Supersized Library

Earlier this week I braved the rain and took a trip to the library on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in New York City, USA.  It’s also know as the Stephen A. Schwarrzman Building and as you can see it’s MASSIVE:

If you like the lions you’ll enjoy the lions made out of Lego inside:

I also found a famous bear in the children’s section:

But did they ever have an elephant come to visit? (we did!)

Network

New York library is part of a network of 91 libraries throughout the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island. Leith Library is part of a network of 31 Libraries across Leith, Edinburgh and Portobello.

Age

The Stephen A. Schwarrzman Building is 100 years old, 20 years older than us here at Leith.

Blogging

We’re the first library in Edinburgh to have our own blog but the Edinburgh City Libraries network has a blog too – taleofonecity.

In New York they have 40 blogs, no joke! A blog for teachers, a blog in Spanish, a blog on food and one on hand-made crafts. There’s one for teens, one about faith and one on jazz.

But do they ever blog about their staff dancing with hula-hoops?

Social Media

They’re on twitter (@nypl) and whole host of other social media platforms but so are we!

Facilities

They have a shop, phone boxes and a cafe. Computer rooms, exhibition spaces and loads of toilets.

But do they have a veggie market?

Ceilings

They have paintings on the ceilings and ornate light fittings!

But we have an Edinburgh Sketcher sketch on the wall:

(I know which I prefer)

Children

The children’s area is relatively small considering the size of the library.

Just a little bit bigger than our children’s section but ours takes up around a quarter of our library!

Final Thoughts

So the library in New York is an amazing place and well worth a visit but hey, I’m glad to be back in Leith.

If you want to know more about what I was up to in New York you can read about it on my blog here.