New York Public Library
Good for: architecture
Not good for: architecture, book lovers
- Address
- Fifth Ave at 42nd St
- Transport
- Website
- Phone
- 212-930-0830
- Hours
- 11am-6pm Mon, to 7:30pm Tue & Wed, 10am-6pm Thu-Sat, 1-5pm Sun, guided tour 11am & 2pm Mon-Sat, 2pm Sun
Lonely Planet review for New York Public Library
This main research building of NYC’s public library system was, until recently, called the Humanities & Social Sciences Library; that all changed when billionaire businessman and library trustee Stephen A Schwarzman donated $100 million to the NYPL’s expansion, and the powers-that-be renamed it the Stephen A Schwarzman Building. Bought or not, though, it remains one of several specialist research libraries in the NYPL system, as well as one of the best free attractions in the city – a monument to learning, housed in a grand, Beaux Arts building that reflects its big-money industrialist roots. When it was dedicated in 1911, New York’s flagship library ranked as the largest marble structure ever built in the US, with a vast, 3rd-floor reading room designed to hold 500 patrons – not to mention the famous marble lions (‘Patience’ and ‘Fortitude’) at the entrance, profligate use of gold leaf throughout, chandeliers, carved porticoes and ceiling murals.
On a rainy day, hide away with a book in the airy Reading Room and admire the original Carre-and-Hastings lamps, or stroll through the Exhibition Hall, which contains precious manuscripts by just about every author of note in the English language, including an original copy of the Declaration of Independence and a Gutenberg Bible. Also worth getting lost in is the incredible Map Division, with a collection that holds some 431,000 maps, 16,000 atlases and books on cartography, dating from the 16th century to the present. The free guided tour is a bonanza of interesting tidbits; it leaves from the information desk in Astor Hall.
Traveller reviews for New York Public Library (5)
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Classic building
reedalvarado recommends this,
Philanthropy at work, this building is the essence of classic beauty. Amazing reading halls.
Good for: architecture
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"My uncle thought he was St Jerome..."
remelila recommends this,
If you love books at all, stop by the grand main branch of the NYPL. Besides great photo ops on the steps with the famous lions, you should see the beautiful main reading room and stroll through whatever current exhibit they have going on at the time. The gift shop is a great place for NYC- and literary-themed souvenirs, too.
Not good for: architecture, book lovers
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Stop by and visit
alistnyc recommends this,
It will only take you a few minutes to stop in and visit the NY Public Library's main branch but it's worth it. It's located next to Bryant Park. The building is impressive, they have some good temporary exhibitions, and some interesting items upstairs including a Guttenberg Bible. Plus you should check out the giant Main Reading Room.
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Just like I pictured it
dansolo recommends this,
As Stevie Wonder says "New York. Just like I pictured it. Skyscrapers & everything..." in the opening to 'Living for the City' it is just that. Never will you visit a city for the first time when everything seems so familiar.
Here at the library sit the stone lions that feature in the opening titles to Ghostbusters (for those of a certain age who'll remember with affection!).
No ghouls inside as the internal shots weren't filmed here; but this is one to tick off the photo list along with Tiffany's, Annie Hall, King Kong, Midnight Cowboy, Mean Streets, The Godfather trilogy, The Fisher King...and er, You Don't Mess With The Zohan.
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