New York Public Library

Small library. 1^st floor has the reserved books on a shelf. You come and look for the book (s) you reserved under the last four digits of your library card. Retrieve your book (s) and go to the customer service counter to check them out. Old books can be rented for 2 weeks and new books can be rented for 3 weeks. The first floor also houses young adult novels, while the second floor houses children’s books.

OK, lets start off with saying that along with NYC Library workers, DMV, Post Office, and any other government funded agencies, WHERE DO YOU FIND THESE PEOPLE TO HIRE? MARS?
The library it’s self it HUGE, but that doesn’t mean they have a great selection of books. It’s okay, i wish it was more social and neighborhood friendly, they have classes once in a while for kids, but everyone is so GRUMPY and not fun to be around… the kids floor is okay, except for the play area, it’s DIRTY, outdated and broken.
The people who work on the main floor, they hate their life, 100%
I don’t know why they go to work if they are that miserable… anything & everything you ask, they have an attitude. I get this is NYC and we are all in a hurry and sometimes come off rude, but for goodness sake if you work in a library, WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY?
over all, it’s a good place to hide from the rain, otherwise, go else where!

My favorite NYPL employees work at this branch. Regina is in charge of the volunteers. She is the best! She always takes time to speak and smiles even when she’s not feeling well! I should be that good.
In the past year I’ve checked out tons of DVD’s and books for my daughter and for myself. At one time they saw me daily.
Downstairs they show movies in the theater every Thursday afternoon at 2 PM. They are pretty much outdated. The seniors enjoy them.
This branch displays art work, has live opera performances, and lots of other activities for all ages. Volunteers provide tutoring, help with taxes, shelve, books, and keep shelves organized.
This branch also has consistent hours of operation. Some libraries have different opening and closing hours almost daily. 96^th opens at 10AM.
The library and bathroom are always clean. Employees are friendly and helpful.
If you’re in the neighborhood stop in to check out a book, or pick up tax forms to use during tax time. They have copy machine, WiFi, and other services available too.

Very nice library!!! Big, clean and neat. A lot of modern computers, very friendly and helpful staff.

I just came here for a wake and have to say that it was a pretty nice experience all around. Everyone involved was very friendly and they have a nice little conference room in the basement, where everything was able to be held. The garden in the back was a bit beat up though. Other than that, everything seemed to be in order =P

I have been here several times to pick up books on hold and to study.
This place is great to study but first floor was loud :(
I went to their top floor… perfect for studying and reading. :)
Big advice for the workers here… there is nothing wrong with being nice to people or smiling.
Majority of the workers here are rude and have attitudes… :(
Especially, the short, African American lady who is around 45… she is ALWAYS RUDE.
P. s. If you aren’t happy… have an ice cream or read a book :)

I come here on a regular basis with my children. They tend to have a lot of free events hosted here. It’s never too crowded and the staff are very helpful.
The bathroom is my biggest gripe about this place. It always smells bad, even early in the day. Including on the children’s floor.

I went to the Yorkville branch while 96^th was being renovated, and I think I’ll continue going there!
The employees at 96TH are pretty rude. One in particular, a squat elderly woman with an attitude, who seems angry to be alive, left her post at the front desk in order to follow me around complaining about me. She had a line and made other customers wait. I attempted to let the another customer go ahead of me so that I could check out with the more polite male employee but she yelled my name out and I was forced to go to her. She continued babbling at me as I left.
NYPL is a great institution but it’s a shame that at 96^th St, they employ people who are not fit to be around others. I’ll continue to visit Yorkville, where the librarians are very nice and helpful, don’t stalk customers around the library, and actually seem to love their jobs!

The renovation was a success, and the interior is clean, attractive, and accessible to wheelchairs (entrance to the right of the regular entrance).
There’s an outside book drop (the 79^th Street branch doesn’t have this amenity), and this branch is very close to the subway. The third floor is a spacious reference room, with many tables to work at and very good wi-​fi.
Things can get noisy here, as sound from the children’s zone (second floor) travels through the stairway to the rest of the building. Librarians (few are at all friendly) let conversations go on at full volume on the third floor, and actually hold loud conversations themselves. I guess I don’t want them shushing people, but maybe the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction?

So easy to pick up items placed on hold.
NOTE: Library is closed for HVAC repair at the moment. Book drop is locked shut, too!

This library might as well be located on Mt. Everest. It’s located near the top of a steep hill. And then there’s three flights to climb before reacing the reading room. They have an elevator but you’ll die of old age before one arrives. Many of their patrons look like refugees from a homeless shelter. And a couple of other patrons behave uncouth, arrogant and disrespectful when demanding their table space. Overall a depressing atmosphere.

Free wifi and free AC, what’s not to like? The 3^rd floor study area is very spacious and the attendant on the 3^rd floor is always helpful. The staff is a little slow but it is a very nice little library. I love studying here, especially in the summer.

Could use a reno soon. Feels very dark an closed in, even in the day time. The only time I come to this location is drop off an arm load of books from my classroom or to take my class for the private story time with Clarissa. My kids look forward to the stories and old school cartoons (they still use a projector and film reels!!!)

I love this library its one of my faves. It’s really clean and nice doesn’t look run down like other nypl and I feel very much. comfortable here. Its close to the 6 train which is a plus for me.

I agree with most of the reviews, the staff is pretty miserable here. The 3^rd floor study area is spacious and I can usually find a place to sit. Downside is that the children’s area is on the 2^nd floor, and when school lets out you can forget about it being a quiet library.

Honestly, the staff here is absolutely terrible. The only reason I gave it two stars and not one is because it’s still a library, and I love the books. EVERY time I have been in here, I’ve been treated rudely, and I think most of the staff are extremely disrespectful. I dealt with one guy at the information desk who was friendly, and the security guys are nice, but besides them, I’m not too fond of anyone else I’ve come across.

Keep in mind that I always queue up my items online, so that I only have to go in to pick them up when they’re ready and waiting for me. I don’t actually use the reading room, or go there for cultural events. I hear there are movies in the basement.
I love the sometimes surly, but ofttimes friendly library staff. They’ve always been good to me. And they don’t look at me funny when I rent the entire third season of the O.C. alongside my library books. (TMI?)
The hours are fantastic (open until 7 on most weekdays), and it’s right next to the subway. The checkout line isn’t terrible, either.