Donnell Library Center

The Donnell Library Center occupied a modern building at 20 West 53rd Street featuring Indiana limestone walls and distinctive porthole windows. The facility housed free internet access, comfortable reading rooms, and a basement space dedicated to music performances and community events.

The library opened in 1955 and was named after Ezekial J. Donnell, a cotton merchant whose support made the project possible. After serving the public for more than 50 years, the facility closed in 2008 to make way for a hotel development on the same site.

The library held one of the largest collections of materials in multiple languages within the New York Public Library system, serving speakers of dozens of different tongues. This collection reflected the diverse communities living throughout the city and made the space valuable to people seeking resources beyond English.

The library offered free admission and clearly organized spaces that made it easy to find materials and services. Visitors should know the location is no longer operational, as the building was redeveloped after the facility closed.

The children's reading room housed the original Winnie the Pooh stuffed animals on display behind bulletproof glass, a gift received in 1988. These beloved toys from the classic stories drew families who wanted to see the real characters that inspired generations of readers.