New York Public Library – Bronx Library Center

PROS?
The hours. The spaciousness. Mid-​Manhattan stays open until 11pm and bigger vs. THIS one where there are less bums and crazy people. Smells less like a subway like at E. 40^th street too.
If you take a nap for 30 minutes, the security guards don’t annoy you like at E. 40^th street… knockin’ the table or chair. Who cares if someone falls asleep? They’re not bothering anyone.
Less ball-​busting.
CONS?
A handful of bums and nutcases. ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ security guards with attitudes.

This NYPL branch gets 5 stars for the building and its resources, and 2 for customer service/​ease of use.
I believe it’s the Bronx’s biggest branch – its 5 stories include a children and teen floor, space for concerts, film screenings and other events, a huge circulating collection, outdoor reading terrace, and many tables and chairs at which to read or study. The books are neatly kept and there are many more sections to peruse than at other branches. This is also one of the few locations in the Bronx at which you can apply for an ID NYC card.
That being said, the flow of helping patrons is abysmal. I had an appointment to apply for my ID NYC card this morning that I arrived on time for. The office is on the 5^th floor. When I reached it, I was ordered by a cantankerous security guard to stand in a specific spot. When I wasn’t at the precise spot where she wanted me, she made a rude gesture to indicate that to me. Other applicants were complaining in Spanish behind her back about what a high and mighty b-​word she was, so I guess it wasn’t personal at least. I was eventually given a pager and was told I could wait on any other floor until I was called.
After an hour of waiting (with an appointment!) and no page, I went back up to ask how much longer it would be. An apologetic worker told me to wait behind the first woman in line and said I would be seen shortly. Of course the security guard had a problem with me standing where I was told and put me in the back of the line despite my explanation of what the other worker had told me to do. Five minutes later, the other worker comes out and tells me I’m standing at the back and I should be in front. Can y’all make up your minds!!! Once I was seen the process took all of five minutes. Ugh.
Afterward, I decided to check out a book that I’d picked up while waiting. There were two librarians at the circulation desk and about five patrons ahead of me in line, so I figured it shouldn’t take more than maybe two minutes. I have no idea why it took ten minutes; I felt like I was at the post office.
All this to say, please demand to your city and state legislators not to cut library funds! They are an amazing resource when they can operate on more than a shoestring budget. There’s little point in having a beautiful shiny new building if it’s not able to help patrons because it’s understaffed. You can’t just give a community this space if you aren’t going to train its staff to actually help people.

I love this place. It has the feel of a downtown building and it’s crazy it’s in the Bronx. I come here to work on my blogs and write. Very convenient place that doesn’t feel like youre in the Bronx. I actually prefer this one to the Midtown library on 42^nd n 5^th ave as that one gets packed with homeless, stinky and crazy people on the computer/​laptop floors. Since it’s so big security sometimes might take a while before spotting the disturbance. It also doesn’t feel as clean. This one, since it’s fairly new looks pretty clean and if you have kids they have a children’s only floor with computers with games and books for children.
The only problem with this Bronx Library as with most NYC public libraries is that you get the occassional homeless guys or guys that talk to themselves on the computer floors, but they do have security on each floor making sure that people keep it quiet and don’t disturb others. They also have an auditorium and have events there, which I haven’t seen it.

I enjoy visiting this location with my children. I’ve been to a couple of toddler events held during the week where they provide toys and a free book for those who attend. So far I have never had a bad experience.

The Bronx doesn’t have the best reputation. I’m not going to lie– I was quite apprehensive about heading to the Bronx Library Center. However, there are many good things about the Bronx– Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Zoo, the Botanical Garden, Little Italy, and one of the best high schools in the nation.
I headed to the Bronx Library Center because it was open until 9 PM on Saturdays. I took the D train to Fordham (the 4 and Metro-​North are also within walking distance of the library). The library was about a 5 – 10 minute walk from the station. You hear a lot of bad things about the Bronx on the news, but the area is safe (still use common sense– don’t display cash, IPhone, etc.). Fordham Road is basically the Bronx version of Jamaica Avenue. There are a myriad of junk food restaurants on Fordham Road. If you want something a little healthier, there is a Subway next to the library.
The library is in a sleek, futuristic building. It has 5 floors. The bathrooms were reasonably clean. There were enough computers to use. The library had an outdoor patio on the 5^th floor. However, since it was 35 degrees on the day that I visited, that was a moot point. The library is also one of the places where you can apply for the NYC ID card. In addition, the Bronx Library has a bunch of programs and events.
Some of the patrons are a bit loud. They also like to talk on their cellphones. Furthermore, I did not see as many test prep books (Regents, SAT, specialized high school exam, etc) as I saw at the Flushing Library or Central Library in Queens.
The Bronx Library Center is a great community space, but there is room for improvement.

Glad to have a facility this nice in the neighborhood. If, whilst fiddling away on your laptop, you’ve got some music bumpin’ in your headphones and get a good zonin’ session going, you might even forget you’re in the Bronx for a second.
Just as it did for Celine, though, it’ll all be coming back to you once you get a load of some of the ridiculous-​ass characters to be had. It’s cute in moderation, though. Compared to what the area’s like, I guess it IS pretty quiet. On average. It do be a little population dense in here at times, doe – much like the borough itself.
Staffwise, the checkout folk can be surly-​for-​no-​damn-​reason and the security dude checking your bag on the way out could probably be better utilized elsewhere (seriously? are the book spines not magnetized?), but I think you knew all this when you got yourself into this situation. Enjoy.

Great and convenient location! I gave this place four stars instead of five because they need better security. The security guards are more concern with what’s in your bag during your exit than the noise control in the 4^th floor lab! During my time at the lab the woman on my left had a belching, dancing and laughing disorder while the woman on my right was having a full blown conversation on her cell phone… I was highly annoyed but I like I always say…“Only in the Bronx!”

This is the Bronx main library center and is open 7 days a week. They pretty much have everything: free wifi, laptop loans, computers, career assistance center and the building is pretty new. If you are looking for community space, there are rooms available downstairs for concerts or meetings.
The only downside is service. With such a large building, it is hard to find someone to assist you.

Positives:
+ They have a resume writing center on the 4^th floor which can be useful for a glance through from a trained fresh pair of eyes.
+ Like all NYPL there is free and fast Wi-​Fi. No library card is needed to log on from your own laptop, however you will need it to use one of the libraries computer stations (1hr limit).
+ Went on the hottest NYC day so far this year (June 9^th) and the air conditioner was working good. Perfect temperature inside.
Negatives:
— Too many tables and seating areas without power outlets for laptop users.
— Always crowded.
It’s tricky to get there. Find the Gap on East Fordham road and make a left at the corner then another left and you should see it also on your left hand side.