96th Street Branch Information

Branch History

Bridging the neighborhoods of Yorkville and East Harlem, the 96th Street Branch has been a vital center of information, learning, and recreation to a diverse community since it opened in September 1905. One of the 65 libraries built with funds donated to New York City by Andrew Carnegie, the library was designed by the noted architectural firm of Babb, Cook and Willard. Both beautiful and functional, the interior is distinguished by tall arched windows, lofty ceilings, wide staircases, and dark oak bookshelves. A renovation in 1991 considerably expanded the space available to the public and modernized the building, while retaining its original architectural beauty. The branch contains an adult reading room, a children's room with a separate space for story hours, an expanded reference center, a conference room, and an auditorium with a seating capacity of 50.

Collections & Services

  • Book collections for adults and teenagers in English, Spanish, and Chinese available for borrowing and use in the library
  • Parenting collection
  • Lifelong Learning collection for adult new readers of English
  • Videos, CD-ROMs, books-on-tape, and CDs for adults and teenagers
  • Book collections for children in English and Spanish available for borrowing and use in the library
  • Audiocassettes for children
  • Microfilm reader available
  • Community Information collection
  • Personal computers and software for free public use by appointment
  • Internet access for free public use by appointment

Programs

  • Films and live music for all ages
  • Monthly art exhibits
  • Poetry and dramatic readings, book discussion groups for adults
  • Special programs for children, including picture book hour, magic, and puppet shows
  • Preschool and toddler programs
  • Class visits for children by appointment

Other Neighborhood Branches

Area Branches Library Centers
Aguilar
Webster
Yorkville 		Donnell Library Center
Mid-Manhattan Library

Community Information

Basic community services are listed below. For other local agencies, see The New York Public Library's Directory of Community Services.
Community Board
Community Board # 8 1990 and 2000 Demographic Statistics
Elected Officials - Local
NYC Council
District # 4		 NYS Assembly
District # 68		 NYS Senate
District # 28 		U.S. Congress,
District # 14
Fire and Police Departments
Fire:
Engine 22, Ladder 13, Battalion 10
159 East 85th Street 10028 		Police:
19th Precinct
153 East 67th Street 10021
212-452-0600
Local Hospitals:
Metropolitan Hospital
1901 First Avenue 10029
212-423-6898
Mount Sinai Medical Center
Fifth Avenue and East 101st Street 10029
212-241-6500
Parks and Playgrounds:
Cherry Tree Park
East 99th Street, Third Avenue

Samuel Seaburry Playground
East 96th Street, Lexington Avenue
Ruppert Park
East 91st Street, Second Avenue

Stanley Isaac Court
East 96th Street, York Avenue
Post Office:
Gracie Station
229 East 85th Street 10028
212-988-6681
Yorkville Finance Station
1619 Third Avenue 10128
212-369-2230
Schools:
Public  (Community School Board Districts list)
Elementary/Intermediate Schools:
PS 50 - Vito Marcantonio School (K-6)
433 East 100th Street 10029
212-860-5976
Region 9, District 4
PS 72 (K-6)
131 East 104th Street 10029
212-860-5831
Region 9, District 4
PS 77 - Lower Lab School (K-5)
1700 Third Avenue 10128
212-427-2798
Region 9, District 2		 PS 171 - Patrick Henry School (K-6)
19 East 103rd Street 10029
212-860-5992
Region 9, District 4
PS 198 - Isidor and Ida Straus School (K-6)
1700 Third Avenue 10128
212-289-3702
Region 9, District 2		 MS 224 - Manhattan East Center for Arts and Academics (K-8)
410 East 100th Street 10029
212-860-5992
Region 9, District 4
Other Elementary Schools in Region 9, District 2

Other Elementary Schools in Region 9, District 4
Intermediate School:
JHS 99 (7-8)
410 East 100th Street 10029
212-860-5854
Region 9, District 4
Intermediate Schools in Region 9, District 2

Other Intermediate Schools in Region 9, District 4
High Schools:
Environmental Science Secondary School
410 East 100th Street 10029
212-860-6025
Life Sciences Secondary School
320 East 96th Street 10128
212-348-1694
Park East High School
230-34 East 105th Street 10029
212-831-1517		 School of Cooperative Technical Education
321 East 96th Street 10128
212-369-8800
Other High Schools in Region 9, District 2

Other High Schools in Region 9, District 4
Comprehensive School:
Hunter College Campus Schools (Pre K-12)
71 East 94th Street 10128
212-860-1267
Other Schools/Programs:
Alternative Programs in Manhattan

Charter Schools in Manhattan

Special Education Programs in Manhattan
Private/Parochial
Elementary Schools:
The Brick Church School (Pre K-K)
62 East 92nd Street 10128
212-289-5683
Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan (K-6)
50 East 87th Street 10128
212-427-9500
St. Lucy Academy (Pre K-4)
340 East 104th Street 10029
212-534-4021		 Trevor Day School (Lower School, Pre K-5)
11 East 89th Street 10128
212-426-3300
Elementary/Intermediate Schools:
Convent of the Sacred Heart (Girls, Pre K-8)
One East 91st Street 10128
212-722-4745
The Day School (K-8)
One East 90th Street 10128
212-787-5315
Manhattan Country School (Pre K-8)
7 East 96th Street 10128
212-348-0952		 St. Bernard's School (Boys, K-9)
4 East 98th Street 10029
212-289-2878
St. David's School (Boys, Pre K-8)
12 East 89th Street 10128
212-369-0058		 St. Francis de Sales School (Pre K-8)
116 East 97th Street 10029
212-289-0680
Our Lady of Good Counsel School (Pre K-8)
323 East 91st Street 10128
212-289-6730
Intermediate School:
East Harlem School at Exodus School (5-8)
309 East 103rd Street 10029
212-876-8775
High School:
Convent of the Sacred Heart (Girls)
One East 92nd Street 10128
212-722-4745
Comprehensive Schools:
The Dalton School (K-12)
108 East 89th Stret 10128
212-423-5200
La Scuola D'Italia Guglielmo Marconi (Pre K-12)
12 East 96th Street 10128
212-369-3290
The Nightingale-Bamford School (Girls, K-12)
20 East 92nd Street 10128
212-589-5020		 Reece School (K-12)
180 East 93rd Street 10128
212-289-4872
The Spence School (Girls, K-12)
22 East 91st Street 10128
212-289-5940
Jewish Schools in Manhattan (Lookstein Center for Jewish Education in the Diaspora)

Parochial Schools in Manhattan (Archdiocese of New York)

Private Schools in Manhattan (Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York)