Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street
New York, NY 10018
917-275-6975
Directions
Fully Accessible
Open today
10 AM–6 PM
Regular Hours
Day Hours
Monday 10 AM–6 PM
Tuesday 10 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 10 AM–8 PM
Thursday 10 AM–6 PM
Friday 10 AM–6 PM
Saturday 10 AM–6 PM
Sunday 1 PM–5 PM

The New York Public Library’s flagship location, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, is one of the Library’s premier research centers, renowned for its extraordinary historical collections and its commitment to providing free and equal access to its resources. 

Learn more about research collections and services at the Schwarzman Building.

Please Note:

  • As part of the Library's Midtown Renovation, we are in the process of upgrading, renovating, and adding more public space to the Schwarzman Building to prepare this historic library for future research, exhibitions, and programs. Currently, we are working on upgrades to the building’s cooling tower and HVAC system, as well as improvements to building circulation and flow with the addition of a new elevator and staircase. We remain focused on limiting the impact of this work on public service, but we do ask for patience and understanding in instances of noise or any other disruption during your visit.
     
  • Due to new Library policy, e-bikes, e-scooters, and electronic transportation devices are not permitted inside any NYPL location. This does not apply to mobility aids.

New! LIVE from NYPL: Fall Season

Text graphic with maroon and gold text that reads: LIVE from NYPL, Fall Season.

The Library's premier cultural series brings you free events, conversations, and performances featuring prominent writers, artists, and thinkers. Learn more.

Just Dropped! Special-Edition Hip-Hop Library Card

Hip-hop library card on a yellow background. The front of the card shows grafitti art reading "Wild Style," and the back side shows a teal cassette tape.

Unlock the power of the Library with a new, special-edition library card commemorating 50 years of hip-hop! The card features imagery from the soundtrack cassette of the iconic 1983 film Wild Style, directed by Charlie Ahearn, widely considered to be the first film dedicated to hip-hop. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture's Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division holds the original cassette in its collections alongside key archives related to the birth and legacy of hip-hop. The cassette book, which was produced by Kaz Kuzui, includes photos of soundtrack producer Fab 5 Freddy and the “Wild Style” art that was created by artists Zephyr, Revolt, and Sharp.

Apply online or at a branch, and pick up your hip-hop library card from an NYPL location near you!

Start Your Journey at the Librarys Visitor Center

Interior of the Visitor Center at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, featuring tables of digital displays and touchable/tactile objects, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and panels of carved wood lining the walls.

Discover the Library’s legacy and collections through interactive exhibits and more in this new public space. Learn more.

Visit the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures

For more than 125 years, The New York Public Library has collected, preserved, and made accessible the world’s knowledge. Now, for the first time, the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures, now open at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, showcases some of the most extraordinary items from the 56 million in our collections, inspiring and empowering visitors to discover, learn, and create new knowledge—today and in the years ahead. Learn more.

In the Spotlight

Current Exhibitions

About the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

Interior view of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is part of The New York Public Library, which consists of four major research libraries and 88 branch libraries located in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Often referred to as the "main branch," the Beaux-Arts landmark building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street houses outstanding research collections in the humanities and social sciences. The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is currently undergoing a renovation. Learn more.

Learn more about this location Learn about capital construction projects at this location