New York Public Library – Battery Park City Library

So happy theirs a library around this neigborhood. They have a story time for kids & the teacher is fun and jolly. The thing is theirs maximum of kids than can get in so its not gonna get that crowded during story time. (50 kids only). Books for kids & adult are organize & easy to find. This is a good escape from this cold weather! Take your kids inside & have fun!

Thank the gods for this out-​of-​the-​way library. First thing I looked for were crazy people and bums or crazy bums. Nope. None. Just children and nannies with babies. I’ll take loud children and babies over loud crazy people and bums like the libraries uptown.

I’m writing this in comparison to other NYPLs that I have visited. I come here to get a lot of studying done and use their computers. I have my own laptop, but I prefer the bigger monitor. Anyway, there are two floors and the 2^nd floor is quieter, but the chairs are hard plastic. The chairs for their computers are a bit more comfortable and located downstairs if you don’t mind the noise when school is out and the children are around, just bring headphones. I have had minimal interaction with the staff, but they are generally helpful. Free, quick wifi, clean space and plenty of seating-I’m glad I live close by and have a study spot.

Seriously? I’m really surprised that no one has commented on the cringe-​worthy rudeness of the staff here. I know that 95% of the patrons have experienced it. Maybe people don’t think to write Unilocal reviews about libraries. I’m also shocked that one employee in particular hasn’t been reprimanded for his lack of people skills (or…rather…human decency). If you enjoy getting the stink eye when you walk in the door, this is the place for you. Like getting yelled at from across the library when you forgot to fill out a line of the library card application? Well come on in! Oh, and if you survive all that, and then go to the counter with books in your hand, expect to have someone coldly roll his eyes and say, «is there something I can help you with?» (Ummm well let’s think about that for a minute… I have books… ummmm?). Also, I don’t appreciate being treated like crap with my 6 year old with me. Kind of trying to develop a love of reading here… help me out NYC!

Been coming for years because I live close by but wanted to write a review out of recognition for the excellent staff. They seem to value customer service, which is EXTREMELY rare, good golly! At the 34^th St SIBL Library I could have sought to have the librarian fired for how she conducted herself over a small issue. I’ve never been talked to the way that this librarian did at that other location. So please take note of the exceptional service you get at BPC.
Great selection of new release books and DVDs. Fairly clean. Not* the ideal place to get a lot of quiet work done. If anything, try the second floor or bring headphones. Although there are some «interesting» characters that frequent this place, along with rowdy children, that is not the staff’s fault. If anything, security should probably enforce noise level restrictions more regularly, but it seems this location is just a staple for nannies and young children. What can you do.

Excellent library staff. We tend to get movies and books via reserve, and dash in and out, though sometimes we browse through the movies & children’s books. The selection of foreign language films is decent, and I usually find a title or two. I also tend to use the NYPL e-​book services, which are great.

The big head african american librarian is soooooo racist… love the convenience of the location but dont like seeing his face and attitude.

Solid library. Fast Wi-​Fi, relatively quiet, comfy chairs, lots of desk space. Didn’t appear to have a huge selection of reading material, but it’s a great spot to grind out some work in quiet.

I love discovering new and fantastic things by accident. And the Battery Park City Lib is one of those things.
Prior to my little adventure around Tribeca I didn’t even know this location existed. Nestled behind Whole Foods, BB&B and Barnes & Nobles it actually in a great location. The library is equal distance between the water & the subway and situated in a beautiful building, which just happens to be Green LEED certified.
I didn’t venture to the 2^nd floor (rumor has it there’s magazines & a reading room up there) but the first floor is easy to navigate, clean and even though it was filled with at least a dozen nice sized tables w/​chairs it was really quiet. Should I need a spot to sit and read/​study this would definitely be on my list. the large windows in both the front of the building in the back don’t hurt for scenery either.
Staff behind the desk made checkout super easy, which means I’m totally adding BPCL to the list of fav. branches in Manhattan. (If I had such a list…)

Convenient and clean. Nice place to relax and read.

Great reading and studying spot. Open on Saturdays. Library is spacious, nearly brand new, and always clean. Noise level varies, depending on the library schedule and local activities. I call ahead first, and the staff is helpful and reliable on rating the noise level.

I love this library. I am always amazed at how little people actually use the library. You can actually reserve DVDs and books online and they will email you when it’s ready for pick up. Easy breezy and it’s free!

Excellent library staff, lovely facility. However, there are some nannies & parents with children who are not using this environment as intended. We all need to remember to teach etiquette– please remind your children that the library is a place to be quiet and explore reading materials in a low voice. Allowing children to run around is neglects an important opportunity to teach fundamental values — the library is not a play place, but it is a fun environment to learn and be respectful & mindful of others!

«We visit at the shrine, drink in some measure of the inspiration, and cannot easily breathe in other air less pure, accustomed to immortal fruits.” – Hazlitt, «Plain Speaker»
«In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends imprisoned by an enchanter in paper and leathern boxes” – Emerson, «Books, Society, and Solitude.»
«He hath never fed of the dainties that are bred in a book; he hath not eat paper, as it were; he hath not drunk ink; his intellect is not replenished; he is only an animal, only sensible in the duller parts.” – Shakespeare, «Love’s Labour’s Lost.»
«I ever look upon a library with the reverence of a temple.” – Evelyn, to Wotton.
‘Father, I should like to learn to make gold.’ ‘And what would’st thou do if thou could’st make it?’ ‘Why, I would build a great house and fill it with books.’ – Southey, Doctor.
While you converse with lords and dukes,
I have their betters here, my books;
Fixed in an elbow chair at ease
I choose companions as I please.
I’d rather have one single shelf
Than all my friends, except yourself.
For, after all that can be said,
Our best companions are the dead.
–Sheridan to Swift.
Take me to some lofty room,
Lighted from the western sky,
Where no glare dispels the gloom,
Till the golden eve is nigh;
Where the works of searching thought,
Chosen books, may still impart
What the wise of old have taught,
What has tried the meek of heart;
Books in long dead tongues that stirred
Loving hearts in other climes;
Telling to my eyes, unheard,
Glorious deeds of olden times: xiii
Books that purify the thought,
Spirits of the learned dead,
Teachers of the little taught,
Comforters when friends are fled.
–Barnes, Poems of Rural Life.
(quoted in «Hours in a Library» by Leslie Stephen)
«The Battery Park City Branch is New York Public Library’s first green LEED certified branch in Manhattan. The bright 10,000 square-​foot, two-​story branch houses a collection of over 23,000 items, separate reading areas for children, young adults, and adults, a multipurpose programming space, and offers access to 36 public computers and a wide range of services for the community.» (quoted from NYPL’s Web site).
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The Battery Park City Branch of the NYPL is world’s better than the New Amsterdam branch on the other side of West Side Highway on Murray St. and might just usurp the Mulberry Street branch as my favorite branch of all. This is one of the only branches I would recommend for doing anything other than picking up books or dvds on reserve. There is ample space for reading/​working, and the environment is clean and sleek rather than dingy and depressing like just about every other branch from New Amsterdam all the way up to Morningside Heights and (not least of all) the main Mid-​Manhattan branch. Moreover, the Battery Park City Branch actually has substantial holdings in both new releases and reference materials. This last detail ought not to be overlooked — most other locations function much like Netflix pickup depots and are basically useless to the casual library user looking for anything from sources for a research paper to an interesting new novel, let alone a particular book. As someone who has spent hours upon hours in all types of libraries, I had yet to find a branch of the NYPL in which to do just that… until now… and if you don’t want to sit cooped up inside on a nice day, this location is close enough to Battery Park to take a great book to read outside while overlooking the Hudson.

This is the first branch i have been to of all NYPL branches, and it gave me a very very nice impression of NYPL. (althought I’ve just read some really bad reviews for other branches.)
This branch is really really new. I am guessing it was opened very recently. The glass walls and barriers are streak-​free. The staircase and floors are dust-​free. And the staffs are stress-​free.
The floor plan is quite small. Avoid 3pm-​6pm if you want to avoid crowding and noise because school children (teenagers and toddlers) get here around the time. Upstairs give you a good environment to read, or face the tall windows and watch the world go by. I especially like the contemporary chairs and abundance of outlets, and free WIFI.
I usually begin my ratings with 5 stars, and then take off as I go. One star off, from perfect, is for the tiny book collection (although there is a pretty neat collection of DVDS) and for the crowding of children (day care ages). As I wanted to use the restroom as I was leaving, but a person beat me to it. So I found out that there is only 1 toilet for men and another for women.
Have fun!

The city’s first ‘green’ library is beautiful. Its bright, clean aesthetics make browsing the collection very enjoyable. The library is rather small but offers generous seating, particularly upstairs. Plenty of computers with internet access.
I’m taking one star off for the small collection of books, however it has definitely grown since my first visit opening week. Also, one of the things I like best about the NYPL system is the ability to select a book from any branch and have it shipped to your location of choice for free. Have done this many times with the BP Library and it always works perfectly (though requires some patience).
They do have a pretty enormous collection of DVD’s. Forget Blockbuster (between this and Netflix, no wonder they’re headed towards Bankruptcy!), this library has enough DVD’s for many a rainy day. The collection is a bit eclectic, though. There’s a freakishly large collection of animé DVD’s, good if you like Kenshin and Gundam Wing… but frankly a little weird. Pretty wide variety of TV shows. Fair amount of new releases. They recently upped the late fee to $ 3 per day to prevent people from turning the previous $ 0.25/day fee into a meager ‘rental’ charge.
It’s clear that much thought went into the library’s design. The children’s section, a must have for the booming kid population in Battery Park, is the first main area near the entrance. Unlike Barnes and Noble, no need to drag screaming kids to the back of the building. They also have an intelligently placed Purell stand near the front doors/​children section to wipe away the germs you’ve gathered during your browse. The magazine area is strategically located upstairs, separating the noisy page flippers from the book readers downstairs. There’s also a self check-​out area across from the front entrance.
Overall, an excellent and much needed addition to Battery Park!

Thank you, Mayor Bloomberg for opening a library in Battery Park City! The place even smells brand new, it’s awesome.
I loved that the second floor contained lots of plug outlets and seating for everyone to work and do research. And no difficulties with the wifi either… excellent.
For whatever reason, there were lots of screeching children though… more so than the normal library.

gorgeous, brand new library. i’ve been in love with the nypl since moving here from cali — such a great online system where you can request books/​dvds/​cds and have them sent to your nearest library and reserved for you there till you pick them up!
the battery park city library is BY FAR the most attractive nypl branch. brand, spanking new. almost feels like a borders when you walk in with all the shiny, new books and dvds. whole tv series are available (Lost, Mad Men, etc). it’s incredibly kid-​friendly… there were a ton of tots when i came to visit. the staff was SUPER friendly and helpful as well.
the upstairs only has tables and a limited number of magazines (which is why i’m knocking off one star). i wish this place were closer to my home, but alas, new amsterdam still has the better location so i’ll keep sending my book holds there. :)

I didn’t even realize this library was here until a few days ago. Apparently this new branch open in late February or early March 2010. It’s located in one of the LEED certified apartment buildings in BPC.
The first floor has a nice seating area, tables with power outlets for laptops, and some computers for public use. A decent size collection DVDs take up one side of the wall. A somewhat small selection of fiction and non-​fiction books are at the far corner. There wasn’t a lot to browse when I was there, not sure if they’re still building the collection at this branch or if I was missing something. But if you request books and DVDs online for borrowing and pick it up then it doesn’t really matter where the books come from. After all, it’s free.
Across from the checkout desk there is a good size children’s area. Although I didn’t go to the second floor, I understand there is a community room up there and also some research materials. There is also WiFi though out, although I didn’t test it.
It’s strange that there wasn’t already a branch in this neighborhood, I’m glad they finally opened one.

Forgive me for giving the brand-​spanking new and very «green» Battery Park City Library five stars simply for existing! I had heard some rumblings awhile back about a library being built in the neighborhood, but then didn’t keep breast of updates. I didn’t even realize where the library was going to be until I heard on NY1 that the grand opening was today. Damn, I really should read my BPC Broadsheet from now on!
I, of course, hightailed it to the library to check out the new digs. It’s in a prime location, across the street from the movie theater and Embassy Suites, and a few short blocks from all the local schools. Best of all, I don’t have to cross the highway to get to my nearest library. Goodbye New Amsterdam Branch, hello BPC Branch! Having grown up in this neighborhood and lived here for so long, it makes me really happy that this new generation of kids will have such a wonderful resource available to them within the bounds of Battery Park City.
Apparently it’s the «greenest» library in the city, with all kinds of environmentally friendly technology in use. It’s 10,000 square feet and two floors. There are tons of tables with plugs built into them, plus lots of other chairs for reading. According to the website, there are 24 public access computers, but it didn’t look like that many to me. Perhaps more will be on the second floor, where the multipurpose room is situated. Right now, it looks like they still need to expand their collection — the shelves on the first floor are not nearly brimming full enough of books, and there’s only a magazine section on the second floor — but I’m sure the NYPL’s shrinking budget has something to do with this. There is a large children’s section, though, and lots of DVDs (movies, tv shows, animé) to choose from. I may very well cancel my Netflix account if it’s this convenient to rent movies in my own neighborhood!
I’m also very excited to have such a beautiful local library to use as a writing spot. Free wi-​fi and a clean, quiet, well-​lit environment with a view — what else could I ask for? Best of all, I don’t have to buy anything to use the space, and I won’t reek of coffee for hours afterwards. I think I’m in love. And if you live in Battery Park City, I’m sure you will be too!