New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts is a research library at Lincoln Center housing materials on theater, dance, and music. It holds manuscripts, photographs, recordings, and books that serve scholars and artists studying the performing arts.

The library opened in 1965 as a center to house performing arts collections that had been scattered across the city. Its creation brought together materials that supported research and study of theater, dance, and music in one place.

The Jerome Robbins Dance Division holds recorded performances that document how movement arts have evolved over time. You can see firsthand how different dance styles have developed through the video collection.

The library is located at Lincoln Center and easy to reach from the street; it offers extended hours on Mondays and Thursdays for visitors. Visiting outside school holiday periods is advisable if you prefer a less crowded experience.

A specialized screening room allows researchers to examine video recordings frame by frame to study details that would otherwise be missed. This approach is especially valuable for dance scholars wanting to analyze movement more closely.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1965

Architects: Gordon Bunshaft, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, James Polshek

Official opening: November 30, 1965

Architectural style: modern architecture

Elevation above the sea: 20 m

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Operator: New York Public Library

Part of: New York Public Library Research Libraries

Address: 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023

Opening Hours: Monday,Thursday 10:00-20:00; Tuesday-Wednesday,Friday-Saturday 10:00-18:00; Sunday,Holidays off; May Monday[-1] -2 days off

Phone: +19172756975

Email: performingarts@nypl.org

Website: https://nypl.org/locations/lpa

GPS coordinates: 40.77323,-73.98475

Latest update: December 7, 2025 09:28