New York Public Library – Jefferson Market Library

This is one of the two local NYPL branches I work from with my laptop. It is gorgeous and full of light and it is stocked with lots of great books, newspapers and magazines. The only thing it does not have is a public restroom (correction: there is a restroom in the children’s section which can ONLY be used by children and their caretakers but no restroom for adults only) which is annoying if you spend 6+ hours a day working there. That’s why it does not deserve 5 starts, but it is otherwise perfect.

Pretty nice library with awesome building. However, it is not a good place to study for a whole day bc there is no public bathroom. Other than that, it is awesome with many plug ins and quiet atmosphere.

My favorite NYPL. Coolest history, gorgeous building, decent upkeep, tons of space to work, and most importantly: lotssss of books.
When I need a quiet space to work or read, this is my spot. Gorgeous architecture and it’s a beautiful, well lit space.
Helpful employees and volunteers willing to point you in the right direction.
I love to sit and soak up the history of this building; you’ll never want to leave.

By far one of the most gorgeous NYPL I have ever been to.
And no I am not a church person, but the building can be admired by all.
The customer service there is fabulous as well.
And no there is no public restroom here
But all the rest makes this my fave library

I feel so lucky that this is my local branch, best library in the NYPL system for kids and one of the most beautiful. The librarians here are amazing, helpful, nice and brilliant. The head librarian here is great, cares deeply about books, learning and the library itself, he has done an amazing job making it an even more special place.
The children’s librarians are really special, always have great suggestions for any age you ask for. They have really great taste in authors and a great eye for illustrations.
The toddler activities on mondays are better then any paid classes I have found, they read to them and do crafts afterwards. Started taking my daughter at about 10 months and she was as excited then as she is at 3. I cant recomend this library enough for kids and parents alike.

The building and neighborhood are unique. I bring tourists here. Most librarians here are helpful and friendly, (including the manager) but there is one — Latina — probably the shop steward on the 2^nd floor — a really nasty and angry person, who should-​be-​let-​go, but probably can’t-be-let-go. I, a middle class /​lower class person used to give money until I realized the NYPL is simply a public-​private government subsidized big business that only wants rich people’s donations and the government faucet to keep expanding to pay for big salaries and the gold-​plated union benefits. Granted the weird public who get the services for free come in and act uncivilized, many times because I guess since it’s free, they feel entitled to continue (keep sniffling at regular intervals, until I ask them across the table ‘Would you mind blowing your nose?’). The uncouth angry old man staring into his computer exploded saying he had the right to keep sniffling. The NYPL website and reserve system are excellent. The Literacy program I got to know something about at another branch was poorly run, and goes to mostly to indoctrinate and condescend to those poor illiterate folk.

Beautiful library. Great place to work or study. It’s in a good location you can easily reach from the W 4^th stop. Knocking it down one star because there is NO BATHROOM! It is an old building… but no potty is just nuts.

Nice staff! Amazing historic building with some cool stained glass and a circular staircase. It was once something else but now it’s a library. Your tax dollars at work! Use it wisely.

PSA: THERE ARE NO BATHROOMS HERE.
I came here during my work space quest and luckily found a seat at around 4pm on a weekday at the lone, but large, communal quiet table on the 2^nd floor. Seats maybe 24 people around that area and another 10 in a separate group discussion area. Outlets are plentiful and the wifi is great!
People watching. Who comes here?
— iPad-​browsing, Almond Joy lovers (we’re talking an entire pack of «fun-​sized» ones in 10 minutes)
— Loud e-​mail senders. You know that Apple Mail whoosh sound? Maybe hearing it provides a sense of accomplishment or something.
— Children. Their section takes up a good chunk of the library.
Space: The building is indeed beautiful and historic. You can’t help but feel like you’re part of something important as you gaze up into the stained glass windows. Then you remember your earthly needs, pack up quickly, and rush down the circular, somewhat creepy stairs to find a bathroom outside.

This old Latino guy named Toto is beyond rude here, somehow got hired to work with humans. And they have no bathrooms. I know I’m in NYC but geez dude.

Not the biggest or best-​stocked of the NYPL branches, but I’d lay you odds that it’s the prettiest. (Well, main Schwartzman branch excluded.)
As you ascend the stained glass-​lined spiral staircase that leads to the circulation desk, you feel as if you’ve entered some hybrid world of «Harry Potter» and «Beauty and the Beast.»
Don’t miss the chance to climb to the top of the tower, which they offer once a year during Open House NY. It’s worth the wait! The views of the Village are really stunning, and they store the large spider puppet for the annual Halloween parade up there, too.
The staff isn’t exactly warm and fuzzy with their patrons, but the trappings more than make up for it.

Supporting the NYPL is a no brainer, especially with gorgeously restored and maintained buildings such as Jefferson market. The spiral staircase is fitting for your ascension to the main floor. I like the large print and fiction section here. It’s big, but other libraries tend to have more classics on hand than this branch. No wifi. GREAT children’s selection.
Best part: the attached garden outside. Bring your books to a bench in the park on a nice day and you’ll see why there’s no place quite like the west village.

I LOVE this place!!!
It looks like a church on the outside and then you walk in and it looks like you are in a Harry Potter movie! The spiraling staircases, the exposed supporting rocks, the tall windows… It’s beautiful.
They have a great selection of books and cool events happening in the neighborhood. I enjoy going when I need to get work done or study because it’s quiet, the place is kept cool and they have huge working areas. If you are walking by, you should come in and have a look, it’s cool.

Since my last review in May, I’ve changed my mind about this library. I’ve stopped asking the librarians any questions, which has been a huge boon to my general library experience. What is nice about Jefferson Market Library is that the lines are short and the checkout service is quick. (Again, I think this is because they don’t bother to converse with you, or even acknowledge you exist, aside from saying «NEXT!» I guess it’s a pretty efficient system, all things considered.)
The spiral staircase is an interesting feature here — the steps are just low enough to make you think you could take five at a time, but don’t be fooled: the foot-​to-​step ratio is way off and you will just end up falling all over yourself like a fool. My advice is to take each stair one at a time. (Bonus points if you wear clacky shoes and clack all the way up to the second floor. This building has great acoustics so you will have a super time with it.)

Beautiful building
I came in here to get a NYPL card so I can use their eLibrary feature and download eBooks to my iPad.
The service was speedy and the the building was clean and magical!

When asked what are most iconic buildings in New York are, we usually remember the obvious, the big structures and names.
But there are also icons that overlooked sometimes.
One of the most beautiful buildings in New York, Jefferson Market Library never cease to amaze me. Walking down 6^th, you see it in all its Gothic beauty, but if you turn here from Greenwich & W 10^th, Jefferson Market Garden awards you with softer lines and views of the Clock Tower.
Inspired by German Castle, and originally built as courthouse in 1880s, it been a community library since 1967. Rare books, photographs and exhibitions can be found here.
The interior is no less impressive, with vaulted ceilings, spiral staircase and most amazing stained glass windows…
Oasis of beauty and calm in the middle of crazy NY life.
(You do not need a library card to walk around and admire the architecture, btw)

I love to come to this library if only to pretend I’m the Lady of the Manor as I ascend and descend the marble spiral stairs. Everything is on a smaller scale here, from the DVD selection to the craft and cooking, to the downstairs computer and reference center. It’s like a small library inside a mini-​castle, with a somewhat claustrophobic ambience during busy hours. Jefferson Market does not yet have electronic checkout and the line can get long for returns and take out, but does make up for clutter and smallness with charm. Jefferson Market also has the book swap. the first Saturday of the month, bring your books to sway and take what you want. What a great way to get rid of your old books by making sure they end up with people who will cherish them!
This library is so quaint I wish NYPL would take advantage and host fundraising events during the night here.

I have wanted to visit this building for years. The interior wasn’t as assessible as I had hoped. The stained glass windows were very nice, as was the staircase. Bus and subway convenient. Close to Washington Square.

For anyone who has ever dreamed of living in a castle when they were a kid — you should totally do visit the Jefferson Market Lib. Why? Because, in order to get upstairs to the main collection, you have to climb the stairs of a tower. Like a ‘Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair’ type of tower. Ok, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration… but seriously, it’s a tower! And it has huge stone steps, gorgeous stained glass windows and lanterns hanging down to light your way.
It’s an absolutely beauuuutiful library with its old charm and nooks for reading/​studying. And there was plenty to look at. New releases, large stacks of DVDs, etc etc etc.
Any negatives? Unfortunately…
1) The signage is poor. I found no directional signage telling me to go upstairs to the main collection. Couldn’t find any signs for a restroom or elevator either.
2) I stood in line and was ignored by the ladies at the front desk for several minutes. One was showing the other a website or something on the computer. Neither noticed a person standing with a handful of books? Once they did notice me I didn’t even get a «Hi» or «how are you today?» Ugh, rude library staffers.

Nice looking old style library.
The spiral stairs to go up seems to go on forever when you walk up.
Seating area is pretty small, and when there is a seat, it might be taken by a homeless guy.
Only came in because I had a book I needed to return and I was in the area. But don’t see myself coming here because of the small selection of books and dvds.