By Ciara O’Leary
With everything at our fingertips through the internet, we often forget about the beauty of visiting the local library. When you sign up for your New York Public Library card, not only do you gain access to 92 NYPL locations in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, but the card gives owners access to other amazing resources as well.
Don’t have a library card? Anyone who lives, works, attends school, or pays property taxes in New York State is eligible to get one at no cost.
The most intriguing perk of having an NYPL card is the Culture Pass that comes along with it. New York City is home to some of the most renowned cultural institutions in the world, and your library card allows you to visit cultural institutions throughout the city for free.
The list of places to visit includes, but is not limited to the American Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Museum, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Museum of Modern Art, New York Botanical Garden, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art and Wave Hill (right here in Riverdale!).
Having a library card means that you can take your study materials from W 242nd street down to Bryant Park and enjoy one of the most beautiful buildings in New York. It’s a landmark location that will definitely lift your vibe while studying for finals.
If you’re not willing to take the subway downtown, the library card allows you to take out an E-book, learn a language, read a newspaper, gain a career skill, read a magazine, or even write a book.
The fact that this card is free makes signing up for one a no-brainer. You can sign up online or at any of the locations throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, or Staten Island.