New York Public Library – Seward Park Library

«You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back, relax, all you need is a book.» –Dr. Seuss
I love books and really enjoy reading. Dr. Seuss taught me mostly everything I needed to know about this world…
This location is pretty convenient for me and today I came here to hang around a bit. Yippee! I felt like a kid in a candy store.
I have a Queens and Brooklyn library card, but today with my NYC ID card, I registered to be a Manhattan library user. Now, I have all three boros covered. Have you ever wondered why all the boros are not linked? I am guessing because there are over 8 million New Yorkers and having one library system would probably be a cluster…
This branch is open until 8pm from Mon-​Thurs. It is closed on Sunday (bummer). The first floor is for adults/​teens with new nonfiction/​fiction displayed and DVD selections in English and other languages (mainly Chinese). There are also computer terminals on the first floor. I also spent some time looking at the bulletin boards about book clubs, where to compost, language groups, morning teas, and upcoming events (very cool).
Second floor is the children’s section and third floor is for adults again. On the third floor you will find more computer terminals and adult nonfiction/​fiction, periodicals, reference, newspapers, etc. Many tables available for studying or reading and the place was quiet as a mouse! Printing cost 15 cents/​sheet and currently the only way to retrieve your printed items is to pay on the 1^st floor and then your documents will be released. This location does not have self-​checkout so you may have to wait in line to check out.
This branch definitely caters to the community and you find many books and videos in Chinese and Spanish language. They also offer quite a selection for those wanting to learn English. The staff were friendly here and the building was toasty and well heated.
I love libraries and when I came here, I fell in love all over again. How wonderful it is to fall in love over and over again!
«The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.» –Dr. Seuss

libraries always get preference. the people working here are under staffed but are nice. the check out isn’t all that efficient like brooklyn (self checkout) but the library staff make it quick. lots of books for kids and adults. plenty of tables. try not to use the bathroom here (gross!)

This is the closest library to my apartment, although I hadn’t been there for a few years. I’d called yesterday and a nice guy readily agreed to put aside a magazine for me, and an equally nice guy was working there today (on the third floor).
The library opened in 1909 and the building was constructed in 1886. It was given landmark status in 2013. Extensive renovations were done in 2004, but the library was also closed this year during the month of January for more renovations and the (interior) improvements are really appealing; it looks better, and frankly it seems much cleaner.
I was there in the late morning (on a weekday) and the place was full. It was also really quiet and that was very welcome. I made a quick perusal of the books and I thought the selection was just «fair», but I do realize this branch serves a broad constituency (including having a fairly substantial selection of books in Chinese).

I love it here!
I came here a few years back and the place has completely changed since then-​for the better!
Always friendly and very nice.
My step daughter had asked the librarian for a book on spiders and he gave her two.
Exceptional.
Love it.
I always come here.
And their dvd selection is awesome! Three floors of entertainment.

Great space, very clean. Lots of outlets for laptops, very quiet.

The pizza stinks. And you can’t party here, but the serve coffee and plenty of reading space to read and study! Parking sucks.

Nice library but that tables at sticky & smelly like sweat. I hope these tables ate being clean&sanitized in witch I verymuch dought it.

i like this library and i always get a work out getting to the fourth floor
the staff is super friendly and helpful
their hours online aren’t consistent with their actual hours so call them before you head over

What is not to like about this library? It is clean and quite with excellent WiFi service. I have all my book orders delivered to this branch. The library tries to keep the books, CD’s and videos up to date. I do not have any problem getting the books, CDs, and videos I want. It is very easy to get assess to a computer without a long wait.
However, the library seems to be always crowded but quiet. It is hard to find a good space at the table to sit. The place is pretty popular with the young children, teens and older adults.

Great library convenient to the F train. Clean facilities and friendly competent staff. I was able to get my new library card within 5 minutes with no paperwork to be filled out. Free wifi and right by a park.

Nice helpful staff! Good selection of books for all ages. The DVD selection could be better, but you can reserve online for more choices. Pretty clean every time I visit. No complaints thus far. Why would I complain? They serve the public!

As someone who works with the library system I find this place to be somewhat like a Jail cell… I mean there is no talking whatsoever. I really do understand peace but not even where the children are… there are lots of kids who come here to do school projects but they can’t chat? It’s unheard of in the Brooklyn system. Second, there computers are never avaliable for use and third while I do respect them and the profession, they really need to change there attitude, I mean I know librarians you must have heard of customer service ettiqutte. It’s a OK branch but needs a lot of improvement and anger management assistance

this is the other NYPL branch that’s located along East Broadway (the other one, being in the middle of busy Chinatown), which has a grand, fabulous building, and a great park in front of it. i just like spending hours doing my readings and internet searches here, every chance i’ve got. i can just imagine how those readers/​library users who came ahead of me, many years ago have found solace, some sort of comfort being in this building. remember, its location in the lower east side would indicate that most of those people who lived then in the area didn’t have much money to spare on other things in life. the building looks grand as it is now; it would have looked grander then when it was still surrounded mainly by tenements in the area.

Not wheel chair accessible even though there is an elevator. I am a book addict so this is one of my favorite places. Has a decent dvd collection though they are usually gone as soon as they are put on the shelves, also has a huge collection of Chinese books and usually have some great programs for children during the summer.

This is the recently renovated SEWARD Park branch, reviewed elsewhere on Unilocal.
It has a Center for Reading and Writing, where adults who need them are taught the basics for free.
And proximity to attractve Seward Park, named after the guy who bought Alaska (!).