{"id":438669,"date":"2025-12-10T21:55:35","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T21:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/438669\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T21:55:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T21:55:35","slug":"best-libraries-in-new-york-for-kids-new-york-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/438669\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Libraries in New York for Kids \u2013 New York Family"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"LittleA young reader gathers her picks for the day at one of NYC\u2019s kid-friendly libraries
\nBest Libraries in New York for Kids<\/p>\n

We might be living in the digital age, but nothing beats taking your child to a really good library. When I was a kid, well before electronics ruled our lives, I was always fascinated by how you could transform your mind and knowledge just by absorbing all that the library had to offer. When I became a mom, I took my kids to the library weekly, long before they could read.<\/p>\n

One of the best memories we have is spending an hour or two at a local library, enjoying one of their many toddler and preschool classes, and then frollicking around the various sections before coming home with piles of books, settling in, and thumbing through them at home. Plus, now, late fees no longer exist, so it\u2019s a win-win!<\/p>\n

So many libraries are kid-centric and just the right amount of fun and insight to open up little minds to help them focus on creativity and knowledge \u2026 and have a lot of fun while doing it.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the best libraries in New York for kids!<\/p>\n

53rd Street Library<\/a>
\n18 W 53rd St.
New York, NY 10019
212-714-8400
Open Mon-Sat, 11 am- 6 pm
Subway Lines: D, E, F, M<\/p>\n

The 53rd Street Library is one of those city secrets in Midtown that can get overlooked. It\u2019s bright and modern, and there are lots of fun, art-inspired programs and events throughout the year. And a big plus is that it\u2019s right next to MoMA!<\/p>\n

They have a nice mix of books for kids, teens, and adults, plus popular fiction, large-print titles, DVDs, CDs, and plenty of tech, along with 68 computers, including 46 laptops.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a Children\u2019s Room and a Teen Zone. If you can\u2019t make it out, there is a Live Virtual Toddler Storytime<\/a> and plenty of in-person classes like Toddler Time, Family Storytime, Young Readers Book Club, Lego & Coloring Hour, and Baby Lapsit.<\/p>\n

Psst\u2026 Check Out 14 Great Books for Kids to Curl Up With <\/strong>This Winter<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Mulberry Street Library<\/a>
\n10 Jersey St.
New York, NY 10012
(212) 966-3424
Mon & Wed 11 am\u20137 pm, Tue & Thu 10 am\u20137 pm, Fri & Sat 10 am\u20135 pm
Subway Lines: A, C, E, J, Z, 6<\/p>\n

You may have walked around the Mulberry Street library a few times without even realizing that this quiet library exists right in the middle of SoHo, and in a location that used to be a chocolate factory. The first floor has DVDs, CDs, and the latest book releases. Beneath that, the building extends down into two basement levels, which is a favorite spot of many locals. On the second floor is the children\u2019s section, and the third floor has more books for adults. There\u2019s also an elevator, so strollers and little ones can easily get around without you having to lug everything up and down stairs. Classes for kids, like Little Movers Storytime<\/a> and Drop-in Crafternoon<\/a>, and also for teens, too.<\/p>\n

Battery Park City Branch<\/a>
\n175 North End Ave.
New York, NY 10282
212-790-3499
Mon & Wed 10 am\u20136 pm, Tue & Thu 11 am\u20137 pm, Fri & Sat 10 am\u20135 pm
Subway Lines: 1, 4, 5, C, E, W<\/p>\n

The Battery Park City Library is Manhattan\u2019s first green, LEED-certified NYPL branch. It is a bright and eco-friendly spot. There is a dedicated children\u2019s reading area, while teens and adults can enjoy their own specified spaces. There\u2019s also a multipurpose room for classes and programs, plus 19 public computers and plenty of resources for studying.\u00a0 There are also teen and kids classes like Baby Art!<\/a>, storytime, and Teen Open Hours<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Children\u2019s Room at the Poets House<\/a>
\n10 River Terrace
New York, NY
(212) 431-7920
Open Tues. \u2013 Fri. 11 am \u2013 7 pm & Sat 11 am \u2013 6 pm
Subway Lines: A, C, 1, 2, 3<\/strong><\/p>\n

This cozy spot by the Hudson is a great way to break from the usual library routine. The space is built to spark creativity. Kids can curl up with books, play with language, try old-school typewriters, or dig through a wooden card catalog filled with fun writing prompts. Workshops and events make poetry feel simple and inviting for kids ages 4\u201310, plus there\u2019s Tiny Poets Time for toddlers.<\/p>\n

Ottendorfer Library<\/a>
\n135 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10003
212-674-0947
Mon\u2013Thu 11\u202fam\u20137\u202fpm, Fri\u2013Sat 10\u202fam\u20135\u202fpm, Sun closed
Subway Lines: F, L, 6, R, W<\/p>\n

The children\u2019s floor at Ottendorfer in the East Village is a bright, welcoming space where kids can read a ton of books, play with toys and new technology, and let their imaginations run. There is a cozy story-hour room, a roomy reading area, and kid-friendly computer stations.<\/p>\n

\"BestThe Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library
\nThe Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library\u00a0<\/a>
\n455 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10016
212-340-0863
Mon\u2013Thu 9 am\u20138 pm, Fri 9 am\u20136 pm, Sat 10 am\u20135 pm, Sun 11 am\u20135 pm
Subway Lines: B, D, F, M, 4, 5, 6, 7<\/p>\n

Everyone knows the famous New York Public Library\u2019s flagship Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue, complete with the stunning statues and pillars outside, but there\u2019s so much more for kids right across the street. Located in the former Mid-Manhattan Library Building, this redesigned library has eight floors and nearly half a million books. The new Children\u2019s Center and Teen Center offer everything families need in one spot, including computers, plenty of books, dedicated programming rooms, podcast studios, and cozy reading nooks designed to be especially helpful for kids who need quiet spaces. There\u2019s a kid-friendly book sorter where they can drop their returns into a slot and watch the conveyor belt whisk them away to the right bin.<\/p>\n

Brooklyn Heights Library<\/a>
\n\u200b\u200b286 Cadman Plaza W., Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 623-7100
Mon 10\u20136, Tue 1\u20138, Wed 10\u20136, Thu 10\u20138, Fri 10\u20136, Sat 10\u20135, Sun 1\u20135
Subway Lines: 2, 3, 4, 5, R<\/p>\n

Though Brooklyn Heights is a busy, fast-paced hub, this library is surprisingly community-centered. The children\u2019s library at Brooklyn Heights Library is typically crowded with lots of infants and toddlers so there is typically an opportunity for your kid and you to socialize. Plus, there are dedicated areas for children and teens, and lots of fun-inetractive, and creative classes for both.<\/p>\n

Harlem Library<\/a>
\n9 West 124th St.
New York, NY 10027
212-348-5620
Mon\u2013Thu 11\u202fam\u20137\u202fpm, Fri\u2013Sat 10\u202fam\u20135\u202fpm, Sun 1\u202fpm\u20135\u202fpm
Subway Lines: 2, 3, A, B, C, D, 4, 5, 6<\/p>\n

The new Children\u2019s Center and Teen Center offer computers, books, programming rooms, podcast studios, and quiet reading nooks designed for kids who need calm spaces. Kids can even drop their returns into a fun book-sorting slot and watch the conveyor belt send them to the right bin. The expanded Teen Center at Harlem Library is a great place for teens to explore tech skills and get creative, with free programs and events, video and gaming gear, photography equipment, digital media tools, a 3-D printer, art and design supplies, and workspaces for projects or homework.<\/p>\n

\"OneThe George Bruce Library in Harlem
\nNew Amsterdam Library<\/a>
\n9 Murray St.
New York, NY 10007
212-732-8186
Mon\u2013Thu 10\u20137, Fri-Sat 10\u20135, Sun closed
Subway Lines: A, C, E, N, R, 2, 3<\/p>\n

In another surprise library that you might now be aware of, the New Amsterdam branch of the New York Public Library sits on the ground floor of an office building just a block from City Hall. It\u2019s a hidden gem for families in Lower Manhattan, offering a compact yet bright, welcoming space where kids can dive into books. The dedicated children\u2019s area is stocked with a great mix of titles, and there are interactive learning stations that keep little ones engaged. Regular programs like Family Storytime and Family Game Hour, make it a go-to spot for parents looking for something fun, enriching, and easy to do with their kids.<\/p>\n

George Bruce Library<\/a>
\n518 West 125th St.
New York, NY 10027
212-662-9727
Mon\u2013Thu 12\u202fpm\u20137\u202fpm; Fri\u2013Sat 11\u202fam\u20136\u202fpm; Sun closed
Subway Lines: 2, 3, A, B, C, D<\/p>\n

The George Bruce Library has a spacious Children\u2019s Room where kids can read, study, and explore. The library also hosts cultural programs for all ages in its auditorium. Renovations added a new entrance, an elevator for wheelchair access, updated computers, and modern furnishings. Classes include Game On!: Video Games<\/a>, Family Storytime<\/a>, and Open Play Date<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Adams Street Library<\/a>
\n9 Adams St. (between John and Plymouth)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Mon. 10\u20136, Tue 1\u20138, Wed 10\u20136, Thu 10\u20138, Fri 10\u20136, Sat 10\u20135, Sun closed
Subway Lines: A, C, 2, 3, 4, 5<\/p>\n

Until the Adams Street Library opened in 2021, Brooklyn families in DUMBO, Vinegar Hill, and Farragut didn\u2019t have a local neighborhood library branch. BPL set out to fix that, creating a brand-new space designed with the community in mind, a place where kids, teens, and adults all have what they need under one roof. They\u2019ve got plenty of books, of course, but now they also host a steady lineup of kids\u2019 and teens\u2019 programs, from Toddler Time and Babies & Books to Tween & Teen Create Space and even the Brooklyn Robotics League.<\/p>\n

\"OneThe Belmont Library in the Bronx
\nBelmont Library<\/a>
\n610 East 186th St.
Bronx, NY 10458
718-933-6410
Mon\u2013Fri, 10\u202fam\u20136\u202fpm, Sat 10\u202fam\u20135\u202fpm, Sun. closed
Subway Lines: 2, 4, 5, 6<\/p>\n

The Belmont Branch offers three floors of books, learning resources, and engaging programs for kids, teens, and families. Children and tweens can borrow STEAM Discovery Kits to explore robotics, coding, engineering, and more at home. Programs include Little Movers Storytime and Open Play, Book-Themed Crafts, Chess Padawans, Anime Club, and Gamers United.<\/p>\n

Children\u2019s Library Discovery Center<\/a>
\n8911 Merrick Blvd.
Jamaica, NY 11432
Sun, 12\u202fpm\u20135\u202fpm, Mo.\u2013Thu 9\u202fam\u20139\u202fpm, Fri\u2013Sat 9\u202fam\u20137\u202fpm
Subway Lines: E, F, J, Z<\/p>\n

The Children\u2019s Library Discovery Center lets kids be kids and has a lot of hands-on fun for children ages 3\u201312. There are interactive exhibits, fun labs, and guidance from the Discovery Team. The library also offers the PowerKids Life Science<\/a> database, a kid-focused resource made for students in grades 3\u20136 to help with homework, research, and science.<\/p>\n

Did you know?<\/p>\n

The main New York Public Library and flagship\u00a0Stephen A. Schwarzman Building <\/a>in Midtown is a gorgeous research library filled with reading rooms, exhibits, and rare collections, but it\u2019s not a lending library, so everything you use has to stay inside.<\/p>\n

If you love books and would prefer to own them rather than rent them out, you\u2019ll want to visit\u00a0 the most famous bookstore in NYC, The Strand Bookstore at 828 Broadway in Manhattan. This legendary Union Square spot has been around since 1927 and is home to an incredible \u201c18 Miles of Books\u201d which equates to 2.5 million new, used, and rare titles all under one roof.<\/p>\n

Psst\u2026 Check Out Festive New Holiday Books for <\/strong>Kids 2025<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Sign<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A young reader gathers her picks for the day at one of NYC\u2019s kid-friendly libraries Best Libraries in…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":438670,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,202740,202741,3716,405,403,5226,5225,5228,5227,202739,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-438669","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-best-libraries-in-new-york-for-kids","10":"tag-libraries-for-kids-nyc","11":"tag-library","12":"tag-new-york","13":"tag-new-york-city","14":"tag-newyork","15":"tag-newyorkcity","16":"tag-ny","17":"tag-nyc","18":"tag-nyc-libraries","19":"tag-united-states","20":"tag-united-states-of-america","21":"tag-unitedstates","22":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","23":"tag-us","24":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115697506392024743","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=438669"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438669\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/438670"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=438669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=438669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=438669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}