On a bit of a roadtrip down the Connecticut coast, we arrived in New Haven a little after 3pm, and…read moreI knew I had only had a little time before things/attractions closed at 5pm. So after hitting the Yale Center for British Art, we speed walked (sped walked?) over to the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Why? Google it and you'll understand when you see the pictures. Beinicke is Yale's rare book and manuscript library - not their main university library or their law library. The reading room is open to registered researchers only, but the public are welcome to visit the library's exhibition hall. And everyone visiting New Haven should! The library was built in 1963, and the the architecture is incredible. The building is a granite veneer shell, fastened to a structural steel frame. Inside that structure is a glass-enclosed tower of book cases. The granite was milled to 1.25 inches thick to allow filtered daylight in - in the afternoon/early evening, the marble turned an amber color. We walked back past it at night for a different view of the building. It is really incredible architecture, and the library hosts exhibits you can see in the exhibition hall when you visit to enjoy the building (when we visited, the exhibit was "Taught By the Pen: The World of Islamic Manuscripts"). The building is incredible and definitely worth a visit if you're exploring the Yale campus!

there is NO PUBLIC BATHROOM in here, but the staff directed me to the closest bathroom in the…read morebuilding across the courtyard.

Libraries don't have foyers like this which is why you need to see it. It looks like a gothic…read morechurch minus the religious accouterments. It was built around the 1930's but it could pass for a lot older. When you finally get to the part where students actually read and study, there are 2 areas. One is open with high ceilings the other enclosed. It looks like out of Hollywood casting what an Ivy League library would look like. See pics

The prettiest library I've been too. I dear say it's prettier than the Bryant Park library in NYC…read more The guard at the door was friendly. The bathrooms were clean. The courtyard was opened on a beautiful fall day.

I've been here a couple of times now and I'm completely obsessed. I love the music records area and…read moreI can camp out here for hours. It's almost dead silent and it feels like one ought to do important work ... in such an important-feeling space (which is a wonderful motivator). Wish that more of the library was open to the public but I understand that in the New Haven area and with as many visitors as Yale probably gets, that's simply not possible. Note: This library is also open until 10pm on some days! Thank you!

The Sterling Memorial Library is the most beautiful library I've ever entered! The Gothic arches,…read moreceiling vaults, and details embedded in every nook and cranny blew my mind. I felt like I was walking the halls of Hogwarts and didn't want to leave. If you love architecture, I highly recommend checking out this library.

The New Haven Free Public Library is a very cool building designed by Cass Gilbert of New York and…read morebuilt between 1908 and 1911. The colonial revival structure is set back from the street and blends in with the 19th century architecture, including that of the church on the green. As an adult, it brings back childhood memories of my fascination with the variety of the layout of the various rooms. Many things have been modernized, but just walking in and looking around at the magnitude of shelves and shelves of books still brings joy to my quest for learning something new every day.

I am old fashioned in the sense that I still would rather walk into a public library and check out…read morebooks, instead of downloading them on a device or buying them. NHPL is a large library located downtown on the green, but somewhat outdated in the decor. A librarian there once told me that they have a huge number of "lost" books that people never return and never pay the fees for...guess it is difficult to chase down these missing books after a while. Late fees are reasonable too...20 cents per day, per book. Parking can be a pain (got a ticket once when I went in for 5 minutes to grab a book). Luckily, Yale lot 51 is right next door and offers free evening and weekend parking. They have a lot of free programs/speakers for adults and children. They also have many computers for use with your library card number as a log-in. You can use the internet, do some research and look up specific books that are available at any of the branches. They also have free museum and theater passes that can be checked out for discounts and free admission.

For a relatively small town, this modern library is impressive. There is a solid selection of…read morebooks, magazines, CDs, DVDs, and especially spectacular travel guides. The children's section upstairs is always full of phenomenal books that children are eager to read. The adult section is well organized, quiet, clean, and relaxing. The staff is friendly, and very helpful. There is plenty of parking and the hours it is open and makes it a convenient place to find the newest books.

This is a beautiful library - it's in a quiet downtown, lots of onsight parking, and on hot days a…read morefew trees to quietly park under. Inside there is a jaw-dropping domed center allowing views to the second floor. The librarians are very nice and friendly, and very quiet inside for reading and studying.

So quiet that time seems to stand still while you are here. You can smell the old wood in the…read moremedical history room. Very conducive to studying for long hours without feeling spent.

This library, like the medical school building that houses it, is full of hidden pockets and…read moreinteresting spaces. There are sections devoted to varying levels of quietness, but most of the library is blanketed in a no-speaking-unless-necessary zone. Silence your phone and avoid noisy snacks (the library has a no-food rule, but there is a Keurig machine in the entrance you can use for a fee)! If you want to do group work/feel less self conscious about making noise, there are 3 group study rooms one level down. These can be reserved ahead of time, and two of them have whiteboards! The Morse Periodical Room is a well-lit "ultra quiet zone" that is perfect for when you need to buckle down and focus on a project. The Historical Library Reading Room is where to go when you want to feel like you're in the library from Disney's Beauty and the Beast/an old-fashioned library. The Cushing Room in the lowest level is a fun place to bring visitors/check out jars of brains/pictures of people with different . Not somewhere that I would want to study in for hours, but definitely a place to check out. The information room is lovely during the day, but once the sunlight fades it gets pretty dim. There are lots of computers and macs, and you can print here if you have an account. If you like to explore, this library is full of little nooks where you can find a study space that suits your taste. Take the time to walk around before you pick a spot! Main complaint: closes at midnight. Guards will go around kicking people out at this time. There's a warning bell at 11:45pm.

A pretty nice library, lots of space and plenty of seating. The internet is nice because you can…read morereserve for an hour but if there's no one in line after you, it renews at 15 minute intervals for up to an hour.

great for free internet use. If there's not many people waiting you can usually extend your time…read more The locataion is in walking distance from dining, shops, bars, and historical sites in downtown. Nice and quiet like a good library should be.

The building is beautiful, first of all. There's a well manicured lawn and garden outside, and…read moreinside you're greeted in a rotunda. As far as I could tell, the building was actually built to be a library but it looks more like a house built with upstart new money to impress the neighbors. There are anchoring fireplaces at either side room off the rotunda, both with artwork above them. One is for adults, while the other is clearly marked as a teens area. The check-out desk provided prompt attention and service, and there are shelves of full of books and media. It was also rather busy with people coming in and out consistently, and great hours. Being open until five on a Saturday is amazingly convenient.

Hagaman Memorial Library has always been clean and organized with a helpful friendly staff. I went…read morethere for the first time in over a year due to the pandemic to get some documents printed out. I applaud the entire staff for how they took their customer service and cleanliness to another level! Chris Hemmingway was one of the people working there the day I went in. This person, like all the other people that work there was helpful, patient, knowledgeable and friendly! I'm so thankful to not only have such a beautiful building as my library but to have the awesome people there as well!! FIVE STARS ALL THE WAY!!!

The tour is about 45 minutes long and it's just ok. It's more about the life of Dr. Harvey Cushing,…read morethe egomaniac who collected brains, than a review of the brains on display. It's free and it should be. Parking is around the corner and $6 for two hours.

What an amazing person to have collected such a unique collection on his undergraduate years of…read morestudy! Highly recommend going and thanking your tour guide if you have one with you- it's not exactly a cheerful place! Try going at the less busy times if possible! Yale also has other great architecture to see, mainly the gothic architecture that was originally modeled after Oxford. Trying to get a sense of the history behind the buildings may very well bring you to the Cushing Center and other places like it! Cameras are allowed so feel free to bring them!