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New York City Public Library

new york public library main branch tours

This post is about how to plan a visit to the New York Public Library's main branch building in Manhattan.

We include how to get here what you will see, and guided tours. 

As local tour guides, we know that the NYPL main branch building is one of Manhattan's most underrated attractions - and it's free.

We stop there daily on our walking tours, and for good reason, beautiful architecture, and treasures related to Shakespeare and Guttenberg.

In the video below, Katie, a tour guide with Free Tours by Foot, explains why you need to visit.

And don't just take our word for it. Check out what some of the roughly 200k members of our popular NYC Travel Tips Facebook group have to say.

New York Public Library Review

Our group consists of locals, like our tour guides, expats, veteran visitors to NYC, as well as newbies.

You don't need to join to read the posts, comments, and suggestions. A link can be found at the bottom of the post.

  • Plan Your Visit
  • Tour Information
  • Exhibition Tours
  • Other Things to Do in NYC
  • Free Tours by Foot

The Schwartzman Building was dedicated on May 23, 1911, with over 1 million books and 75 miles of shelving put into place for its opening day.

It is one of NYC's iconic Beaux-Arts-style marble buildings. Its two marble lions outside the building are recognizable to millions of people.

New York Public Library

In addition to housing a renowned reference library, the New York Public Library is home to treasures such as a Gutenberg Bible, a First Folio edition of Shakespeare’s “Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies” from 1623, and Mary Poppins’ umbrella.

One of the library's most prized possessions is an original print of the Gutenberg Bible, one of only 49 existing copies in the world!

Guttenberg Bible NYC Public Library

If you want an in-depth look at the library interior, take advantage of their free guided tours (See below ).

TIP: Be sure to learn more money-saving ideas with our guide to free things to do in NYC .

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Where is the new york public library.

The New York Public Library's Schwartzman Building is located on 5th Avenue between 42nd Street and 40th Street in Midtown Manhattan .

We recommend using this Google map to get directions from anywhere in the city.

Click the image to expand it

Where is the New York Public Library

Almost all subway lines have stations near the library.

If you are new to the NYC subway, then you may find the 2 articles below helpful.

  • Choosing the Best Subway Pass
  • Tips on Riding the NYC Subway

If you are considering purchasing a hop-on-hop-off bus ticket , most routes include a stop at or near the NYPL.

New York Bus Tours

How Much Time Will I Spend There:

If you take one of their free tours, give yourself 1.5 to 2 hours. The free tour is one hour, but you should arrive early.

You might like to spend time looking around on your own.

NYC Public Library Tours

For the ultimate library experience, you could take the 11 a.m. building tour and the 12:30 pm exhibition tour.

If so, then give yourself an additional hour.

Another option is to take the 11 a.m. library building tour before one of our 2 pm live-guided Midtown Manhattan Tours! (See our calendar for days/times ).

Some Things to Know When Visiting the Library

  • There will be security officers at all entrances and throughout the library. They may ask to look in your bag. If you have large bags with you, such as a large backpack or even luggage, you can find many places nearby to store your bags inexpensively. See our post Where to Store Luggage in NYC .
  • Outside food and drinks are not allowed inside the library. There is a small café towards the back of Astor Hall if you need something to eat or drink.
  • While photography is allowed, most rooms do not allow you to use a flash.
  • The library is wheelchair accessible, both at the entrances and throughout the building.

Nearby Attractions

  • Times Square  
  • Rockefeller Center  
  • Grand Central Terminal

The building is a stop on our Midtown Manhattan Tour and our Manhattan Night Tour , not to mention our GPS-enabled audio tour , which you could take any time you like (Listen to the sample below).

We only include the exterior of the building, but we encourage you to go back and take a free library tour. (See below ).

New York Walking Tours

NYC PUBLIC LIBRARY TOURS

The NYPL offers free, one-hour guided tours of the Schwartzman Building.

The tours, given by volunteer docents run every day but Sundays.

  • Monday-Saturday: 11 am and 2 pm (The tour is one hour in duration).
  • Sunday at 2 pm
  • Double-check tour times on their website New York Public Library Tours for any last-minute changes.
  • Note: There are no tours on Sunday. Also, the Schwarzman Building is closed on Sundays in July and August. So you will not be able to see the interior, so try to visit the library on other days of the week.

All tours meet at the Information Desk in the Astor Hall.

Astor Hall is the main entry point to the library, and the Information Desk is off to the left, just past the left set of stairs.

Tip: Tours are limited to 25 people and are available on a first-come basis. Be sure to arrive early at the meeting spot to ensure you can be included in the tour.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE

new york public library main branch tours

Patience and Fortitude 

These are the two great lions that greet you on the library stairs.

These marble statues were added in 1911 and at first, were both named Leo - fitting for a lion.

But they were given different last names: Astor and Lenox, the two co-founders of the Library.

During the Great Depression, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia renamed Leo Lenox and Leo Astor.

Their new names were Patience and Fortitude.

The renaming was meant to remind people of the traits they'd need to make it through the financial hardship of the era.

Astor Hall 

new york public library main branch tours

When you enter the library you will be in this stunning white marble entryway named for the wealthy and prominent Astor family.

Once the richest man in the world, John Jacob Astor passed away in 1848 and dedicated a huge sum of money to establish the Astor Library, a free public library, the first public library in NYC.

In 1985 the Astor Library merged with the New York Public Library.

new york public library main branch tours

The Rose Main Reading Room 

This is one of the largest interior spaces in the whole city. It is almost as long as two city blocks.

It contains 42 oak tables that can accommodate over 600 readers and 40,000 reference books line its walls. Its gilded ceiling is 52 feet high!

Besides being beautiful, lush, and vast, the room also has free Wi-Fi  (and free bathrooms) making it a destination for any researchers and academics.

The room is well-known for being the location of one of the most memorable scenes in the 1984 film “ Ghostbusters ".

(If you are a Ghostbusters fan, see our Top Ten Ghostbusters Locations post .)

McGraw Rotunda 

new york public library main branch tours

With its dark walnut paneling and vaulted ceiling, the Rotunda is a perfect locale for the sumptuous murals on its walls and ceiling.

The murals are named “The Story of the Recorded Word,” and do indeed tell this story.

The most well-known mural depicts Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press, holding a page from his famous Bible, which was the first book to be printed using the printing press.

In the Rotunda, you can see a Gutenberg Bible, one of only 49 existing copies in the world!

Map Collection Room

Of course, the room is impressive, but what is more impressive is that it is one of the largest public collections of maps in the world!

For starters, there are 10,000 maps of New York City alone!

EXHIBITION TOURS

In addition to the building tours, the library offers free, one-hour, guided docent tours of their temporary exhibits (suspended indefinitely).

The exhibits are quite specialized and exciting as you will be able to see rare items not otherwise on display.

Monday-Saturday: 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., Sunday: 2:00 p.m. ( Note: the library is closed on Sundays in July and August).

Tours are limited to 25 people, on a first-come basis, so be sure to arrive a bit before the tour times.

Tours meet at the entrance to Gottesman Hall. To get there, enter the library at the 5th Avenue main entrance, walk straight, passing through Astor Hall and you will find Gottesman Hall.

NOTE:  Special exhibits are offered at other branches of the New York Public Library system. 

For example, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture always has excellent exhibitions. 

The Schomberg Center is a stop in our pay-what-you-like Harlem Tours .

For information on current and upcoming events and exhibitions, please visit .

If you were wondering how the librarians handle requests from patrons who put in a "call slip" asking for a particular book from among the collection of over 1.5 million books.

Well, prior to 2016, the book was retrieved from the stacks of the Reading Room and the huge space beneath the Rose Main Reading Room.

After a two-year renovation, a new book retrieval system was put into place.

Here's a video of the adorable and highly efficient electric trolley system, in which books can be sent off to reading rooms upstairs in a fairly quick manner.

New York Travel Tips

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About The Author

new york public library main branch tours

Courtney Shapiro

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New York Public Library: Planning Your Visit

TripSavvy / Kelsea Watkins 

If you're planning a trip to New York City , you won't want to miss visiting the historic main branch of the New York Public Library. You don't need to be a book lover to appreciate the majesty of this building, which has been a fundamental part of the city for over a century. While many tourists pass by to snap a picture of the famous lions outside and continue on sightseeing, the true treasures are inside.

While people often refer to the landmark building in Midtown as the "New York Public Library" or NYPL, it's actually just the main branch of the entire New York Public Library system which stretches across Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx (Brooklyn and Queens each have their own borough-specific library systems). The term NYPL technically refers to all library branches, buildings, and research centers, with the flagship location officially known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. Fortunately, if you ask any local for the "New York Public Library," they'll know exactly which one you're talking about.

The New York Public Library was created in 1895 by combining the collections of the Astor and Lenox Libraries with a $2.4 million trust from Samuel J. Tilden that was given to, "establish and maintain a free library and reading room in the city of New York." Sixteen years later, on May 23, 1911, President William Howard Taft, along with New York Governor John Alden Dix and New York City Mayor William J. Gaynor, dedicated the new library and opened it to the public the next day.

The site of the old Croton Reservoir was chosen for the new library. When the building opened, it was the largest marble building in the United States and already home to over three million books.

Architecture

Eighty-eight of the best architectural firms in New York City competed to win the bid for designing the new library, ultimately going to the relatively unknown firm Carrère and Hastings. The designers had both studied in Paris, which clearly served as inspiration for the Beaux-Arts style that the library is still famous for. Their design was considered one of the greatest examples of Beaux-Arts architecture and it served as a template for libraries all around the world.

Tours and Events

Exploring this great free attraction is easy and open to all—you only need a library card if you want to actually check something out or use the research rooms. To learn about the library in a more formal setting, you can join one of the two free tours for a more comprehensive visit. The Building Tour is one hour and is the best way to take in the highlights of the building's Beaux-Arts architecture. The Exhibition Tour offers a chance to look inside the library's current exhibitions .

Visitors today can conduct research, take a tour, attend numerous events , or just wander through the library to view its many treasures and artworks.

Library Highlights

Whether you're a bibliophile, budding architect, or just a lover of NYC history, there are a few must-see spots that deserve a spot on your library itinerary.

  • Astor Hall . You can't miss Astor Hall during your trip to the library because it's the very first room you walk in when entering from the main Fifth Avenue entrance—and it sure does make a first impression. The white marble arches with the grand staircase are redolent of the extravagance of Grand Central Station, and it's no wonder people rent out the room for weddings or other special events.
  • Rose Reading Room . When people imagine grand libraries with dark wood, hand-painted ceilings, and endless rows of books, they're thinking of something like the Rose Reading Room. It's the biggest room in the massive library, and its grandeur is practically unmatched in any other building in the city. The Beaux-Arts design is intentionally mixed with decidedly Renaissance elements for an even more ornate feel.
  • McGraw Rotunda . The third-floor McGraw Rotunda is another space that's rented out for its lavishness. Climb the staircase to see its marble arches, Corinthian columns, and the New Deal-era murals by American painter Edward Laning.
  • Public Catalog Room . Connecting the Rose Reading Room and the McGraw Rotunda is the Public Catalog Room, where library users once received handwritten cards to find their books. Today, computers in the room are used instead, but this is still where you can find the main librarian's desk and ask questions or apply for a library card.
  • The Lions . Undoubtedly the library's most iconic feature is the two lion sculptures that stand watch outside. They're as old as the library itself and are so ingrained in New York culture that they've become a symbol of the whole city. Their current names were given to them during the Great Depression by Mayor LaGuardia to encourage New Yorkers through difficult hardships: Patience sits on the south side of the steps and his feline partner Fortitude is on the north side. To keep them looking their best, both lions go through an exhaustive restoration process about once every seven to 10 years.
  • Children's Center . The Children's Center in the library is designed with kids aged 12 and under in mind, but there are a few residents here that appeal to both kids and kids at heart. Here you can find the original stuffed animals that inspired the timeless characters from Winnie-the-Pooh. The stuffed Pooh bear is accompanied by Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga, and Tigger, which all belonged to the real-life child Christopher Robin. If you've ever been a fan of these classic stories, it's worth a visit to see the toys that inspired them all.
  • Croton Reservoir . Throughout the 19th century, a reservoir at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue served as the main water supply for residents in New York City. The reservoir was already in disuse when the library was constructed on the same land, but parts of the original foundation are still visible in the library today in the South Court building.
  • Rare Book Division . Some of the library's oldest, most cherished, and most valuable objects are kept in the Rare Book Divison, like a Gutenberg Bible, European works from the 15th century and before, the first Native American language Bible, old atlases, first edition works by Shakespeare, and much more. However, this room is not open to the public and only available to researchers with prior permission.

Nearby Attractions

The New York Public Library building is situated in the heart of Manhattan and several of the city's most iconic landmarks are all within just a few blocks. The library's "backyard" so to speak is Bryant Park , which feels like a small sanctuary surrounded by the skyscrapers of Midtown. Apart from a casual stroll or a nap on the lawn, there are always events going on in Bryant Park, whether it's summer night movie screenings or the Christmas market and free ice skating in the winter.

The relative serenity of the library and park is even more impressive considering that the mayhem of Times Square is just one block west and the commotion of Grand Central Terminal is one block east. And if you're still looking for more to see, you only need to walk a few blocks either uptown or downtown and you'll run right into Rockefeller Center or the Empire State Building, respectively.

Getting There

The main entrance to the library is located at Fifth Avenue between 42nd and 40th streets. The closest subway stations are the Fifth Avenue/Bryant Park station on Line 7 and the 42nd Street/Bryant Park station on Lines B, D, F, or M.

Literary lovers should start their journey at Madison Avenue and 41st Street and walk to the library from there. Not only do you get a full-frontal view of the building's gorgeous facade as you approach, but this block of 41st Street is also dubbed "Library Way" because the cement is filled with plaques featuring quotes from famous writers around the world.

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Tours at NYPL

Building and exhibition tours for the public are offered at specific library locations:  

Stephen A. Schwarzman Building Tours

new york public library main branch tours

Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture Tours

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of The New York Public Library is generally recognized as the world’s leading research library devoted exclusively to documenting the history and cultural development of peoples of African descent worldwide. From its founding in 1925 during the Harlem Renaissance, the Center has amassed vast collections of over 10 million items. READ MORE › 

new york public library main branch tours

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New York Public Library – Main Branch

About the landmark.

The main branch of the New York Public Library at 476 Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street is a Beaux-Arts masterpiece. Watch our video to learn more about this majestic building and then plan a visit.

The design of the library was won in a competition by Carrère and Hastings and was completed in 1911. The exterior was designated a New York City Landmark in 1967 with the interiors (Astor Hall, the north and south staircases to the 3rd floor, and the central hall on the 3rd floor) added in 1974.

The main branch building features rotating exhibits, educational programming, and more.

Plan Your Visit – nypl.org

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Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden

See Staten Island's premiere arts and cultural center.

exterior

One of the oldest and largest nonprofit contemporary art institutions in the States constantly innovates with its exhibitions and events.

Interior at Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NYC

Brooklyn Museum

The Brooklyn Museum houses a huge permanent collection—more than 1 million pieces in all.

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New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden features more than a million plants on 250 acres.

Exterior of the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NYC

Apollo Theater

The landmark theater, home to a weekly Amateur Night, is where many stars launched their careers.

Sam Rohn 360° Photography

360° VR Panoramic Photography & Virtual Tours

New York Public Library :: 360° Virtual Tour

360° virtual tour of the new york public library.

new-york-public-library-360-VR-panorama-001

The New York Public Library was the largest marble building ever built in the U.S. when it opened in 1911, using 530,000 cubic feet of marble.

The Main Reading Room is a majestic public space, measuring seventy-eight feet by two hundred and ninety-seven feet — roughly the length of two city blocks — and weaving together Old World architectural elegance with modern technology. The award-wining restoration of this room was completed in 1998.

Here, patrons can read or study at long oak tables lit by elegant bronze lamps, beneath fifty-two foot tall ceilings decorated by dramatic murals of vibrant skies and billowing clouds

The walls in the McGraw Rotunda are decorated with murals depicting the evolution of the printed word. Here, you can see Moses bringing the tablets down from the mountain. Another depicts the Gutenberg Press. Visitors can view one of the rare Gutenberg Bibles in the Edna Barnes Solomon Exhibition Room adjoining the rotunda.

Astor Hall , at the entrance, with its unique stone vault above an awesome white marble interior, sets the tone for the architectural delights that lie in store for the visitor. Sumptuous light brackets, elaborately decorated ceilings, the great gallery extending along the north-south axis of the building on the first floor, the window bays, the doorways, the great stairways, all combine to lift the human spirit and dignify man’s achievements. The elaborately decorated Main Reading Room, almost two city blocks in length, located at the top of the building for light and quiet, is a fitting climax to all that the architects wished to achieve.

Related 360° Virtual Tours:

[WATCH] Walking Tour Inside The New York Public Library's Main Branch in Midtown

Matt Coneybeare

The New York Public Library was established in 1895 and quickly housed one of the largest collections in the world. It is currently the second largest collection in the United States, and the third largest in the world behind the Library of Congress and the British Library . The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building , better known as the Main Branch of the library, took 14 years to complete and was opened to the public in 1911. Take a peek inside in this video from local YouTuber actionkid105.

I complete a walk through most of the publicly accessible areas of The New York Public Library Main Branch (Stephen A. Schwarzman Building) in Manhattan during a busy spring day in June 2018.

via YouTube

new york public library main branch tours

  • 5th Ave at 42nd St, New York, NY 10018
  • (917) 275-6975

Matt Coneybeare

Matt Coneybeare

Editor in Chief

Matt enjoys exploring the City's with his partner and son. He is an avid marathon runner, and spends most of his time eating, running, and working on cool stuff.

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Discover SNFL! Tour the Building with Library Staff

This event will take place in person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library.  We will meet on the 1st floor by the water fountain next to the elevators.

Discover SNFL!

Explore NYPL’s largest circulating branch in a 1-hour guided tour.

Designed to inspire, building highlights include:

  • The only free, publicly accessible rooftop terrace in Midtown
  • A dramatic “Long Room” with 42-foot-high atrium offering five levels of open, browsable book stacks
  • Commissioned public art celebrating creativity and curiosity

SNFL

Located at the site of the former Mid-Manhattan Library, the completely transformed Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL) reopened in June 2021 thanks to a generous gift from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and support from the City of New York.

Spaces are limited for this in-person event. Registration is required for this free 60-minute tour. 

All events are subject to change or cancellation.

READING RECOMMENDATIONS

The New York Public Library : a universe of knowledge

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Candida Höfer (778.944 HOFER)

I am New York : a public library poetry anthology

Teacher & Writers Collaborative in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, Queens Library (811.008 I)

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Ellen Levitt (974.71 L)

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PocketSights Tour Builder

Main Branch of the New York Public Library

  • New York City One Day Walking Tour
  • United States

New York, Manhattan, New York 10019, United States

Created By: Troy Martin

Information

The New York Public Library Main Branch building, is easily recognizable by its lion statues named Patience and Fortitude that sit either side of the entrance, was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965 listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, and designated a New York City Landmark in 1967. Construction began in 1895 and was completed in 1902. It has also been featured in many television shows, including Seinfeld and Sex and the City, as well as films such as The Wiz in 1978, Ghostbusters in 1984, and The Day After Tomorrow in 2004.

This point of interest is part of the tour: New York City One Day Walking Tour

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NYPL: Reopening of newly renovated, $20M Port Richmond Library at risk due to proposed NYC budget cuts

  • Updated: Mar. 13, 2024, 1:22 p.m. |
  • Published: Mar. 13, 2024, 5:50 a.m.

Port Richmond branch of the NYPL

Proposed budget cuts will indefinitely delay the reopening of the Port Richmond branch of the New York Public Library and cause a further reduction in library hours across the city, the NYPL president testified before a City Council committee on Tuesday. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The reopening of the landmarked Port Richmond branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL) after a seven-year, $20 million renovation is in jeopardy as a result of proposed city budget cuts, library officials said this week in a plea to the City Council to restore funding.

NYPL President Anthony W. Marx detailed that threat and many others, including an additional reduction in service hours throughout the city, during a City Council budget hearing Tuesday. He was joined by the presidents of the city’s two other library systems -- the Brooklyn Public Library and the Queens Public Library.

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NYC’s Public Libraries Call for Reversal of $58.3M in Proposed Budget Cuts

FY25 Budget Cuts Would Lead to Continued Elimination of Seven-Day Service, Five-Day Service at the Majority of Branches In the Five Boroughs, Delayed Reopening of Renovated Branches and Additional Cost-cutting Measures 

Visuals available here

March 12, 2024 —  The presidents of New York City’s three public library systems on Tuesday testified at a City Council budget hearing about the devastating impacts $58.3M in cuts and potential funding reductions would have on their ability to continue providing New Yorkers with the vital services they rely on.  

In addition to the $58.3M in cuts and funding reductions, libraries, for the first time since 2008, have been asked to cut from their Capital Plans. The presidents testified about the dire impacts the planned $130M in capital funding would have on branches, including delayed maintenance and renovations. 

Citywide, those budget impacts to libraries include: 

  • Universal six-day service has been the standard since 2015 after New Yorkers launched a campaign to restore it.   
  • Seven-day service was eliminated following a mid-year city budget cut to libraries in November. 
  • Indefinitely delayed reopenings of renovated branches, many in historically marginalized communities. The cuts and proposed funding reductions mean we cannot afford to staff these branches.   
  • Further reducing spending on library materials, programming, and building maintenance and repairs.
  • Delays and cost overruns for numerous ongoing capital projects, many of which have already been initiated. 

Details about budget impacts specific to each system outlined further below. 

New Yorkers can send an online letter in support of New York City libraries to their elected officials through BPL, NYPL and QPL’s campaign page at InvestinLibraries.org . Last year, a record number of New Yorkers sent 120,000 online and print letters.

The budget hearing, which was before the Council’s Committee on Libraries and Cultural Affairs and led by Council Member Carlina Rivera, followed a rally of library supporters at City Hall Park outside City Hall. That rally included library leadership, staff, elected officials – including the Council’s Libraries and Cultural Affairs Chair Carlina Rivera – and union officials with DC 37, which represents a majority of  library staff, as well as advocates challenging the proposed cuts. 

Copies of their prepared remarks will be available at  InvestinLibraries.org . 

Specific impacts for each system include: 

  • More than half of BPL branches dropping down to five-day a week service 
  • Reduced hours 
  • Potential delay of three locations slated to reopen in in FY25 after completion of renovations. 
  • Currently all city libraries are open for six days. 
  • 125th Street Library in Manhattan
  • Hunts Point Library in the Bronx 
  • Melrose Reopening Library in the Bronx 
  • Port Richmond Library on Staten Island
  • Fort Washington Library in Manhattan 
  • QPL will end Saturday service at all locations except Central and Flushing libraries
  • Bay Terrace Library
  • Broadway Library 
  • Hillcrest Library 

"By nearly every metric, library usage is up. New Yorkers are eager to visit their local branches, take advantage of our resources and connect with one another. And yet, we are facing some of the largest reductions we have seen in years. We look forward to working with the Mayor, the Speaker and the Council to fully restore Library funding so that we can continue to provide the resources and services our patrons rely on every day,”  said Brooklyn Public Library President Linda E. Johnson.

”The city's public libraries are facing the highest proposed budget cuts in over a decade, a potentially devastating loss of funding that will force most branches to limit service to just five days a week. This is on top of the loss of Sunday service enacted in November, and just one of the painful measures we must take to absorb these cuts. Libraries are less than half of one percent of the total budget, but their value in providing free services, programs, and access to knowledge is unmatched. We are calling for full restoration of our funding so we can continue partnering with the City to best serve New Yorkers,”  said New York Public Library President Anthony W. Marx.

“It is astounding that we are in a situation where the greatest city in the world is facing the possibility of losing universal six-day public library service,” said  Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott . “The potential reduction of $58.3 million in City funding is a devastating blow to our already strained staffing and resources and will force us to deepen the reductions we recently made as a result of the November cuts. Libraries are a catalyst for our city’s dreams, and we are hopeful that we can see our budgets fully restored and keep those dreams alive.”

“Libraries are a critical part of New York City’s infrastructure, and are essential to our wellbeing. They provide programming, increase access to opportunity, create meaningful relationships, and generate positive social impact. I grew up going to public libraries on the East Side, and it made a huge difference in my life. As libraries continue to serve more people, and expand the amount of services they provide, we must increase government support and restore 7 day service,”  said Council Member Carlina Rivera, Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations.

About the Campaign

The #InvestInLibraries campaign is a partnership between the city’s three public library systems—Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library—and other library supporters across the city.  Since the campaign launched in 2015, the City has allocated additional funding for programming as well as critical capital dollars to help address the over $1 billion in needs facing the city’s aging library infrastructure. Despite this important support, libraries confront rising costs and increased demand for more services and programs (from New Yorkers and the City). The campaign urges the City to restore and increase funding to meet rising needs, demands, and costs

Media Contacts

BPL : Fritzi Bodenheimer,  [email protected] , 929-276-4232   NYPL: Amy Geduldig,  [email protected] , 212-592-7177 QPL:  Elisabeth de Bourbon,  [email protected] , 917-650-3815

IMAGES

  1. New York Public Library: Planning Your Visit

    new york public library main branch tours

  2. ⁴ᴷ Walking Tour of The New York Public Library Main Branch (Stephen A. Schwarzman Building)

    new york public library main branch tours

  3. NY Public Library Main Branch Photograph by Susan Candelario

    new york public library main branch tours

  4. Glorious return: New York Public Library reopens all branches Tuesday

    new york public library main branch tours

  5. New York Public Library Main Reading Room

    new york public library main branch tours

  6. The NYC Public Library

    new york public library main branch tours

COMMENTS

  1. Tours at NYPL

    From its founding in 1925 during the Harlem Renaissance, the Center has amassed vast collections of over 10 million items. READ MORE ›. Building and exhibition tours for the public are offered at specific library locations: Stephen A. Schwarzman Building Tours With nearly 53 million items, the New York Public Library, known as the Stephen A.

  2. Plan Your Visit to the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

    Prepare for Your Visit. Enter the building via the main entrance on Fifth Avenue, or the accessible entrances at 40th Street and 42nd Street. M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, M42, and M55 buses all stop outside or near the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

  3. The New York Public Library Visitor Center

    Jennifer Egan's New York Times bestselling historical novel was written as a Mel and Lois Tukman Fellow at The New York Public Library's Cullman Center in 2004-05. Published in 2017, it has since been borrowed in the three boroughs of the NYPL system (Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island) more than 8,500 times.

  4. New York Public Library Main Branch Virtual Tour (VR/360)

    Welcome to NYPL The New York Public Library! This landmark is known across the world, appearing in many films and capturing the imagination of its millions o...

  5. NYC Public Library Tours and Visitor's Guide

    When. Monday-Saturday: 11 am and 2 pm (The tour is one hour in duration). Sunday at 2 pm. Double-check tour times on their website New York Public Library Tours for any last-minute changes. Note: There are no tours on Sunday. Also, the Schwarzman Building is closed on Sundays in July and August.

  6. New York Public Library: Planning Your Visit

    The New York Public Library was created in 1895 by combining the collections of the Astor and Lenox Libraries with a $2.4 million trust from Samuel J. Tilden that was given to, "establish and maintain a free library and reading room in the city of New York." Sixteen years later, on May 23, 1911, President William Howard Taft, along with New ...

  7. Tours at NYPL

    Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture Tours. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of The New York Public Library is generally recognized as the world's leading research library devoted exclusively to documenting the history and cultural development of peoples of African descent worldwide. From its founding in 1925 ...

  8. New York Public Library

    The main branch of the New York Public Library at 476 Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street is a Beaux-Arts masterpiece. Watch our video to learn more about this majestic building and then plan a visit. The design of the library was won in a competition by Carrère and Hastings and was completed in 1911. The exterior was designated a New York City ...

  9. Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (New York Public Library Main Branch

    Experience New York, the 'city that never sleeps,' magically lit up after dark during this guided evening tour of the city by bus. Begin with a short nighttime stroll along the city's famous High Line Park, then hop on a bus for a ride past illuminated landmarks like Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and the neighborhoods of SoHo and Chinatown, and take a short walk through Grand Central ...

  10. ⁴ᴷ Walking Tour of The New York Public Library Main Branch (Stephen A

    I complete a walk through most of the publicly accessible areas of The New York Public Library Main Branch (Stephen A. Schwarzman Building) in Manhattan dur...

  11. New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

    The New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is a landmark Beaux-Arts building housing outstanding research collections as well as architectural wonders. The main branch of the New York Public Library is housed in a landmark Beaux-Arts building that includes the Rose Reading Room.

  12. Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (New York Public Library Main Branch

    The library is a staple of sightseeing tours and architecture-themed walking tours of the midtown area; some movie-themed tours also stop at the library to see where key scenes fromGhostbusters andBreakfast at Tiffany's were filmed. Inside, explore exhibition spaces where displays spotlight influential writers and NYC history.

  13. Visitor Center

    Start your journey at the Library's Visitor Center. Discover everything our new Visitor Center has to offer, including digital and tactile displays featuring interactive exhibits about the Library's legacy, collection items, maps, and more. Plus: find a coat check and join in-person tours at the Visitor Center.

  14. Visit the NYPL Main Branch Like a Local: 6 Things To Do and See

    The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is a research-only destination, while its neighbor houses the city's largest circulating collection as well as a stunning revamped Children's Center and Teen Center. The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is open daily: 10am-6pm on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; 10am-8pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays ...

  15. New York Public Library Main Branch

    The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (commonly known as the Main Branch, the 42nd Street Library, or just the New York Public Library) is the flagship building in the New York Public Library system in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City.The branch, one of four research libraries in the library system, contains nine separate divisions. The structure contains four stories open to ...

  16. Visiting The New York Public Library: A Useful Guide

    In addition to its remarkable collections, the New York Public Library offers highlights tours that showcase the most notable and off-limits rooms of the Main Branch. These tours provide visitors with an in-depth look at the library's history and architectural wonders.

  17. New York Public Library :: 360° Virtual Tour

    The New York Public Library was the largest marble building ever built in the U.S. when it opened in 1911, using 530,000 cubic feet of marble.. The Main Reading Room is a majestic public space, measuring seventy-eight feet by two hundred and ninety-seven feet — roughly the length of two city blocks — and weaving together Old World architectural elegance with modern technology.

  18. Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

    The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is part of The New York Public Library, which consists of four major research libraries and 88 branch libraries located in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Often referred to as the "main branch," the Beaux-Arts landmark building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street houses outstanding research collections in the humanities and social sciences.

  19. [WATCH] Walking Tour Inside The New York Public Library's Main Branch

    The New York Public Library was established in 1895 and quickly housed one of the largest collections in the world. It is currently the second largest collection in the United States, and the third largest in the world behind the Library of Congress and the British Library.The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, better known as the Main Branch of the library, took 14 years to complete and was ...

  20. Discover SNFL! Tour the Building with Library Staff

    Explore NYPL's largest circulating branch in a 1-hour guided in-person tour. ... Public Programs. All Events; LIVE from NYPL; Conversations from the Cullman Center ... Benefit Events; Membership Events; Host Your Event at the Library; Classes & Workshops; Exhibitions; Tours at NYPL; Discover SNFL! Tour the Building with Library Staff. Date ...

  21. Main Branch of the New York Public Library

    The New York Public Library Main Branch building, is easily recognizable by its lion statues named Patience and Fortitude that sit either side of the entrance, was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965 listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, and designated a New York City Landmark in 1967.

  22. Exhibitions

    The New York Public Library offers free major exhibitions and special displays at three of its research library locations—the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Library for the Performing Arts, and Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture—and community showcases at many of its branch locations throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island.

  23. NYPL: Reopening of newly renovated, $20M Port Richmond Library ...

    STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The reopening of the landmarked Port Richmond branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL) after a seven-year, $20 million renovation is in jeopardy as a result of proposed ...

  24. The Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures

    For more than 125 years, The New York Public Library has collected, preserved, and made accessible the world's knowledge. Now, for the first time, the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures showcases some of the most extraordinary items from the 56 million in our collections, inspiring and empowering visitors to discover, learn, and create new knowledge—today and ...

  25. NYC's Public Libraries Call for Reversal of $58.3M in Proposed Budget

    Visuals available here. March 12, 2024 — The presidents of New York City's three public library systems on Tuesday testified at a City Council budget hearing about the devastating impacts $58.3M in cuts and potential funding reductions would have on their ability to continue providing New Yorkers with the vital services they rely on. In addition to the $58.3M in cuts and funding reductions ...