Manhattan · NYC landmark
Harlem Library
9 West 124th Street · Manhattan, New York City
Visit a neighborhood library tied to Harlem community theater and see a stone front decorated with open-book plaques.
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NYFE Summary
The library grew from a subscription collection into a free neighborhood institution. In the 1930s it also became a home for the Rose McClendon Players and Theatre Workshop. Ossie Davis trained and performed with that group here.
Deep arches and tall flat columns divide the limestone front. Small plaques shaped like open books sit between the words along the roofline. Inside, the present community collection brings together writing and histories about Harlem and African American culture.
NYFE summary from the official history and visitor sources linked below.
Plan a visit
Check the operator’s current opening, admission and access information before travelling. Historic status does not guarantee public access to every interior.
Official visitor information ↗