Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
🏢 The New York Public Library · New York, New York
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Guarded by the marble lions Patience and Fortitude, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building has anchored Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street since 1911 — a Beaux-Arts landmark housing 56 million items, the soaring Rose Main Reading Room, and free exhibitions open to every visitor.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–6pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 476 Fifth Avenue (at 42nd Street), New York, NY 10018
Phone: (917) 275-6975
Website: nypl.org
Plus Code: 87G8Q239+84 (New York, NY)
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Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
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📖 About Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building — commonly known as the NYPL Main Branch — opened on May 23, 1911, after fourteen years of construction, when President William Howard Taft presided over a dedication ceremony attended by 15,000 New Yorkers. Designed in Beaux-Arts style by Carrère and Hastings on the site of the former Croton Distributing Reservoir, it was then the largest marble structure in the United States and cost $9 million to build — more than three times the original estimate. The building's nine specialized research divisions span humanities, social sciences, maps, manuscripts, and rare books; a 1991 underground expansion beneath adjacent Bryant Park added 84 miles of shelving to the existing stacks. In 2008, after a $100 million gift from businessman Stephen A. Schwarzman funded major renovations, the library was formally renamed in his honor. Today the Rose Main Reading Room — 78 by 297 feet with a 52-foot gilded ceiling — remains one of New York City's most beloved public spaces, open without charge to any visitor, no appointment required for the reading rooms or exhibitions.
⭐ What makes this library special
- The Rose Main Reading Room: 78 by 297 feet with a 52-foot gilded and painted ceiling, free and open to all — no appointment needed
- Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division: 433,000+ sheet maps and 20,000 atlases spanning the 16th–21st centuries, on the first floor (Room 117)
- The Polonsky Exhibition of the Library's Treasures — manuscripts, rare books, and artifacts on permanent display, free admission
- Home of the original Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed toys (donated 1987) and the landmark 'Declaring America: 1776 and Beyond' exhibition
- Ongoing Midtown Renovation (2024–): HVAC upgrades, a new elevator, and expanded public circulation space while the building remains open
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
NYPL cardholders and New York State residents can stream, research, and download free through these digital resources:
📚 Services
- Open-access Rose Main Reading Room for quiet study and research (no appointment required)
- Nine specialized research divisions in humanities, social sciences, maps, manuscripts, and rare books
- General Research Division (Room 315): literary and scholarly works in over 380 languages
- Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division (Room 117): 433,000+ maps and 20,000 atlases
- Visitor Center with interactive exhibits and free audio tour via Bloomberg Connects app
- Polonsky Exhibition of Library Treasures — free, permanent gallery of rare materials
- Free daily guided tours of the Rose Main Reading Room
- Interlibrary loan and scan-on-demand reproduction services
- Research consultations with specialist librarians (in person and virtual via LibCal)
🎸 Programs
- Free daily tours of the Rose Main Reading Room (10–11 AM visiting hours, check schedule)
- Ongoing gallery exhibitions including 'Declaring America: 1776 and Beyond' (through Jan 2027)
- Author talks, lectures, and research workshops (see events calendar at nypl.org)
- Class visits and research instruction for undergraduate and graduate students
- Cullman Center Fellowship and Short-Term Research Fellowships for scholars
📍 Nearby Libraries in Midtown & Downtown Manhattan
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Patience and Fortitude, and why are those names on the lions?
The two Tennessee marble lions flanking the Fifth Avenue entrance were nicknamed 'Patience' and 'Fortitude' by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia during the Great Depression. He chose those names believing New Yorkers would need exactly those qualities to survive the economic crisis — and the names stuck. The lions have become unofficial symbols of New York City and appear on the library's logo and merchandise.
Do I need a library card or an appointment to visit the Schwarzman Building?
No appointment or library card is required to enter. The Rose Main Reading Room, Visitor Center, and Polonsky Exhibition are free and open to anyone during regular hours. Researchers accessing the specialized divisions (Map Division, General Research Division, etc.) may request materials through the NYPL Research Catalog online; some rare items stored off-site should be requested in advance. A free NYPL card is only needed to borrow materials or access digital resources remotely.
What exactly is in the Rose Main Reading Room?
The Rose Main Reading Room, on the third floor, measures 78 by 297 feet with a 52-foot painted and gilded ceiling restored in 1998 after a section collapsed. It offers long oak tables, reading lamps, and access to the General Research Division's reference collection — literary and scholarly works in over 380 languages. It is a working research space, not a circulating library: items are requested through the catalog and delivered to your seat. Last entry is 15 minutes before closing.
What is the Midtown Renovation, and is the building still open during the work?
Yes, the Schwarzman Building remains open throughout the renovation. The project focuses on upgrading aging HVAC and cooling systems, adding a new elevator and staircase, and creating additional public circulation space. Some areas may see temporary closures or noise during construction, but the Rose Main Reading Room, exhibitions, and research divisions continue to operate on their regular schedule.
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