96th Street Library

Doors were wide opened and unlocked, me and my coworkers were looking for a restroom during the nursing strike (which was this location as agreed with our union) and the guy was so rude and literally rushed us out saying “yeah yeah but we’re closed and you can’t use the bathroom”. I get that but your doors were unlocked so don’t be rude to people that happen to walk through them, a little decency would have been nice.

This is a great library overall, but in particular am a fan of the second floor kids library. They always have a good variety of books, and in different languages. For younger kids you can also check out toys to play with. Great indoor activity option.

I came for the first time to this branch to renew my card since COVID 19. The staff person was professional and courteous.

I’ve been here many times on different days and different times of day. Easily the loudest library in NYC, which is saying something. With my AirPods in active noise cancelling mode and music playing, I can hear kids SCREAMING on the second floor. Doors have haunted-house-level of squeak and slam. Librarians also pick and choose who they shush - phone calls and meetings get shushed, but people actively talking to one another don’t? A big reason people come to the library is for peace and quiet. Yorkville Library is much better about enforcing this, same with all the midtown libraries. There’s also only one bathroom available to the public (this is strange given the size of this location) and at least one for staff only. The hand dryer is broken.

Many book options here! Several tables in the back for working & quick WiFi. Just what I needed for the afternoon

People come here to have a conversation and shop and listen to music . It’s called a library for a reason for people to study. To make it worse, the security is more concerned about people who remove their shoes then people having loud conversation. Terrible

They got fast free wifi and power outlet to plug a laptop. Pretty quiet as well. Nothing more to expect! 😃👍

I went to this library yesterday (Friday april 25/2025 )around 2:45 pm .l stop at the front desk in the first floor and told the young lady staff member,that l need to print a Dr form and that l don’t to much about computer.she told me to go to the 3rd floor and that they will help me.l get to the third floor and reserve computer 4.l log in.l went to the white gentleman and ask him for help.He look at me like if l was a Allien from another galaxy,but he walk with me to computer.l sit and he was standing.l ask him where l need to go in order for me to print my medical form.He replied to me in a rude way.”I can’t do everything for you,you should know how to do something.l replied to him that l didn’t ask him to do everything for me,l just ask him where to go to print the form,l informed him that lm an old school person and unfortunately don’t to much about computers..He walk away and dint help me,l feel descriminate because lm Spanish and don’t speak perfect English.staff in library should help anyone don’t matter your skin color. Or race .I will never going back to this library.unprofessional,Racist staff .

New York Public Library on East 96th is my home library. Over the years I've known many of the employees. Some retired and one very special employee died recently. I feel at home here. They have activities for all ages. They have cool art on display. I like to reserve books online and pick them up here. There's no reason not to give them Five Stars!

Good place to study on the 3rd floor. Have charging outlets on the tables, and have a quiet zone. Didn't see any homeless people which is nice. Still always be careful of your surroundings. Wifi is free and easy to connect to. Only bad thing is the people that work here. So rude and not helpful. I didn't know you were not allowed to eat fruit at the library and was asked if I needed a copy of the rules... how about just telling me nicely to put my food away? This is a huge turn off from coming here since I usually bring snacks with me to study as I study pretty much from 9-5 pm every day as a medical student. I guess if I want to eat any sort of food I would have to do it someplace else.

This is a small but comfortable library. The library collection goes up to the third floor, and each floor is spacious enough to have some reading desks. The elevator is slow but seems to be functioning alright. I didn't see any creeps around so that's good too. Also an excellent location where it's half a block away from the 96th street subway station. Staff was attentive - once the checkout line got longer, staff opened two more checkouts immediately and the line went pretty fast after that.

I have been here several times to pick up books on hold and to study. This place is great to study but first floor was loud :( I went to their top floor...perfect for studying and reading. :) Big advice for the workers here...there is nothing wrong with being nice to people or smiling. Majority of the workers here are rude and have attitudes... :( Especially,the short,African American lady who is around 45?............she is ALWAYS RUDE. P.s. If you aren't happy...have an ice cream or read a book :)

The renovation was a success, and the interior is clean, attractive, and accessible to wheelchairs (entrance to the right of the regular entrance). There's an outside book drop (the 79th Street branch doesn't have this amenity), and this branch is very close to the subway. The third floor is a spacious reference room, with many tables to work at and very good wi-fi. Things can get noisy here, as sound from the children's zone (second floor) travels through the stairway to the rest of the building. Librarians (few are at all friendly) let conversations go on at full volume on the third floor, and actually hold loud conversations themselves. I guess I don't want them shushing people, but maybe the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction?

I come here on a regular basis with my children. They tend to have a lot of free events hosted here. It's never too crowded and the staff are very helpful. The bathroom is my biggest gripe about this place. It always smells bad, even early in the day. Including on the children's floor.

I love this library its one of my faves. It's really clean and nice doesn't look run down like other nypl and I feel very much.comfortable here. Its close to the 6 train which is a plus for me.

I just came here for a wake and have to say that it was a pretty nice experience all around. Everyone involved was very friendly and they have a nice little conference room in the basement, where everything was able to be held. The garden in the back was a bit beat up though. Other than that, everything seemed to be in order =P

Very nice library!!! Big, clean and neat. A lot of modern computers, very friendly and helpful staff.

OK, lets start off with saying that along with NYC Library workers, DMV, Post Office, and any other government funded agencies, WHERE DO YOU FIND THESE PEOPLE TO HIRE? MARS? The library it's self it HUGE, but that doesn't mean they have a great selection of books. It's okay, i wish it was more social and neighborhood friendly, they have classes once in a while for kids, but everyone is so GRUMPY and not fun to be around... the kids floor is okay, except for the play area, it's DIRTY, outdated and broken. The people who work on the main floor, they hate their life, 100% I don't know why they go to work if they are that miserable... anything & everything you ask, they have an attitude. I get this is NYC and we are all in a hurry and sometimes come off rude, but for goodness sake if you work in a library , WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY? over all, it's a good place to hide from the rain , otherwise, go else where!

So easy to pick up items placed on hold. NOTE: Library is closed for HVAC repair at the moment. Book drop is locked shut, too!

This library might as well be located on Mt. Everest. It's located near the top of a steep hill. And then there's three flights to climb before reacing the reading room. They have an elevator but you'll die of old age before one arrives. Many of their patrons look like refugees from a homeless shelter. And a couple of other patrons behave uncouth, arrogant and disrespectful when demanding their table space. Overall a depressing atmosphere.

I agree with most of the reviews, the staff is pretty miserable here. The 3rd floor study area is spacious and I can usually find a place to sit. Downside is that the children's area is on the 2nd floor, and when school lets out you can forget about it being a quiet library.

Small library. 1st floor has the reserved books on a shelf. You come and look for the book(s) you reserved under the last four digits of your library card. Retrieve your book(s) and go to the customer service counter to check them out. Old books can be rented for 2 weeks and new books can be rented for 3 weeks. The first floor also houses young adult novels, while the second floor houses children's books.

Could use a reno soon. Feels very dark an closed in, even in the day time. The only time I come to this location is drop off an arm load of books from my classroom or to take my class for the private story time with Clarissa. My kids look forward to the stories and old school cartoons (they still use a projector and film reels!!!)

Free wifi and free AC, what's not to like? The 3rd floor study area is very spacious and the attendant on the 3rd floor is always helpful. The staff is a little slow but it is a very nice little library. I love studying here, especially in the summer.

I went to the Yorkville branch while 96th was being renovated, and I think I'll continue going there! The employees at 96TH are pretty rude. One in particular, a squat elderly woman with an attitude, who seems angry to be alive, left her post at the front desk in order to follow me around complaining about me. She had a line and made other customers wait. I attempted to let the another customer go ahead of me so that I could check out with the more polite male employee but she yelled my name out and I was forced to go to her. She continued babbling at me as I left. NYPL is a great institution but it's a shame that at 96th St, they employ people who are not fit to be around others. I'll continue to visit Yorkville, where the librarians are very nice and helpful, don't stalk customers around the library, and actually seem to love their jobs!

Looks like the long renovation succeeded in...getting rid of the current newspapers rack.

I was here for several hours sitting next a girl who had about ten 5 minutes phone conversations at full volume in the middle of an almost full room of people reading or studying silently. What kind of librarian allows this to happen?

Honestly, the staff here is absolutely terrible. The only reason I gave it two stars and not one is because it's still a library, and I love the books. EVERY time I have been in here, I've been treated rudely, and I think most of the staff are extremely disrespectful. I dealt with one guy at the information desk who was friendly, and the security guys are nice, but besides them, I'm not too fond of anyone else I've come across.