About the Roosevelt Island Library

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The Roosevelt Island branch of The New York Public Library opened in a new 5,200-square-foot location in January 2021, down the street from the previous library. The space, in a former school, offers the community much-needed space, including dedicated areas for kids and teens, a community room for programs, and up-to-date technology.

It all began in 1976, when Dorothy and Herman Reade of Forest Hills, Queens, retired to Roosevelt Island and made it their goal to create a community library. The one-room Roosevelt Island Community Library, run solely by volunteers, served residents for 20 years and was located at 524 Main Street. In 1998, Roosevelt Island Library became the 85th branch of The New York Public Library, and patrons have access to the full contents of NYPL’s network. 

Since then, the branch has attracted an ever-growing, diverse community of users who enjoy a wide range of materials, programs, and services — including weekly Toddler Story Time and Baby Story Time programs, computer classes, and our Thursday morning Knitting and Crochet Group. The branch offers a wide range of book discussions including classical and contemporary.

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Community District Information

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