For this stop of the Virtual Library Road Trip I wanted to visit someplace that looks festive and warm. I came across a list of the 10 Best NYC Christmas Trees That Aren’t in Rockefeller Center, and the very first one on the list is a branch of the New York City Public Library (NYPL)! A lot of contemporary movies romanticize spending Christmas in New York, so while it may not be a place I would want to visit in real life, I think a virtual Christmas visit sounds wonderful.

Library #3: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in New York, New York
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library recently underwent a significant renovation, and now includes more services and features than I could list. One feature that stands out is the rooftop terrace, which is apparently the only one that is publicly accessible in Midtown. Additionally, there are five floors of browsable stacks!
And, of course, there is the Christmas tree that drew my attention:
The lions at the main branch of the NYPL are festively attired, too:
Further Reading & References
I Love NY Staff. (2020). 10 holiday movies and tv shows based in New York. https://www.iloveny.com/blog/post/holiday-movies-based-in-new-york/
Leaden, C. (2021). 10 best Christmas trees that aren’t in Rockefeller Center. Secret NYC. https://secretnyc.co/the-best-nyc-christmas-trees-that-arent-in-rockefeller-center/
The New York Public Library (2021). Welcome to the Stavronos Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL). https://www.nypl.org/spotlight/snfl
Books About NYPL
*Disclaimer: I have not read any of these and cannot speak to their quality.
Nonfiction:
Know the Past, Know the Future: NYPL at 100 by Caro Llewellyn
100 Christmas Wishes: Vintage Holiday Cards from the New York Public Library by NYPL
The New York Public Library Literature Companion edited by Anne Skillion
Fiction:
The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
The Story Collector by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb
A Magical New York Christmas by Anita Hughes

Loved this post. I went to NY for my 50th birthday, and absolutely loved it.
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