The origins of the New York Public Library trace back to the 19th century, when New York City was…read morerapidly growing and aspiring to become a global cultural center. This is definitely worthy of your time for a visit whilst in New York. It is also free and offers an interesting visit to include history and gorgeous architect.

Treasures: The Polonsky Exhibition (Located inside The New…read moreYork Public Library) 476 5th. Ave. New York, NY 10018 Treasures: The Polonsky Exhibition is a free museum located inside the New York Public Library.                            As you walk through this single-room gallery, these are some of the memorable artifacts that are currently on display: Declaration of Independence: This is a replica of the official document written by the American Colonists declaring their independence from King George III. Winnie-The-Pooh and Friends: Five stuffed dolls are the inspiration to the cartoon series Winnie-The-Pooh. All five dolls look identical to their cartoon counterpart. This is one of the most popular exhibits and it will attract a large crowd.  Brooklyn Dodgers Autographed Baseball: An official baseball was signed by the 1948 Brooklyn Dodgers team including the legendary Jackie Robinson. The First Folio: This 900-page compilation is the first collected edition of 36 plays written by William Shakespeare. West Side Story Cue Book: Production Stage Manager Ruth Mitchell used this book to signal every lighting change, sound effect, and movement during this modernized version of Romeo and Juliet.   Charles Dickens: There is display of Charles Dickens work area which includes his chair, desk, and stationary.   The New York Public Library will rotate the exhibits that are currently on display. If you have a desire to explore these "Treasures," do so now before the exhibit(s) will be permanently removed. #treasuresthepolonskyexhibition #thenewyorkpubliclibrary #nypl #newyorklibraryfreemuseum

Love Love.Love.,New York.Public..Library! Staff,is…read moregreat!...Books, Ambience,.Location!

I am not gonna lie, I was not familiar with the NYPL's game. Each location is very unique and well…read moremaintained it caught me so off guard. It has become one of my favorite parts of NYC to be honest. This location is definately no different. Right across from MOMA, near peak 5th avenue and the Rockefeller Center, it is very accessible for plenty of tourist. As a student, it is always lovely to find new places to sit down and get work done across NYC, and walking into this location, I was unsure what to expect. When you first enter its a narrow ally-way with books to your right and left. But turning the corner leads you to this stunning staircase that is surprisingly a nice comfortable place to pause, rest, and enjoy your day during a peak NYC day. With some-what reliable wifi, you can sit down and fet some work done. There are several selection of books, although I heard people do complain that this location lacks in this department compared to other libraries across NYC. There are group desk and private desk, super nice and friendly staff, and clean bathrooms. Love this well maintained library. Sometimes baby sitters would bring toddlers here during lunch, and I would find several babies for some reason, which would catch me off-guard. Overall, super impress with NYPL, several seating areas to get work done, and sometimes reliable wifi. Several outlets too. My only two request is better wifi, and longer hours.

This is my favorite CUNY library. I always get work done here because:…read more1. They have really good wifi 2. Comnecting to their wifi gives me access to different journals and databases 3. Outlets work 4. It is so conducive to reading and studying 5. They allow library users to bring drinks (with lid) 6. They are usually open on weekends. I also love their elevators and how it's right in across the Empire State Building.

My favorite library in Nyc. Beautiful building with interesting history…read more Lots of quiet areas to explore, read or just spend some quiet time. Staff are friendly, with clean bathrooms.

Such a historic presence within the Village; I was stupefied. My bestie is an English professor and…read moreoften holds book clubs here. Everything is accessible.

Love this library. So Many floors, so many books and a great…read morecommunity & event space. Its a quiet place to read, attend class, they even have movie screenings. They got bathrooms in almost every floor & a rooftop terrace in the summer. If you are a lover of books & enjoy visiting third spaces, this library is a perfect place for you! Highly recommend!

I have not been here in many years, since this place used to be called the Mid Manhattan Library…read more It has received a substantial makeover since then, with a full renovation from top to bottom. Not only is the collection updated, but they have state-of-the-art equipment with podcasting studios, photography equipment, and computer terminals. Best of all, this place boasts the only free, publicly accessible rooftop terrace in Manhattan. Take the elevator to the 7th floor and there is large V-shaped terrace for hanging out or eating. It has amazing views of midtown Manhattan and there is even a cafe on that floor to get some drinks and snacks.

On the way to an appointment, I dropped by to return a book…read more Then, I decided to browse the isles. The library is small but convenient. It is on the 58th between Lexington and Park Ave . The 4 5 6 train to Lexington will bring you right here. Their hours are 10 5 Supporting our local libraries is very important

58th Street Library is not one of my favorite branches. I rarely stop in here when I'm in the…read moreneighborhood. I'm still giving them Five Stars because they are part of the Greatest Library System in the World! I'm a huge fan of the New York Public Library. Cardholders can check out digital books online these days. Rarely have I been disappointed when I'm looking for a particular book. If I can't find what I'm looking for I go to a branch like this one when I'm in the neighborhood. The employees are usually helpful. Since this branch is close to my doctors offices I may stop in and pick up something to read. I recommend wherever you live that you support your public library.

Came in to do some studying between lunch and dinner plans. It was not too busy during a weekday…read moreduring the work day. It was fine to study for an hour but if your laptop is dying, outlets seem hard to come by. Additionally, for a hot summer day, while not sweltering inside, it was still pretty warm.

A nice library. It's a good size, and has comfy chairs. It has great air conditioning, which was a…read moremust during the recent heat wave. Oh, and I got a library card!

I use the computer and read magazines. Very pleasant atmosphere…read more I occasionally watch a movie, a plus.

Clean, quiet, and friendly. Such a nice place to work in peace…read more Very friendly staff.

Both the library and the museum were gorgeous. I came here for the Tarot Cards exhibit and was…read moredeeply satisfied by the richness of what I saw, from Renaissance European tarot decks to hand-drawn copies of the Thoth Tarot. Everything was beautiful and enchanting. I was also fortunate to join the 2 p.m. guided tour of the library. It was enriching to learn about the connections between the collections of rare books and artworks and J.P. Morgan's religious background. I truly loved the experience.

It was pure coincidence that Jamie W and I came here on the same visit to NYC in which we saw the…read morebrilliant revival of "Ragtime" at Lincoln Center. The Morgan Library is the setting for the bullet-ridden plot climax, and one of the characters even describes the building's architectural fortitude. I had been wanting to come here for some time, but it took drizzly weather to motivate us to take action. Completed in 1906 as the private library of the banker J.P. Morgan, it's on Madison just a few blocks from the other Gilded Age masterpieces, the New York Public Library and Grand Central Terminal. Presuming we would see the foreboding double doors Coalhouse Walker faced in the show, we were pleasantly surprised by the openness of the glass-enclosed central court designed by Renzo Piano. There's a cafe that takes advantage of the incoming light, but we took a pass on it since we just ate at Grand Brasserie. Instead we took advantage of the glass elevator to take us to the photographic exhibition of Peter Hujar, the late artist who captured New York's bohemian and queer scenes through striking black-and-white portraits (Photo 6). The main event, however, is the historic McKim Building: It was the original private library, and in typical grandeur, features three stories of tiered, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, magnificent fireplaces, ornate ceilings, and a gorgeous Rotunda (Photo 5). Morgan's study is the West Room with walls covered in rich red damask (Photo 4) and a vault dedicated to his most valuable books, manuscripts, and art objects (Photo 8). Admission is $25 for adults. RELATED - Exploring NYC? Here's a collection of non-culinary places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/XMJZUPgXsX

My kids love Rh library and they were very accommodating. They often spend hours exploring the…read moreshelves, lost in the world of books. The staff knows them by name and always have great recommendations. On weekends, we attend storytime sessions, where the kids can listen to their favorite tales and even participate in fun activities. It's become our favorite family outing, and I've noticed their reading skills improving immensely. The library has truly become a second home for us, filled with adventures waiting to be discovered.

Updated 2025 Books, Recommended Request On Popular Books & Resources Is Known With Staff To Get…read moreHelp With Classes & Events.