Columbus Library | Manhattan, NY

Despite some reviews here, this library has always been a welcoming and safe space for my daughter. She enjoys coming here every week, and so do I. The employees here are so kind to her, they greet us every time, and it’s well maintained. It’s hard to find places in the city like this one that actually feel like a community. For a library in the city they try their best to keep it peaceful, they deserve some grace!

Posted on: November 15, 2025

This is a smaller library which wasn't a concern of ours, so we appreciated less walking and trying to figure out what floor to find everything. The bathrooms were gross. The first-floor bathroom had pee water on the floor as if it were a leak. I couldn't use the bathroom without stepping in water and smelling urine. The bathrooms are not clean. As we came in there was a young man at the top of the stairs and we weren't greeted but looked at suspiciously. We are from out of town. We took the elevator to the second floor, where the kids and teens area was just one on top of the other. I couldn't tell which area was which. I had to ask. The person upstairs made facial impressions as if she was annoyed with my asking questions. We felt uneasy with the whole experience, and left as quickly as we came.

Posted on: June 03, 2025

Nice quiet library. It’s a little small (only two floors) but there weren’t many people there midday on a Wednesday. Has a good amount of table/working spaces with outlets. Nice big windows make for good natural light. The second floor is the children’s floor so you can sometimes hear their screams etc. but nothing too bad (maybe worse when there’s a children’s event)

Posted on: February 27, 2025

A small library with two floors (adult first floor, children/teens section second floor). Decent selection of films, CDs, and books. They had a pretty good collection of graphic novels on the first floor. There is a computer station and some areas to sit. One public restroom on first floor. Place was pretty quiet and relaxed when we visited.

Posted on: February 20, 2024

Honorable work! Good cleaning, no attitude! No machine to scan you or loads of security to make the experience, uncomfortable. Space from the city noise & a place to discover something new!

Posted on: December 31, 2025