53rd Street Library
🏢 New York Public Library · New York, New York
53rd Street Library
Opened in 2016 inside the Baccarat Hotel tower directly across from MoMA, the 53rd Street Library brings 28,000 square feet of light-filled reading, computing and programming space to the heart of Midtown — complete with a dramatic 34-foot atrium and a glass staircase descending into its 11,000-square-foot main reading room.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 11am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 11am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 11am–6pm |
| Thursday | 11am–6pm |
| Friday | 11am–6pm |
| Saturday | 11am–6pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 18 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 714-8400
Website: nypl.org
Plus Code: 87G8Q26F+84 (New York, NY)
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📖 About 53rd Street Library
The 53rd Street Library is the New York Public Library's flagship Midtown Manhattan branch, opened June 27, 2016, at 18 West 53rd Street — the site long occupied by the legendary Donnell Library Center (1955–2008). The Donnell branch, itself named for cotton merchant and early library patron Ezekiel J. Donnell (1822–1896), was one of the largest circulating libraries in the city, housing 300,000 volumes including the original Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animals donated by A.A. Milne in 1947 (now displayed at NYPL's Schwarzman Building). The current branch was designed by Enrique Norten of TEN Arquitectos and received a 2013 Project Merit Award from the AIA New York Chapter; it occupies the lower three floors of the 46-story Baccarat Hotel & Residences skyscraper designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, its two-story glass facade opening onto 53rd Street just west of Fifth Avenue. The $23 million library buildout — funded almost entirely through private donations plus a $664,000 state technology grant — gives the branch 68 computers (22 desktops, 46 laptops), a 120-seat community room, a dedicated Children's Room and Teen Zone, and 381 electrical outlets for laptop work. Its proximity to the Museum of Modern Art has enabled a rich program of collaborative cultural events.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened June 27, 2016 in the Baccarat Hotel tower, replacing the storied Donnell Library Center on the same block since 1955
- Three-floor, 28,000 sq ft design by TEN Arquitectos: 34-foot atrium, 11,000 sq ft reading room, glass staircase and street-level grab-and-go browsing
- 68 public computers (22 desktops + 46 laptops), 381 power outlets and free Wi-Fi across all levels
- Dedicated Children's Room and Teen Zone with programming including LEGO activities, game zone, college advising and creative writing
- Steps from the Museum of Modern Art — the library collaborates with MoMA on cultural and educational programming
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
NYPL cardholders can borrow, stream and research free through these digital collections:
📚 Services
- Public computers (22 desktops, 46 laptops) and free Wi-Fi
- Printing and copying
- Dedicated Children's Room
- Teen Zone
- 120-seat community room available for programs
- Street-level grab-and-go browsing area
- ADA-accessible throughout, with assistive listening systems
- ESOL conversation groups for adult learners
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytime and LEGO activities
- Teen Game Zone and creative writing workshops
- College advising for teens
- Sculpture workshops and film screenings for adults
- ESOL conversation groups
- MoMA-collaborative cultural programs
📍 Nearby Libraries in Manhattan
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Donnell Library that used to be on this block?
The Donnell Library Center, which opened in December 1955 at 20 West 53rd Street, was one of NYPL's most beloved branches — home to 300,000 volumes, the original Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animals donated by A.A. Milne, and the city's largest circulating non-English collection. It closed in 2008 when Orient-Express Hotels purchased the building. After years of negotiations, the block was redeveloped into the Baccarat Hotel & Residences, and NYPL negotiated a library space in the lower three floors, opening the new 53rd Street Library there on June 27, 2016.
Who designed the 53rd Street Library, and what makes the building distinctive?
The branch was designed by Enrique Norten of TEN Arquitectos and received a 2013 Project Merit Award from the AIA New York Chapter. The standout features are a two-story glass street facade, a 34-foot-high atrium, an 11,000-square-foot reading room on the first basement level, a glass staircase connecting the floors, and stadium-style bleacher seating in the main program space. The library occupies the lower three floors of the 46-story Baccarat Hotel skyscraper designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.
Is the 53rd Street Library open on weekends?
The library is open Monday through Saturday, 11 am–6 pm, and closed on Sundays. Hours may vary on public holidays — check nypl.org/locations/53rd-street or call (212) 714-8400 for the most current schedule.
What digital resources can I access free with an NYPL card from the 53rd Street Library?
NYPL cardholders can borrow e-books and e-audiobooks via Libby/OverDrive at borrow.nypl.org, browse NYPL's Digital Collections of historical prints, photographs and maps, and tap into NOVELny — New York State Library's statewide portal giving every New York resident free access to thousands of full-text journals, newspapers and databases. The branch itself has 68 public computers and free Wi-Fi on all three floors.
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