is one of New York’s most spectacular, architecturally significant public buildings.  While all glass, box-like skyscrapers in the area compete for air space and attention, the historic Main Building of the NYPL outshines them all.  Residing elegantly at the southwest corner of 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue, it is a must see at least once in your life.

Aside from taking in every floor of the magnificent interior, make sure you visit the Polonsky Exhibition, NYPL Treasures and tour the Rose Main Reading Room, which is a highlight of the multiple research libraries within the building.  

You’ll find The Polonsky Exhibit offers a wonderful assortment of historical gems. There is something for everyone.  Here Charles’ Dickens comes alive as you inspect his writing desk, pen and papers.  Thomas Jefferson’s handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence reminds us of the hours of thought and debate that created our democracy, and possibly, most importantly, the little ones in your group will fall in love all over again meeting the one and only original Winnie the Pooh with four of his best friends! 

Tours for both the exhibit and the Rose Main Reading room are free but must be reserved.  Please note that only three tours are given each day for the Main Reading Room as time and space are limited.  Tours for the Polonsky Exhibit are hourly.  More information can be found here: https://www.nypl.org/events/tours/schwarzman

As the lions, Patience and Fortitude, greet walking visitors on the grand steps, mobility scooter or wheelchair users enter the building using a smartly disguised ramp around the corner on West 42nd Street headed toward Bryant Park.  The one challenge here, however, is that the doors at the top are singular and not automatic.  Someone must open and hold the doors to enter or exit and it’s a bit tricky to navigate both the outside and inside doors, as they are not aligned. Every time I visit through this entry security guards open and hold the doors until I safely enter or exit. 

There are restrooms just past the security desk, but you cannot fit a scooter, wheelchair nor a rollator into the stall.   I’ve visited all the women’s restrooms in the building just to see if my scooter would fit and as of this writing, the only restrooms in the building that EASILY accommodates a scooter or other mobility devices are on the main floor on the southside of the building.

These handsome, newly refurbished restrooms, located just past the Library Shop and Cafe, are designed with large, handicapped stalls. They are well-light and of course, always very clean.  One glitch, however, is that the entry door to the restroom is not automatic, thus someone needs to open and hold the door while you pass through.  If you have time, you might leave a written comment at the visitor’s desk about this issue as we are hoping the next renovations will include auto doors. 

If you’d like some refreshments while you are browsing, visit the new Library Cafe hosted by Amy’s Bread. The just opened Cafe is located inside the new Library Shop on the main floor. Amy’s Bread is well-known to New Yorkers for delicious breads and pastries and is also the same eaterie across the street in the Starvos Lending Library.

Location:

Stephen A Schwarzman Building/NYPL Research Library 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue, New York, New York

Hours:

Monday10 AM–6 PM, Tuesday10 AM–8 PM, Wednesday10 AM–8 PM, Thursday10 AM–6 PM, Friday10 AM–6 PM, Saturday10 AM–6 PM, Sunday1 PM–5 PM

Getting there:

By Subway—Trains 4,5,6 into Grand Central. Any subway train that stops at Times Square. Either ride your scooter across 42nd Street, ride the M42 bus or take the Shuttle train to Grand Central. Elevators from all platforms for all of these lines.

By Bus—M42 across 42nd Street; All buses along Fifth Avenue stop in front of the Library. M 7, M5, and M55 on Sixth Avenue stop at 42nd Street at Bryant Park, behind the library.

Nearby:

Bryant Park

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library/NYPL Lending Library

J.P. Morgan Library

Grand Central Terminal

One Vanderbilt