Some academist at a library of New York, say (6)

I believe the answer is:

statal

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'some academist at a library of new york say' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'some academist at a library of' is the wordplay.
'some' indicates a hidden word (some of the parts of the word are used).
'STATAL' is hidden within 'academist at a library of'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for statal that I've seen is " of a federal community".)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.

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