Belmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center
🏢 New York Public Library — The Bronx, New York
Belmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center
The only NYPL branch to carry a dual identity, the Belmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center anchors the Bronx's Little Italy—a three-story facility born from the neighborhood's own campaign to honor Italian-American heritage. Named for the Rome-born Nobel physicist who ignited the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, it holds the borough's most extensive collection of Italian-language materials.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 610 East 186th Street, The Bronx, NY 10458
Phone: 7189336410
Website: nypl.org
📖 About Belmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center
<p>Opened in 1981 at the heart of the Belmont neighborhood—long celebrated as the "Little Italy of the Bronx" for its Arthur Avenue market, bakeries, and annual Ferragosto festival—this branch was created specifically because local residents organized and lobbied for a cultural center dedicated to Italian-American identity. The building spans three floors and houses an extensive collection of Italian-language titles alongside works by Italian and Italian-American authors and artists. It is named for Enrico Fermi (1901–1954), the Rome-born physicist who won the 1938 Nobel Prize in Physics and led the team that achieved the world's first controlled nuclear chain reaction in Chicago on December 2, 1942.</p>
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Largest Italian-language collection among all Bronx NYPL branches
- Dedicated to Italian-American cultural heritage since its 1981 founding
- Located one block from the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, the Bronx's historic "Little Italy" food hub
- STEAM Discovery Kits available for checkout covering robotics, coding, microbiology, and engineering
- Free AI literacy workshops and career development programs for adults
📱 Free with a New York Public Library Card
Any New York State resident can get a free NYPL card and unlock:
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this library also called the Enrico Fermi Cultural Center?
The branch opened in 1981 after the Belmont community campaigned for a facility honoring Italian-American heritage. It was named for Enrico Fermi, the Italian-born physicist who immigrated to the United States in 1938, became a naturalized citizen in 1944, and led the team that achieved the world's first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. The dual name reflects both its public library mission and its role as a cultural center for the neighborhood's Italian-American community.
Does the Belmont branch have Italian-language books and materials?
Yes. The branch maintains the Bronx's most extensive collection of Italian-language materials, including fiction, non-fiction, and works by Italian and Italian-American authors and artists—a direct result of its founding mission to serve the Belmont neighborhood's cultural heritage.
Is the Belmont Library close to Arthur Avenue and the Bronx's Little Italy?
Yes. The branch is at 610 East 186th Street, one block from Arthur Avenue and within walking distance of the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, the indoor market that has anchored the Bronx's Italian-American neighborhood since the early 20th century.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.