Coming Soon: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library

The New York Public Library is looking forward to reopening its largest circulating branch after being closed for major renovations.

Located across from the Library’s iconic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the former Mid-Manhattan Library—now called the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library—is NYPL’s largest and busiest circulating library, with more than 1.7 million visits a year and an annual circulation of 2 million items.

New Yorkers from across the city have long relied on the branch for books and materials along with free computer and Internet access, technology training, English language classes, and more, which is why it received a much-needed interior renovation so New Yorkers could get the library they need and deserve.

UPDATE

Although the original opening date scheduled for May 2020 has been postponed, we are still excited for when we can welcome visitors to this brand new library, and will share an update about the opening as soon as we can.

Visitors will be able to get an initial glimpse of the building’s first floor beginning on Monday, July 13. At that time, SNFL will become one of 8 libraries offering limited grab-and-go services as part of the Library’s gradual reopening following its temporary closure due to Covid-19. Patrons will be able to access a limited area for pickups and returns. Learn more about the renovation or find out more about our reopening policies and procedures.

LIBRARY HIGHLIGHTS

The new and improved Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library will feature eight floors of offerings when it opens fully—including four floors of general collections and reading rooms, as well as the following brand new amenities:

Dedicated Children’s Center & Teen Center

Teen Recording Studio & Media Lab

Teen Study Rooms

Youth Program Rooms

Business Center

Personal Finance & Investing

Small Business Research

Adult Learning Center

Career Services

English Language & Literacy

Media & Technology Training

Multimedia Studio

Rooftop Terrace

Event Center & Café

Planning for the Mid-Manhattan renovation began in fall 2015 with the selection of the design team following more than a year of discussion and input led by librarians and informed by expert and public feedback. Preliminary designs were released in the fall of 2016. Construction will start in late 2017, and work is expected to be completed in 2020.

To conduct these important renovations, Mid-Manhattan Library closed to the public August 1, 2017. It is expected to reopen under its new name in early 2020. During this two-year period, all services offered at Mid-Manhattan Library have relocated to other nearby Midtown locations, including a temporary space on the ground floor of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building located across Fifth Avenue. That space—accessible via the 42nd Street entrance and called “Mid-Manhattan Library at 42nd Street”—holds Mid-Manhattan Library’s circulating collections and offer computers, programming spaces, and tables for quiet study.

Mid-Manhattan’s technology classes and programs are offered in the Science, Industry and Business Library; IDNYC sign-ups, Single Stop, and citizenship services are offered at Grand Central Library; and the Picture Collection is accessible at its new permanent home at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. Nearby 53rd Street Library is also an option for materials, classes, programs, and computers.

While Mid-Manhattan Library is closed for renovation, hours have been extended at the Science, Industry and Business Library, Grand Central Library, and the Children’s Center at 42nd Street.

See the Updates page for details.