Here are a few things you may didn’t know about the NYC Public Library:

🦁 1. Meet Patience and Fortitude

The two marble lions guarding the entrance on Fifth Avenue are named Patience and Fortitude—names given during the Great Depression by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia. They’ve become enduring symbols of strength and perseverance.

📚 2. It’s a Marvel of Marble

The library’s main building was constructed using over 530,000 cubic feet of marble, brought in from Vermont, with walls that are up to three feet thick. It took 16 years to complete and opened in 1911.

🕵️‍♀️ 3. It Has Secret Rooms and Hidden Stacks

The library extends several stories below Bryant Park, where miles of book stacks are housed. A recent renovation added a state-of-the-art underground conveyor system to transport books to the Rose Reading Room.

🌍 4. It’s One of the Largest Libraries in the World

The NYPL system contains more than 56 million items, making it the second-largest public library in the United States (after the Library of Congress) and one of the largest in the world.

📜 5. Home to Historical Treasures

The library holds incredible rarities, such as:

• A Gutenberg Bible (one of only 49 known copies)

• Charles Dickens’ writing desk and chair

• A handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson

• Original Winnie-the-Pooh toys, including the real-life Pooh bear and friends!

💼 6. A Reading Room of Dreams

The Rose Main Reading Room spans nearly the length of a football field and features 52-foot-high ceilings, glittering chandeliers, and soaring windows. It’s a serene, breathtaking space that has inspired scholars, authors, and artists alike.

🎬 7. A Movie Star in Its Own Right

The NYPL has starred in films like:

• Ghostbusters (1984) – where the first ghost appears!

• The Day After Tomorrow – where characters take refuge during a superstorm.

• Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Spider-Man also feature iconic scenes shot here.

🧩 8. It Offers Way More Than Books

From language classes and author talks to job training and genealogy research, the library is a vibrant community hub. During the pandemic, it even offered book grab-and-go services to keep NYC reading.

Join our tours to find out more:

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