NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

Built in 1911, the N.Y. Public Library is, like Grand Central, one of New York's most beautiful Beaux-Arts buildings. It is also one of the largest public libraries in the world. Flanked by two carved lions, dubbed "Patience and Fortitude" by Mayor LaGuardia in 1930, in recognition of the qualities New Yorkers had to demonstrate during the Great Depression, its imposing staircases are a favorite meeting place for New Yorkers. The building's interior, spanning the equivalent of two blocks, is grandiose, and the atmosphere considerably less staid than at the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris. A short stay in New York may not be the right time to delve into the city's archives, but a visit to the Public Library is a must, for the beauty of its reading rooms alone. On the first floor, the Newspaper Room (thousands of periodicals published in over a hundred countries) is decorated with thirteen beautiful murals depicting New York's major buildings; on the top floor, the Rose Main Reading Room (closed for over 2 years for renovations), is the jewel in the crown; the computer consoles now blend perfectly with the beautiful wooden furniture and original bronze lamps. A guided tour of the library takes in the following sections: maps, economics, law, art, architecture, photography, microfilm, American history, rare manuscripts, Jewish, Slavic, Baltic and Oriental cultures and civilizations... Several exhibitions punctuate the life of this venerable establishment throughout the year, in each of the following four locations: the Gottesman Exhibition Hall, the Berg Exhibition Room, the Edna B. Solomon Room and the third-floor galleries. For the record, remember the very first scene in the film Ghostbusters when the three scientists, frightened by an evil monster, flee from a library. This scene was filmed here. As in all libraries, silence is golden and photography is forbidden in certain rooms. If you venture into Gottesman Hall, on the first floor, you'll discover a fascinating permanent exhibition and, among the treasures on display, you'll meet the real Winnie the Pooh! This is the stuffed animal that inspired author A.A. Milne. Winnie and all his friends were in fact the stuffed animals of his son, Christopher Robin. Tigger and Piglet can be discovered alongside Winnie.