Once inside, head straight to the third floor for the McGraw Rotunda. There are themed, sequenced…read moremurals across the ceiling and all the walls. The sequence begins on the ceiling with Prometheus stealing fire, enabling human civilization. This is followed by a mural of Moses and the carved Ten Commandments, a mural of a monk handwriting a script, the first production of books, the first printing press, a small mural of a mother reading a book to a child, and finally, a small mural of the child grown up and reading independently. Also at the McGraw Rotunda is the starting point for tours of the Ross Main Reading Room, which are available at 11:20 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:00 PM. However, tickets are limited (approximately 25 per tour) and are distributed 30 minutes before the tour starts. If you want to secure a spot, you need to wait in line for tickets at least 25 minutes ahead of time. The tour is only 15 minutes long, but it is very informative and impressive. Millions of books are stored underneath Bryant Park and are retrieved via miniature shuttle trains, and the ceilings on both sides of the reading room feature murals of a blue sky to inspire readers. On the first floor, opposite the main entrance, is the Polonsky Exhibition. It is a museum where you can find intriguing artifacts such as one of 48 surviving copies of the Gutenberg Bible, Charles Dickens's writing desk, the Lenox collection of Shakespeare's plays, and Audubon's hand-colored Carolina Parakeet. Oh, don't forget to find the historical wooden phone booths in the basement and post yourself using a pay phone!

I was looking forward to visit the NY Public Library Stephen A. Schwarzman, Main Branch adjacent to…read moreBryant Park that I've seen only on movies (major location in the original Ghostbusters). It was opened in 1911, built in Beaux-Art style, a beautiful building, not too big from outside, but huuge inside! You go in and are checked by security, airport level. On the way out the staff was kind of cranky and tough on tourists! The building is beautiful, has a Visitor Center, exhibitions and many restrooms (all clean and nice to use), water fountains to hydrate. I didn't think it was as spectacular as the one in Boston and I was disappointed that I couldn't visit the Rose Main Reading room - it is opened to the public Saturdays mornings only, a very rigid schedule which it didn't work for my visit. It's something you need to know to look into (I wasn't aware of it). I didn't do a tour. Free to visit. Open daily, check their site for hours! I happened to visit during Banned Books week, so I loved their displays! As someone who grew up in communist Romania, I am against censorship of any kind. So, I am against anyone banning any Book. This book worm will always fight for the freedom of readers! Nice to visit while you stroll Midtown Manhattan! It's such an elegant building that reminds me of Europe!

This is one of my favorite NYPL branches. Plenty of seating, outlets, books, and activities for a…read morewide age range. My personal favorite is the two puzzles they leave out for anyone to solve. The wifi here is also much better than the 42nd St NYPL location. There are restrooms and water fountains as well. The staff are extremely welcoming and knowledgeable. This location is one of my favorite study spots.

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

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.

A hidden gem. Come to this library and catch the lift to the 7th floor. Here you will find NYC's…read moreonly free, public library rooftop. Best bit? its free and I don't think many people know about it. Grab a coffee and spend some time up here, for some quiet reprieve and stunning views. The views overlook Fifth Avenue.

I went here during my lunch break strictly for the view. 7th floor rooftop amazing views. Can't…read moretell you about the actual library stuff bcs I was only at the rooftop. But it's probably just as great. A lot of people seem to be coming here and chilling out.

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.

I had a few hours to kill and a murder mystery to finish (see what I did there?). I'd already had…read moretoo much coffee and I've been a fan of reading in libraries since I was in school. So, I had an epiphany and decided to head over to this NYPL branch for the first time. There are three floors. The ground floor is for the general public, the second floor is for kids, and the top has offices and a classroom style room. I stayed on the ground floor, where there are tables, desks, and cozy chairs for people to read, work on their laptop, use a computer workstation, and so on. Off to the side there's an area designated for young adults after 3pm. I would say that it was quite quiet. Sure, there are some people who hang out and socialize or a tutor who likes the sound of his own voice too much, but you can mostly tune them out or wear earplugs. They had photocopies of the NYT crossword puzzle; I enjoyed that distraction from my book. Other than that, there are books, movies, special orders through interlibrary loan, and a clean bathroom. Libraries are a great public resource and I'm happy to use and support them.

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.

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.

Wow, a must see for book lovers, history lovers and architectural lovers…read more The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City is famous for its rare books and stunning architecture, but it also hides some fascinating and unusual secrets. Here are some facts I found out about the library and reasons for a visit. For me, this has to be the most impressive and wonderful library I have ever seen. Some bookcases on the ground floor have brass handles that open to reveal spiral staircases leading to upper shelves There is a a hidden closet in the southwest corner contains extra‑deep shelves for oversized volumes, and a special book elevator moves massive items between levels. Displayed in the entrance hall is an intricately carved Roman sarcophagus from the 4th century, one of the most unusual artifacts in the collection. The library houses one of only 48 complete copies of the Gutenberg Bible, printed in the 15th century -- a rare and historically significant work. It holds original manuscripts by Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Mark Twain, and Edgar Allan Poe, offering rare glimpses into the creative processes of major authors. J.P. Morgan's private librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, was the first director of the public institution and a trailblazer as the first Black graduate of Harvard College. The collection includes cuneiform tablets from Mesopotamia, medieval illuminated manuscripts, and works by Leonardo da Vinci and William Blake. J.P. Morgan's priceless collection was safeguarded in a private vault, with a night watchman and a mounted police officer posted outside for security. The main building, designed by Charles McKim, blends Beaux‑Arts, Renaissance, and Neoclassical styles, and its Reading Room -- with a barrel‑vaulted ceiling -- is a National Historic Landmark.

Really loved my time at The Morgan Library & Museum. We came specifically for the tarot exhibition,…read moreand it was absolutely worth the visit. The exhibition was incredibly detailed and fascinating and I loved taking my time walking through everything. There's so much history throughout the museum, and even beyond the tarot exhibition, there was plenty to see and explore. Definitely recommend coming by to check out the museum!

The librarians here make me want to become a librarian! This is what libraries are about - people…read morewho care, want to share their wealth of knowledge, and are in general just amazing human beings. That aside, the selection here is great, they always have computers to use, and the kids section is huge! Our sitter boasts about the kids readings during the week. I'm grateful to be a part of the community here at the Columbus branch as not all the branches are this friendly or have as much to offer.

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.