New York Public Library Main Branch
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
A Beaux-Arts library landmark whose Rose Main Reading Room and the pair of stone lions at the entrance are New York icons.
The main building of the New York Public Library (the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building) opened in 1911. The two stone lions at the entrance are named Patience and Fortitude. The third-floor Rose Main Reading Room is about 90 meters long, with a ceiling painted with cloud-filled skies and brass desk lamps that give it a warm, elegant feel. Films such as Breakfast at Tiffany's and The Day After Tomorrow were shot here. The library's permanent displays include treasures such as the Gutenberg Bible, along with the original Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed toys. Admission is free, and free guided tours are offered. Please keep your voice down in the reading room. Behind the library, Bryant Park has an ice-skating rink and a Christmas market in winter. Subway: 7 to 5 Av.
Opening hours
Mon–Sat approx. 10:00–18:00 (extended Tue and Wed); closed Sundays
Nearby sights
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
- Grand Central Terminal
- Times Square / Broadway
- Empire State Building
- Rockefeller Center & Top of the Rock
- St. Patrick's Cathedral
- Museum of Modern Art
- Fifth Avenue