Parkchester Library
🏢 New York Public Library — The Bronx, New York
Parkchester Library
The Parkchester Library has served the Bronx's most architecturally distinctive planned community since 1942—the same year Metropolitan Life completed its 171-building "towers in the park" development adorned with 500 terra cotta sculptures—and today offers one of the borough's most multilingual collections, with materials and classes in seven languages.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 1985 Westchester Avenue, The Bronx, NY 10462
Phone: 7188297830
Website: nypl.org
📖 About Parkchester Library
<p>Parkchester was built between 1939 and 1942 by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company as a self-contained planned neighborhood, its 171 brick towers decorated with hundreds of terra cotta statuettes of animals, mermaids, and bullfighters crafted by sculptor Joseph Kiselewski. The library first opened within the development in 1942 to serve its new residents, and relocated to its current two-story building at 1985 Westchester Avenue in 1985. Today the branch serves one of the most diverse ZIP codes in New York City—a community that is roughly one-third African American, one-third Hispanic, and one-quarter Asian—with collections and TechConnect computer instruction available in English, Spanish, Bengali, French, Chinese, Urdu, and Hindi.</p>
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Collections and computer instruction available in seven languages: English, Spanish, Bengali, French, Chinese, Urdu, and Hindi
- Newly expanded Teen Center with digital resources, tech equipment, and art materials
- Serving the Parkchester neighborhood since the planned community opened in 1942
- TechConnect computer lab with bilingual and trilingual instruction
- NYPL After School drop-in homework help for grades K–6, Monday through Thursday during the school year
📱 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
Does the Parkchester Library have books and classes in Bengali?
Yes. The branch is one of the few NYPL locations offering materials and TechConnect computer instruction in Bengali, alongside English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Urdu, and Hindi—reflecting the neighborhood's large South Asian and Caribbean communities.
When did the Parkchester Library first open?
The branch originally opened in 1942 as part of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company's Parkchester planned development, one of New York City's first large-scale housing complexes. It relocated to its current two-story building at 1985 Westchester Avenue in 1985.
Is there free after-school homework help at Parkchester Library?
Yes. NYPL After School runs Monday through Thursday during the school year, offering free drop-in tutoring and homework assistance for students in grades K through 6.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.