New York Society Library
New York Society Library
4.5
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Founded in 1754, New York City's oldest library is a thriving community of readers, writers, and families. We are free and open to all for reading, reference, many events, and exhibitions. Membership is open to all for a fee; benefits include access to open book stacks, circulating privileges, dozens of electronic resources (including thousands of e-books and digital magazines), access to beautiful reading and study spaces, and member-only events.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Combining quiet residential neighborhoods that have easy access to Central Park with world-famous cultural institutions, the Upper East Side is one of the most livable places in the city. Along beautiful Fifth Avenue, you’ll find Museum Mile, which houses many of the nation's most famous attractions in a single stretch, like The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Walk a few blocks into the neighborhood, and you’ll come to Park Avenue, the poshest address in the city, lined with grand apartment buildings as far as the eye can see. Even if you can’t afford the luxury goods along Madison Avenue, it’s still a great spot to window shop an afternoon away.
How to get there
- 77th St • 5 min walk
- 86th St • 8 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
9 reviews
Excellent
6
Very good
2
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Luis C
22 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
My wife and I are libraryphiles. We love these temples of knowledge.
I saw a piece about this place in the New York Times. We added it to our places to visit in New York. We went on the last day of your stay yesterday and we loved it! It is a private library ($320 per year per houseold). The reference room is open to the public.
When we walked in we said we were visiting from out of town. We were given a guided tour! It was fabulous.
We strongly recommend it to anyone who loves libraries or antiquities.
I saw a piece about this place in the New York Times. We added it to our places to visit in New York. We went on the last day of your stay yesterday and we loved it! It is a private library ($320 per year per houseold). The reference room is open to the public.
When we walked in we said we were visiting from out of town. We were given a guided tour! It was fabulous.
We strongly recommend it to anyone who loves libraries or antiquities.
Written March 31, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
robcurtross
New York City, NY13,545 contributions
Oct 2014 • Solo
The history of this library goes back: "In 1754, when there was no library in the city open to the public, the New York Society—a group of six civic-minded individuals—formed the Library in the belief that a subscription library which anyone could join, and offering a broad range of books, "would be very useful as well as ornamental to the City." It opened in a room in the old City Hall, on Wall Street facing Broad Street, and for a century and a half—until the founding of the public library system in 1895—was known as "the City Library," which in fact is what it was. It received a charter from George III in 1772, confirmed after the Revolution by the New York State Legislature."
The Library has moved a few times, and today is located on 79th Street, quite close to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Whether you are a member or not, you are welcome to use the reading room on the first floor.
While the Library is open to all for reading and reference, membership gives you access to our hundreds of thousands of circulating volumes, open stacks, handsome reading and writing rooms, and exclusive events for adults and children.
I often visit NYC from my home in New Jersey -- thus cannot have an NYC library card -- so this library makes for a beautiful alternative.
The Library has moved a few times, and today is located on 79th Street, quite close to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Whether you are a member or not, you are welcome to use the reading room on the first floor.
While the Library is open to all for reading and reference, membership gives you access to our hundreds of thousands of circulating volumes, open stacks, handsome reading and writing rooms, and exclusive events for adults and children.
I often visit NYC from my home in New Jersey -- thus cannot have an NYC library card -- so this library makes for a beautiful alternative.
Written October 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
carolinenyc2015
New York City, NY32 contributions
Sep 2016 • Family
This membership library is in a beautiful large townhouse. We joined when our children were young, and we all still enjoy it now that our children are 10 and 13. They have great author programs, and the librarians are very thoughtful and well read with good recommendations for our family. We sometimes go there just to read and do homework in a calm, pretty space.
Written September 19, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
robcurtross
New York City, NY13,545 contributions
Dec 2015 • Solo
I live in New Jersey but spend a great deal of time with my companion in New York City. I cannot use New York City Library because I'm not a resident but I am addicted to librarians and libraries.
$250 near satisfies that urgent when I'm in New York City
$250 near satisfies that urgent when I'm in New York City
Written December 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bi-coaster
Bradenton, FL1,287 contributions
Apr 2018
Although you must be a member of this library to check out books, they do host lectures and other events open to the public. It's a lovely grand building and the children's rooms are most welcoming and attractive. If I lived in New York, I'd definitely join!
Written May 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa S
New York City, NY312 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
What a wonderful Saturday I had wandering into this Library filled with
Antiquities and research books. I came in to the library,after seeing the show at the Metropolitan
Museum at 82nd and Fifth Avenue.
I saw Kawakubo, at the Met, which was
Architectural Fashion design by a woman artist who is obviously a ,genius of Design. Very modern, very different and extraordinary design. Monumental really.
I then went up the roof garden to have a glass of passion fruit.
After a stop at The New York Society Library, on 79 street between Madison and Park, walked to the bus stop at 79th and Lexington and looked in the window of my favorite Florist called Lenox Hill Florists.
They specialize in Events. But they do little things too.
They made me the most beautiful flower arrangement of a pink and green hydrangea and a white orchid. Orchids are their specialty.
People don't realize it because they look so expensive but their small flower arrangements start at $40.00 and go up to thousands-and they all look priceless. How can you put a price on such beauty? Such taste. They made my day!
A butterfly would be dancing.
You will love it in there.
They specialize in the cultivation of Orchids!
Antiquities and research books. I came in to the library,after seeing the show at the Metropolitan
Museum at 82nd and Fifth Avenue.
I saw Kawakubo, at the Met, which was
Architectural Fashion design by a woman artist who is obviously a ,genius of Design. Very modern, very different and extraordinary design. Monumental really.
I then went up the roof garden to have a glass of passion fruit.
After a stop at The New York Society Library, on 79 street between Madison and Park, walked to the bus stop at 79th and Lexington and looked in the window of my favorite Florist called Lenox Hill Florists.
They specialize in Events. But they do little things too.
They made me the most beautiful flower arrangement of a pink and green hydrangea and a white orchid. Orchids are their specialty.
People don't realize it because they look so expensive but their small flower arrangements start at $40.00 and go up to thousands-and they all look priceless. How can you put a price on such beauty? Such taste. They made my day!
A butterfly would be dancing.
You will love it in there.
They specialize in the cultivation of Orchids!
Written June 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
희진 박
31 contributions
Jul 2016 • Solo
- classic style and mood (so good)
- ID card required
- if not identified, only allowed 1st floor
고풍스러운 분위기의 건물과 분위기에 들어가면 압도되나, 회원증 없으면 1층 작은 열람실만 들어갈수 잇음. 그 작은 열람실만으로도 조용하고 고풍스러워서 볼만했음.
- ID card required
- if not identified, only allowed 1st floor
고풍스러운 분위기의 건물과 분위기에 들어가면 압도되나, 회원증 없으면 1층 작은 열람실만 들어갈수 잇음. 그 작은 열람실만으로도 조용하고 고풍스러워서 볼만했음.
Written July 16, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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