Yul Kaseman is a resident of New York City. Since she loves reading, Yul is a frequent visitor of the New York Public Library. Here are some facts about the library not many people may be aware of. You can visit Yul's website here: http://bit.ly/2t7TE96

1. Secrets of the
New York
Public Library
B Y Y U L K A S E M A N
Y U L K A S E M A N . N E T

2. Are you a frequent visitor to the New York Public Library? No matter if you
visit the library in the Bronx or the main building on the corner of Fifth
Avenue and 42nd Street, there’s always something new to discover when
you take the time to learn about its history. Below are a small selection of
historical facts and secrets you never knew about the main location of the
New York Public Library.

3. The main building, formally named
the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building,
took about 16 years to build.
As the largest marble structure ever attempted in the United States,
the main library building located on Fifth Avenue was a feat to plan
and construct. After at open competition among architectural firms as
to who received the privilege to build this historic structure, Carrère
and Hastings was the winner. However, before construction could
officially begin, the area had to be prepared for two years. The
cornerstone of the building was finally laid in May 1902. After roughly
nine years of structure and interior work, the library was officially
opened on May 23, 1911.

4. The exterior
library walls are a
foot thick!
In fact, the New York Public
Library used more than six times
the marble in the New York Stock
Exchange and the New York
Chamber of Commerce
combined.

5. The main reading
room is nearly the
length of a
football field.
Formally named the Rose Main
Reading Room, it is the largest
uninterrupted room in America.
Meaning it’s a completely open
space without interior supporting
columns or steel-reinforced walls.

6. The first book lent
out was “Ethical
Ideas of Our
Time.”
Originally written in Russian
under the title “Nravstvennye
idealy nashego vremeni,” this
formal study on the morals of
philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche
and writer Leo Tolstoy was
authored by Nikolai I. Grot, a
Russian idealist philosopher. The
book was requested on the day of
the library’s opening, and was
quickly found and checked out in
just seven minutes.

7. Looking
for more
interesting
facts
about the
New York
Public
Library?
Visit their historical fact website, where
the library touches upon information
from opening day to fun facts about
Olympians who have been on the staff.

8. Visit
Y U L K A S E M A N . N E T