by The New York Public Library
Photo: GuardianKC · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Families come for free story times and sing-alongs for the youngest readers, while school-age kids use the space for reading, computers and homework after class. Housed in a landmark Victorian Gothic former courthouse with a clock tower, it is one of the most striking places in the city to share a story time.
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Hours vary by day; see the branch page on nypl.org for current hours and this season's story time calendar.
Free; library card is free. Check individual program listings for any registration.
Pick a date to add it to your plans.
All ages.
Free; library card is free. Check individual program listings for any registration.
Hours vary by day; see the branch page on nypl.org for current hours and this season's story time calendar.
425 Avenue of the Americas, 10011, in Greenwich Village, Manhattan.
Yes. Jefferson Market Library is indoors, so it works on rainy or cold days.
The children's area stocks board books through middle-grade novels, and librarians lead free story times plus seasonal activities like Summer Reading. Tucked beside the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center and its park, this West Village branch reopened in 2024 after a temporary closure and is a handy stop near the neighborhood's playgrounds.
This specialized library lends braille, large-print and talking books, making it a key resource for kids who are blind, have low vision, or have print disabilities. Families can also find accessible reading programs and help choosing formats that fit their child.
Families come for free story times and sing-alongs for the youngest readers, while school-age kids use the space for reading, computers and homework after class. A Chelsea Carnegie branch that normally offers a children's area and family programs; it is currently listed as closed.
Kids can pick out picture books, early readers and graphic novels, and the branch runs NYPL's free early-literacy story times for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Opened in 1884, it is Manhattan's oldest branch library building, and its children's collection draws East Village families.
Little ones can join lapsit and toddler story times that mix songs, rhymes and books, and older kids can borrow books, use computers and get help finding homework resources. Built inside a former chocolate factory, this downtown branch spreads over several levels with a dedicated space for children.
Kids can pick out picture books, early readers and graphic novels, and the branch runs NYPL's free early-literacy story times for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. A bright, multi-floor branch near Gramercy where kids have their own area for browsing and quiet homework.