Manhattan · NYC landmark
Tompkins Square Library
331 East 10th Street · Manhattan, New York City
A library shaped by immigrant neighborhoods carries printing-history symbols on its carved front.
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NYFE Summary
This branch began as a storefront library in the Aguilar Free Library system. Its readers have included German, Italian, Jewish, Polish and Ukrainian communities. Since the 1960s, it has also served the neighborhood’s artists.
Carvings above the windows refer to historic printers and the City of New York. Open books decorate the band near the roof. Tall arched windows bring daylight into the reading rooms, a practical part of the library’s original design.
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 ↗