The New Amsterdam branch of The New York Public Library is housed on the ground floor of an office building, one block west of City Hall.
Historically, Lower Manhattan was a hub of business and government with a very small residential population. In the 1970s, people began converting commercial spaces into apartments, resulting in a population boom and the establishment of the New Amsterdam Branch in 1989. Although small in size, the library bustles with activity throughout the day. Fully wheelchair accessible, it offers library collections, services, and programs for all ages.