeera's Kristen Saloomey reports from New York.