Bronx Library Center
🏢 New York Public Library — The Bronx, New York
Bronx Library Center
The Bronx Library Center is the borough's flagship public library — a $50 million, 78,000-square-foot landmark in Fordham Heights designed by Dattner Architects, which opened in January 2006 as New York City's first LEED-certified green library and houses the NYPL's central collection of Latino and Puerto Rican cultural heritage.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–9pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–9pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–9pm |
| Thursday | 9am–9pm |
| Friday | 10am–8pm |
| Saturday | 10am–8pm |
| Sunday | 12pm–6pm |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 310 East Kingsbridge Road, The Bronx, NY 10458
Phone: 7185794244
Website: nypl.org
📖 About Bronx Library Center
Opened on January 17, 2006, the Bronx Library Center stands as the largest and most architecturally striking public library in the Bronx. Designed by Richard Dattner of Dattner Architects, the four-story, 78,000-square-foot building cost approximately $50 million and replaced the 1923 Fordham Library Center — itself a McKim, Mead & White landmark — offering three times the floor space of its predecessor. The building earned LEED Silver certification in 2007, making it New York City's first green library, with 40% of construction materials sourced within 500 miles, water-cooled chillers, HVAC systems running 20% more efficiently than code requires, and extensive daylighting through a soaring four-story glass curtain wall. Its signature swooping aluminum roof — lined with warm maple veneer on the interior — defines the Fordham Heights skyline on East Kingsbridge Road. On the fourth floor, the Latino & Puerto Rican Cultural Center houses NYPL's central collection of Hispanic and Puerto Rican heritage works, alongside a free outdoor reading terrace and a Center for Reading and Writing serving adult learners.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Largest public library in the Bronx at 78,000 sq ft, opened January 17, 2006
- New York City's first LEED Silver-certified green library (2007), designed by Dattner Architects
- Latino & Puerto Rican Cultural Center on the 4th floor — NYPL's central Hispanic/Latino heritage collection
- Signature four-story glass curtain wall and swooping aluminum roof by architect Richard Dattner
- Center for Reading and Writing, free outdoor reading terrace, career services, and after-school STEAM programs
📱 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
What makes the Bronx Library Center a 'green' library?
The Bronx Library Center earned LEED Silver certification in 2007 — the first green library in New York City. Sustainable features include a four-story glass curtain wall that floods the interior with natural daylight, HVAC systems that run 20% more efficiently than the building code requires, water-cooled chillers to reduce atmospheric chemical releases, and construction that used 40% locally sourced and roughly 20% recycled materials.
Does the Bronx Library Center have a special collection for Latino and Puerto Rican history?
Yes — the fourth floor houses the Latino & Puerto Rican Cultural Center, which holds NYPL's central collection of Hispanic, Latino, and Puerto Rican cultural heritage works. It is one of the most significant Spanish-heritage library collections in the Northeast and serves as a research resource for scholars, students, and community members.
What replaced the old Fordham Library that stood on this site?
The Bronx Library Center replaced the 1923 Fordham Library Center, which had been designed by the storied architectural firm McKim, Mead & White. The new building, which opened in 2006, offers roughly three times the floor space of that historic predecessor and was built at a cost of approximately $50 million.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.