The New York Public Library

Spanish writer Irene Vallejo shows us around the New York Public Library, one of the city’s most treasured institutions. Founded in 1895, it houses more than 56 million items and is currently the most visited library in the world.

Originally envisioned as “a free library and reading room in the city of New York” by its main promoter, Samuel J. Tilden, The New York Public Library has been headquartered at its landmark 5th Avenue, Beaux-Arts building since 1911.

Commissioned to up-and-coming firm Carrère and Hastings ten years prior, the place soon became known for its distinctive marble façade and unprecedented logistical complexity; in 1910, 75 million miles of shelves were needed in order to store the library’s collections.

Since its inception in the early 20th century, the Library has opened 92 branches all across Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island. Among its services are English, technology and literacy classes, as well as free exhibitions and a plethora of online resources for users around the world.

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