Library Way
Library Way
4.5
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Murray Hill
How to get there
- 5th Ave • 3 min walk
- Grand Central – 42nd St • 4 min walk
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4.5
20 reviews
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9
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0
mutguy
Singapore, Singapore188 contributions
Jun 2022 • Solo
I had chanced upon this series of bronze plaques which are laid into the pavement along E 41st Street (Park Avenue E 41st Street) leading up to the New York Public Library. Each plaque has a literary quote inscribed.
The best way to enjoy this is to sloooowwww down. Look down and stop. Read them one by one and if one speaks to you, take a photo.
If you are walking westwards from the UN headquarters or Chrysler Building or Grand Central Terminal towards Bryant Park or Midtown, I would suggest using E 41st Street for a different experience.
The best way to enjoy this is to sloooowwww down. Look down and stop. Read them one by one and if one speaks to you, take a photo.
If you are walking westwards from the UN headquarters or Chrysler Building or Grand Central Terminal towards Bryant Park or Midtown, I would suggest using E 41st Street for a different experience.
Written 7 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liz B
Peabody, MA36 contributions
Feb 2020
We had just left the main library building and were heading to lunch, when my sister pointed out Library Way. Even though we were walking in the opposite direction from the way the plaques in the walkway are installed, we still took time to stop and read them. Some of them are very inspiring, and the etched "stones" are amazing.
Written 7 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
trvlfun
Long Island, NY166 contributions
Aug 2014 • Friends
One of the things I love most about New York City is that there is almost always a new discovery waiting around a corner, if you only take the time to notice it. It is even more pleasing when the only investment required to enjoy the discovery is a little time.
We were on our way to meet friends for a Sunday brunch and were walking across town, heading east, on 41st Street. The area we were traversing is mostly commercial (office buildings, etc.), so it was quiet. When we chanced to look down at the sidewalk, we realized that every few feet there was a bronze piece of art, with writing, embedded in the sidewalk. We stopped, went back to where they started and read them, one by one.
It turns out that the official name of the street art installation is 'Library Way,' and it was created through a collaboration between the New York City Library and the Grand Central Partnership, The artistry of the plaques is beautiful and the quotes pay homage to some of the world's great literary minds.
I should point out that you might be hampered by the work crowd if you try to read these during business hours - New Yorkers tend to move purposefully along the sidewalks in midtown. I suggest a weekend visit or, if you only have a little time in the city and want to see this, go to the area before or after peak hours. I also read that the creators suggest that you start the walk heading west, which will make it a little easier to follow.
We were on our way to meet friends for a Sunday brunch and were walking across town, heading east, on 41st Street. The area we were traversing is mostly commercial (office buildings, etc.), so it was quiet. When we chanced to look down at the sidewalk, we realized that every few feet there was a bronze piece of art, with writing, embedded in the sidewalk. We stopped, went back to where they started and read them, one by one.
It turns out that the official name of the street art installation is 'Library Way,' and it was created through a collaboration between the New York City Library and the Grand Central Partnership, The artistry of the plaques is beautiful and the quotes pay homage to some of the world's great literary minds.
I should point out that you might be hampered by the work crowd if you try to read these during business hours - New Yorkers tend to move purposefully along the sidewalks in midtown. I suggest a weekend visit or, if you only have a little time in the city and want to see this, go to the area before or after peak hours. I also read that the creators suggest that you start the walk heading west, which will make it a little easier to follow.
Written 20 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lolly’s Look
New York City, NY15,009 contributions
Dec 2019
To find Library Way, you need to approach the Library from the east on 41st Street. The walkway contains literary quotes along the pathway.
Written 12 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
emme45
Holmdel, NJ1,302 contributions
Nov 2018 • Friends
When walking from the east to the NY Public Library, look down and you travel a journey of quotes and thoughts. A hidden gem!
Written 12 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
milliesmum2016
Christchurch, New Zealand1,771 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
This is such a charming and quite moving collection of quotes and inspiration from the world's great writers and thinkers. Look up and you'll miss it because it's all set flush with the pavement on 41st Street leading east away from the Library steps. Here they are.....
Written 10 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Larry C
4,259 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
We were at Grand Central Terminal and looking for the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (NYPL Main Branch)
We saw the sign for Library Way and began walking west along 41st street. We soon discovered that every few feet there was a bronze piece of art, with writing, embedded in the sidewalk....a celebration of the world’s great literature brought to you by the Grand Central Partnership and the New York Public Library.
Sculptor: Gregg LeFevre. 1998.
We saw the sign for Library Way and began walking west along 41st street. We soon discovered that every few feet there was a bronze piece of art, with writing, embedded in the sidewalk....a celebration of the world’s great literature brought to you by the Grand Central Partnership and the New York Public Library.
Sculptor: Gregg LeFevre. 1998.
Written 18 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dgdssdish d
Charlottetown, Canada1,172 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
Stop and read the plaques on the sidewalk leading into the library. The can be hard to read when it is busy but worth the effort. Imaging how many feet have passed over them.
Written 7 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Summerasalifestyle
Malibu, CA3,550 contributions
Oct 2017 • Solo
You’re already here and on your way to the library.
Slow down and read the plaques.
Stop and think about the ideas.
Slow down and read the plaques.
Stop and think about the ideas.
Written 7 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bernardo F
New York City, NY15,137 contributions
Sept 2017 • Friends
It's the street leading up to the library, and you can check out all the bronze plaques on the sidewalk for interesting building information or art type references for the city. Very interesting!
Written 11 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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