Reviews of Battery Park City Library (Library)

Sheena Biznass

I can never find anything I'm looking for at this library and it always smells like urine. And the service is horrible. I usually go to the library on Murray Street but I don't know when they'll be open again. I can't stand this place.

Labiba Chowdhury

Librarians are nice and helpful. It's only noisy in the children's section, but its pretty quiet everywhere else.

Alvaro Neira

It is good to have a library in the area. It is small, so better to go there in the off hours. The top floor is more quiet. The seats are comfortable.

Roderick Eime

Thank you to the kind staff you let me use the phone. You helped a stranger in need. :)

Allan MacLeod

Smells like pee and has poor climate control. It is way too muggy to concentrate here.

Paul Osorio

pros: nice , good working stations , good Wi-Fi, close to shopping centrer, close to train station and great interior design. cons: small, full of children, close too early.

Bruno de Roquefeuil

Nice local library. Indeed noisy on the children section, but quiet on the other side. Their working tables are nice with electricity for a laptop.

Brendan Helldorfer

Went because I needed a quiet place to study. Found someone playing guitar inside, didn't realize it was NYC public recording stuido... Trash place do not go.

Marvelous Huerta

Awful library. Filled with noise & air pollution, unprofessional staff, out of service computer that have been that way for months and months. This place was sort of a gem when it was first opened back in 2010. But has ever since been a horrible in every aspect of a library. I recommend staying away from this place.

Amanda C.

It's a good library the reason why I give it 3 stars is because every time I enter, it always smell like poop! Before it didn't use to smell like a few years ago, but now I have no idea why they're are not doing anything about that smell

Maxwell Gordon

By far, one of the WORST libraries within the New York Public library system. I went looking for an adult fiction read and found children’s in the shelf. The library is extremely noisy and the staff seems to care less in ways of controlling it. It seems to be poorly managed, which is a shame because the interior of the library is really nice. I found other libraries I’ve visited, that although may not be as modern as this place, to be better organized. It’s a shame that the all of the funding that public libraries receive, there is a place such as poor organized as this.

Joseph Weiss

Nice intimate library.

salvatore rasa

Excellent staff and management. Wonderful place of learning for children. All people are treated with dignity. Public libraries are a hub of democracy and this place certainly is.

Crugie riccio

1 star - it smells like baby diapers. 4 stars - Nice Librarians!

Jorge Suero

Very nice comfortable library

Gala Walling

This is a place where you can spend all day long without even realizing that.

Monte Smith

Nice location right by the Hudson river. Smells good and is clean.

Len Yeh

Small, mediocre library with a medium amount of seating for laptop users. There are very few bathrooms, which can cause a bit of a wait. There aren't that many libraries in this area though, so if you're looking for a quiet place to work, it does the job. The surrounding area outside of the library is relatively quiet to take phone calls.

J R

Very loud library....homeless people hang out here. Good librarians...but some get obnoxious in the last 15min of the day....Alot of crying babies since nanny groups meet up here.

Roli Garg

Smaller branch compared to some of the other NYPL branches I have been to. Spent most of my time in the kids section reading books with my 5 yo daughter and the children's books collection was good. Bathrooms were clean.

Isaac Lee

too many kids sometimes

David Q. Lee

Smells. Too bad. Has so much potential

tish glos

Came here to pick up a book and spent a couple hours doing some work. Someone was eating and the dish made the area smell of canned meat. It was a bit difficult to focus when a couple mentally ill persons were making loud comments. The tables had outlets for electronics and there were two bathrooms upstairs. This library has more modern aesthetics but I don't think I'll be back.

Liz R

attractive setting honestly

Yvette Lokahme

One of the worst libraries in all of nyc. Dirty branch (books scattered about all over the place), unsettling environment. Definitely avoid this library.

Nelson Lai

Upsides: Lots of seating and power plugs available. I guess not many people know about this place yet so it's still fairly easy to find a seat with a power plug. Convenient to do a bit of studying before watching a movie at the Regal Battery Park location. Downsides: SUPER COLD AC! Even the homeless types have a blanket and extra layers on during a heat wave. It's especially cold at the first floor tables at the far inner side, moderately cold in the middle, and okay on the smaller second floor area. Advice: Bring a sweater. Even if it's sweltering 100 degrees F. Bring a sweater or a jacket. The homeless types got it right... you'll see them bundled up in blankets and jackets because they know. Bathrooms are on second floor, and there are only two, so go up there before you really need to go. Note: Rating relative to other NYPL

Vishal Garg

Lots of great classes for kids. Great selection . They frequently have characters (Barney , pooh , babar) come for story time. For all the reviews complaining about kids - grow up , this is a library for community use. It's great they accommodate and create a comfortable place for kids to come and learn.

Valerie Wong

One of the better libraries I've been too. Lots of computers to use and everything is neatlyorganized. Great lighting and modern architecture design. The only issue I have is that they blast the ac in the summer so I recommend bringing a sweater because you'll easily get cold within at least 30 minutes. The bathrooms are cleaner than most libraries I've been to. Does its job at being quiet in the adult area.

J Vyas

Nice libray

Abner Morgan

Nice design, but you'll enjoy it more if you tune out the crying babies. It's easier for me, because I know this going in. There are regular storytimes and kids' activities, so bring noise-canceling headphones. Trust me, you'll need them.

J L

The minute I stepped inside this seemingly nice library I understood why some reviews said it smelled like baby toilets. The smell was so gross I felt like suffocated and had a headache. At first I thought it could be the diaper crowds, but it was after 2pm and didn't see any young kids. Then I noticed the homeless with luggage napping on the library chairs. The all too familiar subway urine smells.

mary charles

The big head african american librarian is soooooo racist...love the convenience of the location but dont like seeing his face and attitude.

Ted Clayton

This is a truly amazing team! They are exceptionally organized, receptive, and attentive. FYI - there are a lot of programs and workshops for children, so keep that in mind.

Tong Jin

Plenty spaces, good wi-fi, nice and clean

Yvonne Jordan

Vey beautiful and has a lot of spaces. But not an ideal place to study

Nick Forte

The worst library in the NYPL system. Plenty of space to study and do work, however, God forbid you try and actually do it. Manhattan is a loud place, and generally, so are other libraries in the NYPL. But this place is crawling with Midwestern transplant dairy curd gentrified children and their stay-at-home mothers that refuse to discipline them. The adolescent screeching echoes throughout the entire building. If you must do work here, my sincerest condolences.

tnowrin1

Great place to study. But they blast their AC to the max, bring a fat jacket cause you’ll be freezing to death!!

Horatio Gonzalez

This is a poorly managed library. Unruly staff and crowd. Very rude. And a lot of the positive reviews seem to be from their staff members that are trying to compensate for how horrible this library is.

Louise Mc

I used to like this library, but I have to say after a recent visit that this place has gone to the dumps. I wanted to print out a document, used a computer only to find that the printer was out of order. I asked why wasn't there a sign stating this, and the person behind the counter rudely told me there is one right on the printer. You would think that a library that houses computers for everyday people to use would have a sign posted maybe for people to see before entering the library. Whoever manages this place needs to have a training on management skills or look for another career. This is highly unacceptable New York Public Library, shame on you.

Michael Miceli

The best staff. 16 public computers. Clean bathrooms. Within a football filds length to fantastic food.

Prabhu Baskar

nice place

QIONGJI tang

very nice！Love the librarian who tells the stories for the kids.

Simon Xie

The urine smell was unbearable on the first floor, second floor was a little better. If it wasnt for the smell, this place could easily be a 4 stars because its a nice little library with clean tables and chairs. Not coming back here to study anymore.

Ohad Bar Siman Tov

Looks nice and nice environment unless you go on the days it opens at 12, Tuesday and Thursday. They have a class or something for new mother's so the entire space smells like a baby toilet.

Ru Millef

Great place with a lot of books selection. Plenty of computers availability. Very friendly people who work in this place. Warm in the winter and cool in summer. Close to park where you can take your child/ren when the weather allows. 5stars

marko vuksanovic

Its new and nice !! But kids and babies are screaming so loud ppl are pissed !! It’s almost impossible to read and focus !

Kevin McNeil

Recommended. New, compact library with ample seating, many PCs and an excellent children’s section. Great option post Asphalt Green.

W Veery

Solid Book selection and friendly staff make this a great place to study.

Stephanie

Beautiful views, clean, and updated. I came here regularly back in 2012 and it was great. I guess times are rough 'cause even TriBeCa and Battery Park residents have to use the public library as a nursery school, as some reviewers have already mentioned. They are haughty and entitled; they Please, you are all nothing more than suburban soccer moms, just with more money and affected tastes. I'm giving it 2-stars instead of 1 just because so many NYPL's double as a homeless shelter (glad they have a place to go, though). Though, I suppose doubling as a daycare center is more hygienic.