1886, Thulden bequeathed us $2.4 million, and his will called for the construction of a library in new york. Bigelow, the executor of his will, suggested merging with Astor Library and Lenox Library to form the "Turden Astor Lenox Foundation", which was established on May 23rd. 1895. 190 1 year, Carnegie also donated $5.2 million to merge the new york roving library. The municipal government bears the maintenance and operation costs, so the New York Public Library has become a typical American-style library, which is jointly organized by the government and private charities.
The main body of the library is the research library, which is located between 40th Street and 42nd Street on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. It was completed on May 23rd with 19 1 1, and opened the next day. There are two stone lions lying in front of the door, named Astor and Lenox, later commonly known as Astor and Lenox. During the Great Depression, new york Mayor laguardia named two stone lions "Patience" and "Tenacity" in order to encourage citizens to overcome the economic crisis. Now, new york people just call them "Uptown" on the left and "Downtown" on the right according to their location.
The main reading room is room 3 15, 90.5m long, 23.8m wide and15.8m high. Surrounded by open bookshelves, long windows and large chandeliers on the roof. Indoor long reading table and comfortable chair with copper desk lamp. A compute equipped with an electronic computer can be connecte to that Internet. Everything is free. There are many famous writers collecting information here. During the Great Depression, many people also taught themselves in a considerable university education here.
During the period of 1980' s, the library expanded its collection area by 12000 square meters, which occupied the underground part of Burian Park in the west of the library, and the park was still above it.