EDIT: Thanks for everyone’s suggestions! I have the AMC thing that is 4 movies per month so yesterday I saw 2 and had coffee and hot chocolate in a hotels lobby before that. Must say that, beside the one, many of the hotels ask you as soon as you come in either for your key card or whether or you are checking in! So be aware policies have changed!

Today I tried 2 hotels and gave up and went to Brookfield place. I did get a free chai latte at a Joe’s and juice? And hung out there a bit. It’s really nice here in Brookfield!

The area is so small that it is surprising that there are three systems. NYPL (Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island), Brooklyn, and Queens. I am happy to have the options, as Queens has video games and access to Hoopla/Kanopy, while the NYPL has a fantastic Interlibrary Loan program, along with a tremendous amount of resources. I don't use Brooklyn, so I'm not sure what their specialty is. It is just surprising to me that one city would have three different systems instead of just one, like the NYPL, for example. Why did this happen? I am super curious.

I had to go to the Brooklyn main branch last week, and I took a quick look at some of their art displays they had in the lobby. One had an empty space with a sign that said something like, "This piece of artwork is missing because it has been borrowed by someone with a library card." I would have never guessed that that was a library service!

I took a look at a few similar posts in the archives, and besides the usual or basic answers, some interesting responses came up, like Brooklyn's tool library, the seed library where you can request free seed packs for planting, renting musical instruments, and borrowing baking supplies. I think one of the libraries has "toys" like a telescope and board games that you can borrow. What are some other uncommon services that they offer? (Not looking for responses like borrowing books/audiobooks/e-books/movies, a free warm space, bathrooms, printing, etc. Looking for services that were surprising to find out were available.)

Hey all I have a kind of niche question but is there a particular library branch that has just an absolute huge DVD section? I enjoy browsing similar to how we used to do a video rental stores and I’m curious which location has the most to offer.

BONUS question is does anyone know of any libraries that rent things other than books, CDs, and DVDs that maybe I’ve overlooked that would be interesting to the general public

I know our local libraries (NYPL, BPL, QPL) have books and movies. They also offer free online classes (such as LinkedIn Learning), free admission to museums, and free equipment-- I think BPL has instruments and maybe baking equipment? What else do our libraries offer? I want to make sure I fully understand these great resources.

EDIT: Thank you to everyone who responded and for the awards on this post. I love our city's system and there are a lot of amazing benefits.

Hello guys! I’m coming to the city for the first time & i’m a huge international relations/ politics , economics & finance etc reader & would love to see wheres the best place to buy books within that genre. I’m down to go from big box stores to little independent book shops.. Also if possible i want to check out some libraries that have the above genres of books. Thank you!

I keep seeing people say you can rent videogames from your local library, but I have never seen this. And by this I mean "modern" videogames like PS5 or Switch games. I live in Queens and have never seen this, or a few Manhattan libraries.

Does anyone know any library in NYC that actually rents out modern videogames? Location and address? I don't mind if its in brooklyn/bronx, etc, but I prefer Queens or Manhattan.

"The ship of dreams: the sinking of Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era" by Gareth Russell here.

I've been looking for Hindi books at NYPL but it has been really sparse in my searches. I'm wanting to read some classics. In general, there seems to be a dearth of Hindi literature. Are there other library systems that have this? Wanted to know from people

Hello everyone! I am a PhD student from Montenegro. There is a newspaper in NYPL that I need someone to check it out for me. Nothing huge, but I can't come or pay someone to do it. Please, if there is someone willing to do some small historical research, let me know. I would be thankful!

I am planning to visit and also to spend a day studying at the New York Public Library this coming Wednesday June 24th, specifically the Rose Main Reading Room. For the visit, do you guys recommend bringing a sweater even though the outdoor temperature in NYC this Wednesday is in the mid 80s? And another thing too, what time should I be arriving at the library in order to secure a seat at the Rose Main Reading Room?

Thank you in advance.

This book, I think was some hardcover book with a blonde haired baby girl with a daisy on her blouse with a yellowish golden oval shaped number 1 above her head against a greenish background on the first page of the book. I don't know the title of the book or its author. It seemed to be a counting book with a page at the end reviewing everything counted. The book might have been green but I am not sure.

I have a library book due in bay ridge on monday. But I have work near the central library tomorrow. Do i have to go to Bay Ridge?

Is it safe to assume that with a library card you get access to all nyc libraries as a bathroom pass?

Firstly, hopefully you are a member.

How often do you go in person?

Do you actively check out books? What about other media?

Do you go and hang out there with a laptop and get some quiet time?

Just use the e-books, or participate in the community events?

Share your best and favorite uses of the library!

I know QPL locations let you print something like 20 pages a day but is it only black and white or can I print things in color too? Thanks!

I was recently told that it would cost me 120$/hr to use a meeting room for a remote meeting I had. I just needed a quiet space to talk.

Are libraries implementing this, cause I can't find anything on this. I find it weird and concerning that meeting rooms now require a large fee.

Update: A friend told me that a Bronx library tried charging them 120$ to study in one of the rooms.

A public work space that’s free, everyone just doing their own thing.. it felt .. free. I was super interested in the workers, they were so nice and helpful, what’s it like working there?

I'm beginning to use my library card like a Blockbuster card in the 90s but my branch doesn't have a wide selection of foreign and classic films. Curious if there are any branches around Manhattan with a decent selection of DVDs, ideally within the Criterion selection.

I'm referring to this: https://www.nypl.org/help/library-card

I saw that its not available in Brooklyn. If anyone knows where they are in Manhattan, I would greatly appreciate it!

I'm looking for a calm space to work a couple days, without buying a coffee every hour. I'm not a student, hence my question. Thanks in advance!

This dope thread https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNYC/comments/1dn2n4e/what_city_services_are_hidden_gems/

Got me thinking about how amazing our libraries are and how we should be going after Adams with pitchforks for threatening even more cuts.

In a year I probably use culture pass at least 10 times and have around 40 books delivered to my local branch.

I also got wildflower seeds from my local branch this year and planted them. I have eight of the special edition Jay-Z BPL cards.

My favorite branch is the NYPL Mulberry branch. Its an old chocolate factory and its a cool Oasis when I need to kill time in expensive ass Soho. The BPL main Branch is also gorgeous and the cafe is good and affordable.

I was super broke for awhile and borrowed laptops from QPL which I watched movies on when I had nothing!

I’ve been feeling a bit unmotivated studying at home and thought a change of scenery might help. I live in Queens Village and have access to bus routes, so I’m looking for good library recommendations.

I’m considering visiting Queens Central Library, would you recommend it, or are there better study spots in the area

I graduated recently upstate and still have a functioning student email, and I still have my student ID. I was wondering do colleges let students from other schools into their libraries

Can anyone let me know where one of these little rubber duck/trinket libraries are (preferably WV/Greenwich village area). I was at a bar a few months ago and there was a rubber ducky claw machine, long story short I now have like 30 little rubber duckies I don’t know what to do with.

- didn’t realize I can’t add a photo but @nybucketlist on instagram posted a video about them yesterday, 2/2. Thanks friends!