Portrait of America The New York public library: A Democratic cultural center of the U.S.

Portrait of America The New York public library: A Democratic cultural center of the U.S. The open air reading room in Bryant Park, just behind the New York Public Library building, is available for summertime use. A magazine, newspaper or book may be read leisurely on a bench under the trees. Library users pay no fees and the facilities of the cultural institution are available to all visitors.