The New York Public Library's Milstein Research Stacks
Every day, visitors relax and delight in Bryant Park, the beautiful public park behind the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. To the surprise of many, there is an unexpected, massive trove hidden beneath it—millions of treasures from the Library’s vast research collections, preserved in a state-of-the-art storage environment called the Milstein Research Stacks.
Behind-the-Scenes Video: Inside the Milstein Research Stacks
Get a look inside the two-level, subterranean, state-of-the-art preservation environment. Thanks to this space, the Library is able to preserve and safely store more books on site at the Schwarzman Building than ever before.
Fast Facts About the Milstein Stacks
Did you know?
- The Milstein Research Stacks allow the Library to safely preserve and store more than 4 million books and archival materials on site—more than ever before in the Library’s history.
- Construction for the Library’s two-level, underground storage facility began in the 1980s, during the renovation of Bryant Park.
- The first level became operational in 1991.
- The second of the two levels measures 55,700 square feet and was completed in 2016, thanks to the generous support of Abby S. Milstein—who currently serves as the Library's Chair of the Board of Trustees—and Howard P. Milstein.
- An electric conveyor system, affectionately called the book train, carries requested research items from underground to library staff throughout the building, all the way up to the Rose Main Reading Room on the top floor.
Our Collections Run Deep
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Get Started with Research
NYPL’s four research centers—the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the Library for the Performing Arts, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and the Thomas Yoseloff Business Center—welcome scholars, writers, students, and all others.
Plan Your Visit to the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Discover the flagship building of The New York Public Library—one of the world’s great libraries. Get the most out of your visit with these helpful tips.
Visit the Polonsky Exhibition of The York Public Library’s Treasures
Explore a wide array of extraordinary highlights from NYPL’s collections in this free exhibition at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.
Learn More About NYPL Through the Years
The completion of the Milstein Stacks was a milestone in Library history, allowing it to better serve researchers and patrons of all kinds. Discover more major Library moments, from its founding in 1895 to today.
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