The New York Public Library Opens Temporary Circulating Space in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

New space further accommodates Midtown patrons during the renovation of Mid-Manhattan Library


AUGUST 29, 2017 – The New York Public Library today opened a temporary circulating space on the ground floor of its iconic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street to accommodate patrons while the Library’s central circulating branch, Mid-Manhattan Library, is closed for a much-needed renovation. The new space—called Mid-Manhattan at 42nd Street—is accessible via the 42nd Street entrance of the Schwarzman Building, a research library located across Fifth Avenue from Mid-Manhattan Library’s permanent location.

All of Mid-Manhattan’s circulating collections are available from the new 25,000-square-foot temporary space, which also offers computers, programming spaces, a teen zone, and tables for quiet study. Mid-Manhattan holds will be sent to this location for pick-up, and patrons can return books there.

Hours for the new space are:

  • Monday, Thursday: 8 AM–8 PM

  • Tuesday, Wednesday: 8 AM–9 PM

  • Friday: 8 AM–6 PM

  • Saturday: 10 AM–6 PM

  • Sunday: 10 AM–5 PM

In addition to the new temporary space, the Library has expanded hours and added services at several nearby Midtown locations to accommodate patrons during Mid-Manhattan’s closure.

To create Mid-Manhattan at 42nd Street, the Library transformed a formerly non-public space in the Schwarzman Building used for staff offices and storage into a welcoming, functional circulating library, while retaining several historic elements, including built-in shelving and seating. The space is divided into four rooms with dedicated spaces for programming, computers, browsable collections, seating, and a teen zone.

Mid-Manhattan’s most current and frequently used books are available for browsing throughout the space, while the rest of the collection is held in a non-public area in the Schwarzman Building available for retrieval by staff. Materials can be requested in advance at nypl.org, or at various service points. After a short wait, large electronic boards throughout the space alert patrons when their books are ready. There will also be kiosks for virtual browsing and reading recommendations so that patrons can still independently explore the Mid-Manhattan’s collection.

Mid-Manhattan Library closed on August 1 for a long-awaited $200 million renovation. The branch—one of the busiest circulating libraries in the country, receiving approximately 1.7 million visits annually and circulating approximately 2 million items each year—opened in the 1970s in a space originally designed for a department store, and is in serious need of upgrades and improvements.

The 100,000 square foot renovated Mid-Manhattan Library, which is expected to reopen in early 2020, will have a dramatic, multistory wall of bookshelves; an employment skills center with job-search help; a full floor dedicated to a business library; a full floor dedicated to separate libraries for children and teens; a free public roof terrace; and hundreds more seats than the current branch. The renovation is being designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, known for its visionary approach to libraries, with New York City-based firm Beyer Blinder Belle.

For more information on the project and the expanded hours at other branches, please visit nypl.org/midtown.

Media Contact:

Angela Montefinise | angelamontefinise@nypl.org

About The New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming, and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves nearly 18 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.