New York Public Library – Hamilton Grange Library

Below average selection of books, but easy to order things from other branches. Plenty of communal computers, decent staff, nice architecture. Support your public library!

Love this place!!! The security guard is very nice and friendly guy :) a lot of computers and not long line to wait for your turn. And chairs is very comfy)

I placed a hold on a book that was already on the shelves there through
and instructed on the site that I would pick it up from the branch. I immediately received a message that the book was ready to be picked up. Great! I finally had time to go get it two days later, so I traveled up to Hamilton Grange to pick it up.
I was instructed by the librarian to check the «Reserve» shelf, but it wasn’t there. No problem, I’ll just inform the librarian and ask her to double-​check. She starts lecturing me about how books take time to travel from their host libraries and that I need to be patient, even though if she had checked the computer then she would’ve seen that THIS IS the host library, and the book isn’t on the Reserve shelf even though I placed the hold two days ago. Nor was it on the shelf in it’s original section. After some more searching on the computer, I’m told that the book is now sitting on another floor, but I can’t go get it because the library is closing in fifteen minutes and nobody is allowed upstairs.
It turned into a complete waste of time. Don’t tell me that a book is being held for me if it’s really not. Don’t lecture me about waiting for books to be delivered when they’re ALREADY in the building. Don’t take (at least) two days to bring a single book downstairs.

Printing: $ 0.15 per page

A few weeks ago, I journeyed here from midtown for a free career seminar with Win Sheffield, a career coach. I took the one train to W 145^th and quickly discovered that it leaves you on the corner as the library. When I got to the library, it seemed large with lots of books, tables and a fair amount of people, some with children, enjoying their amenities. Since I had no idea where I was going, it was nice to quickly discover that there was a help desk to my immediate left with fairly helpful employees!
I took the claustrophobic elevator to the third floor where the seminar was being held. I initially took the stairs in favor of exercise but what I thought was the third floor turned out to the second floor, it was weird and confusing. I was amazed by the third floor layout: they had dark wooden bleacher style seats on the back of the wall on one side of the room with several comfortable seats, computers, books while the other side of the room had a tall glass ‘quiet area’ with a large plasma screen and small bean chairs. It was this glass area where I had my one-​hour class with Sheffield and though wasn’t blocked off from the rest of the room, it didn’t seem to cause too much disruption to the people using the computers.
Since I only came to this library for the class and saw only a small portion of the library, I have to say it’s A-​OK!

I visited this branch for the first time yesterday and I really liked the architecture of this building. The outside of the building is pretty cool and sort of unexpected compared to the rest of the buildings on the block. I went around 6pm and it was not very packed, there were plenty of tables and chairs available. The selection of books at this location was not great, they did have a lot of DVD’s available. I found my books and the girl at checkout was very courteous and helpful. I have forgotten how helpful and cost efficient the public library is.

I like this branch. It’s convenient, the staff is nice mostly. Great wifi and you can get any book here that you order online. A great resource for the community.

This is a great library with a good solid staff. The selection of books are limited, but you can order anything you want and its usually available within a week or two. I frequent the DVD section, and I have seen some of the best indie and foreign films ever. I also get a chance to see some of the movies that I was interested in seeing but missed while it was in the theaters (all for free but don’t be late on your returns-​its now $ 3 bucks a day). Kudos to Ms. Carol Small, the Branch Director and recipient of the Maher Stern for Service Excellence. She has introduced some amazing cultural, arts, and music programming to the library that I enjoy immensely. For the Holidays, there was a wonderful tribute to a local composer complete with opera singing and concert pianist. Recently a young prodigy composer, pianist, and poet, Nkoso Nkulikeko also graced the stage there. In addition to these new and innovative ideas, the library offers alot of community based services such as IBaby Lap-​sit and toddler programs, yoga and fitness classes, poetry contests, book discussion groups, crochet classes, and a Teen Advisory Group (TAG). Under her leadership this library has hosted several exhibitions by local artists and photographers. I have to agree with some of the reviewers regarding the noise level, but honestly, I am so happy to see that children are still going to the library to absorb the rich and bountiful knowledge that exist there. A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle-​Khalil Gibran

A nice library if I’d say so myself, and ive been to impressive grand ones that you get so side tracked because there are so many books and so much going on.
Ok Hamilton Grange is clean, has free internet– with blocked sites & its timed too.
You can event rent DVDs, and films as well as books. Limited selection but they have a tiny bit of every little thing and good classes and community programs.
Great location, next to yoga studio, state park etc. but also a few schools and a university so be prepared at certain hours for the bumrush of noisy kids. The days are serene with students and independant workers on thier laptops.
It has had its busier but not overcrowded times. So you will always get a seat and your research material.
Check it out.

Not the best library in the world, but it’s still great to have one in the area. It’s not always quiet, but the fact that there are kids there means they’re getting books, which I always think is a good thing! Although of course they have a smaller selection than other branches, I can always find at least one book to check out, and since you can get books from other branches delivered here it’s overall very convenient. Be sure to keep supporting local libraries!

This is a pretty decent library. Not sure why some think it doesn’t have enough books; you can order in any book you wish from other branches. With Bloomberg’s extreme cuts in library budgets city-​wide, this is the most one can expect.
I find the desk staff helpful with a good attitude. Wi-​Fi access is very good, with two electrical charging station tables that are usually open. Lots of other seating in this library.
It offers computers for your use, and printing services via a pre-​paid money card at 15¢ per page (or 20¢ when using cash) — excellent for poorer people without their own computers or printers.
I find it generally quiet, and the security guard keeps her eyes open for people talking on the phone, etc. She has been helpful to me.
Excellent location, ½ block from the Broadway/​145^th subway stop (between Broadway and Amsterdam on the north side of the street).
Of course, it has a nice bathroom, with the key attached to – what else — a clanky metal bookend.
I’m not too happy with the flyers and posters giving Obama credit for various benefits to this library; he hasn’t done s**t for anyone, let alone this place. If only he wasn’t strangling our economy, this library and others would have tons more money from the increased tax dollars you get with a prospering country. Instead, the weak financial state of NYC and elsewhere has resulted in millions of dollars in library cuts, and more coming soon.

The Hamilton Grange branch is part of the New York Public Library system. This branch has an elevator, clean bathroom and is handicapped accessible.
This branch was funded by Andrew Carnegie and the beautiful limestone building was designed by McKim, Mead and White. It has beautiful floor to ceiling windows and very high ceilings that give the branch a grand open feeling. The building is also a historical landmark and the branch itself was named after Alexander Hamilton’s old plantation which was also located in the area.
On the first level is the adult and young adult reading room with check out counter, computers and Wi-​Fi hot spots. Upstairs on the second level, there is a reading room for children with an array of books and programs.
I’ve been going to this branch since I was a young girl and I love how it has continued to grow and develop over the years. There is a large selection of books, music and video covering a range of topics. I am fond of their book sale and use this branch to pick up reserves extensively.
Computers and laptops are available, and there is ample space to bring in your laptop and tap into their Wi-​fi connection. I have done so on many occasions and everything worked just fine.
This is a family friendly branch and many children come here after school to browse books and use the computer. It can get a little noisy but this is usually only during after school hours and the librarians try to keep things quiet.

I have to agree with the other reviewer — this is certainly not the best library in the area. I prefer 125^th over this one, hands down. The best one in my area is Morningside Height’s, the one on Broadway between 113^th & 114^th (a bit of a walk, but totally worth it).
Every time before heading to the Harlem library I have checked to see if they have the books I want online. But even if they claim to have the book – they NEVER do. The librarians are helpful but ultimately they never really have an answer for why everything seems to go missing.

The goods:
— internet is consistent
— there’s usually a place to sit
— free bathroom.
Otherwise, a place of last resort. There just aren’t many books here, and it gets a little noisy with kids. They don’t have good role models: some of the librarians don’t seem to understand the value of silence in a library.
But it’s free. And they can usually get me any book within a couple weeks. I suppose this is something that’s easy to take for granted.