For the First Time in 34 Years, Humanities and Social Sciences Library at 42nd Street to Open Sundays

New York, NY, November 17, 2004 -- For the first time since 1970, The New York Public Library's (NYPL) flagship building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, will be open to the public on Sundays, beginning December 5. In addition, nearly half the neighborhood branch libraries in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island will add more hours of public service starting December 6. The announcement of the Library's expanded hours -- a priority of the Library's new leadership -- was made today by David S. Ferriero, Andrew W. Mellon Director and Chief Executive of the Research Libraries, and Susan Kent, Director and Chief Executive of the Branch Libraries. These significant new hours of service are made possible by restoration of support from the City.

"This will mark the first time in 34 years that the Humanities and Social Sciences Library will be open on Sundays," said David Ferriero. "We recognize that Sunday afternoon is when researchers get serious about the coming week, and it is really key that they have an open library for their academic and scholarly pursuits." Beginning Sunday, December 5, the landmark building on Fifth Avenue will open its reference collections and exhibition galleries from 1 to 6 p.m. These include the Rose Main Reading Room, Bill Blass Public Catalog Room, Microform Reading Room, DeWitt Wallace Periodicals Reading Room, D. Samuel and Jeane H. Gottesman Exhibition Hall, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III Gallery, and Edna Barnes Salomon Room, as well as The Library Shop (1 to 5 p.m.). [ Please note that this Library will be closed December 12, December 26 and January 2. ]

Hours of service are also being expanded in NYPL's neighborhood branches in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Of the 85 branches, 39 are adding 69 hours of cumulative service per week, beginning on Monday, December 6. "The Library is delighted to be able to add these hours so that many more people can take avail of the wonderful mix of services and collections we offer," said Susan Kent. "We look forward to the many members of our communities using our libraries, and we will continue to work on providing the best possible service." If there are no mid-year budget adjustments by the City, the Library will begin adding a sixth day of public service at 14 additional branches over the winter. Hours of public service will also be added to the St. George Library Center on Staten Island and the Donnell Library Center in Manhattan.

For a complete, updated schedule of hours, please visit the Library's website at www.nypl.org/hours.

Contact: Caroline Oyama or Tina Hoerenz, 212.704.8600.