Library Tour- NY Public Library
I attended the professional’s day at NY Comic Con on Thursday, which was held in the Schwarzman building on 42nd street in Manhattan. This is the library that people who don’t live in NYC think of when they picture the NYPL, but of course there are more locations, 92 of them, not to mention the adjacent systems of Brooklyn and Queens. But the lions! The iconic lions in the front of the Schwarzman building are as symbolic to me as the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty. They are named Patience and Fortitude. The NY Comic Con is held at the Javitts Conference center, but educational panels were held at the Schwarzman building, as well as tours of this historic building. Transportation between the two locations was very easy- the subway station is at the corner of Bryant park and it goes to a station about a block away from the conference center.
Bryant park is an extension of the Library. Businessmen in suits have lunch, classes and events are held on the lawn, people play ping-pong or read from one of the library kiosks, tourists stop still and take pictures and many others rush through on their way somewhere else.
Here’s a picture I took in May of 2014 of a large group yoga session.
The upper floors are intentionally opulent. This is a temple of knowledge, a work of art and sign of prosperity. The library gives tours of the premises and talk about the rich history of this building. I see echoes of this place in the Troy library.
The Rose reading room is awe-inspiring. I was interested in not only the beautiful architecture, but the book train and reference delivery system.
The Library store is full of great stuff- not just books, but bags, journals, jewelry, ornaments, magnets, etc. I really wanted to buy the glass globes that spin themselves.
Outside the children’s room is another set of lions, made of legos.
The children’s room is an active library, a story-time was in progress with strollers lined up in rows. The echoing sounds of the alphabet song came from the room beyond while I looked at their most precious artifacts, the stuffed animals that inspired the Winnie the Pooh stories, owned by Christopher Robin.
The librarian there explained about the mid-Manhattan library collection down the hall was only here temporarily while they renovated the 5th street location. “Of course, we were here temporarily too- but it’s been 10 years!”
So the avenue I’m taking you to is 42nd Street. Museum, working library, store, cafe, and, for this trip, comic book related. Thank you, NYPL, for hosting the Comic Con educational panels here.
OMG They have the original Pooh toys!!! Now we have even more reason to go there. I just got my NYC library card!