The long-awaited and much-needed full renovation of Mid-Manhattan Library is moving forward as expected. Work began immediately when the building closed to the public on August 1, 2017. The building is expected to reopen in early 2020.
During this closure, all staff and services offered at Mid-Manhattan Library will relocate to other nearby Midtown locations, including an interim 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”—will hold Mid-Manhattan’s circulating collections and offer computers, programming spaces, and tables for quiet study. Mid-Manhattan holds will also be sent here for pick-up.
The temporary space will open to the public on August 29 to allow time for Mid-Manhattan’s hundreds of thousands of books, as well as its furniture, to move across the street. Hours for the new space will be Monday, Thursday: 8 AM–8 PM; Tuesday, Wednesday: 8 AM–9 PM; Friday: 8 AM–6 PM; Saturday: 10 AM–6 PM; and Sunday: 10 AM–5 PM. Between August 1 and August 29, Mid-Manhattan patrons can send their holds to any other NYPL location. After August 29, holds will be defaulted to Mid-Manhattan Library at 42nd Street. Holds placed for pick-up at Mid-Manhattan before August 1 but not picked up or delivered by closing will be sent to the Children’s Center at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.
To further meet the needs of Mid-Manhattan patrons, hours will be extended at many nearby Midtown branches, and programs previously offered at Mid-Manhattan will be temporarily moved. Below are options for Mid-Manhattan patrons during the closure, and any new services that those branches offer as of August 1.
Below are options for Mid-Manhattan patrons during the closure, and any new services that those branches offer as of August 1. The new hours are in effect as of Monday, August 7:
Grand Central Library | 135 E 46th St, New York, NY 10017
- New hours are Monday–Thursday: 10 AM–9 PM; Friday: 10 AM–6 PM; and Saturday: 10 AM–5 PM
- Additional 8 hours per week
- Additional services include IDNYC and SingleStop
Science, Industry and Business Library | 188 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
- New hours are Monday–Thursday: 10 AM–8 PM; Friday 10 AM–6pm; and Saturday: 10 AM–6 PM
- Additional 4 hours per week
- Additional services include TechConnect and citizenship classes
Children’s Center at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building | 42nd Street entrance
- New hours are Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10 AM–6 PM; Tuesday, Wednesday: 10 AM–8 PM; and Sunday: 10 AM–5 PM (Sunday hours begin again in September)
- Additional 3 hours per week
53rd Street Library | 18 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
- Hours are Monday, Wednesday: 11 AM–7 PM; Tuesday, Thursday: 11 AM–6 PM; and Friday, Saturday: 10 AM–5 PM
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building | Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street
- Hours are Monday, Thursday–Saturday: 10 AM–6 PM; Tuesday, Wednesday: 10 AM–8 PM; and Sunday: 1–5 PM (Sunday hours begin again in September)
- Additional services include the Picture Collection, which will remain at Schwarzman after Mid-Manhattan reopens, and TechConnect classes
- This location is for research, quiet study, and programming only; except for the Children’s Center, patrons cannot pick up holds or check out books here
To share feedback or ask questions, please email midtown@nypl.org.