Tour: The New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

Discover the flagship building of The New York Public Library—one of the world’s great libraries. Our docent-led tours are an excellent way to see highlights of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the landmark location on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street that houses the Library’s outstanding research collections in the humanities and social sciences. A magnificent example of the Beaux-Arts style of architecture, this library has symbolized the democratic ideal of free and open access to knowledge since it opened to the public in 1911. Official tours are the only way to get group access to many of the Library’s must-see spaces—including the historic Rose Main Reading Room.

Book now for our free one-hour building tour highlighting the history, architecture, and collections of this magnificent Beaux-Arts building. Each tour is restricted to 25 people. Please email visitorexperience@nypl.org with any questions or concerns.

On the day of your tour, you'll want to check in for the experience at the Information Desk in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building Center. Please arrive at least 5 minutes before the stated tour time. Any ticket holders arriving 10 minutes or more past the stated start time will forfeit their spot.

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to ensure maximum availability for the building tours, Group Tours must be booked separately. Any group attempting to circumvent this policy will have their tickets canceled.

Delve deeper into the Library’s collections, exhibitions, and resources, including the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures, with our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.

Discover The New York Public Library.

Don't forget to visit our World-Class Exhibition: The Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures

Located in Gottesman Hall, we offer tours of our renowned Treasures Exhibit twice per day:

Monday-Saturday 12:30pm and 3:30pm

Sunday- 1:30 and 3:30pm

Prior reservation is not required, simply inquire at the exhibition entrance