We are so honored to be Writers in Residence at the Library Hotel. As always, all opinions are our own.
When we write the accounts of our escapades around the globe, we usually don’t bother mentioning where we stay.
It’s not that we don’t appreciate hotels, it’s just that, let’s face it, most are simply a place to lay our heads after romping around all day.
What can we say? “The towels were nice and the TV worked.” Not exactly a captivating story.
But sometimes the accommodations are the story, and such is the case with the Library Hotel in New York City.
In a city with hundreds, if not thousands, of hotels it is hard to stand out, yet the Library Hotel has done just that. So when we were invited to become Writers in Residence, we jumped at the chance.
The idea is to add to the incredible literary ambience of the hotel by having a few writers hanging around, and let us say, it’s a writer’s — or a reader’s — paradise.
A big part of the atmosphere of the hotel stems from its proximity to the New York Public Library’s main branch.
Around the same time as that massive home to over one million volumes was opened in 1911, a group of businessmen were building one of the city’s first sliver buildings a block away.
After nearly a century of serving as offices, the beautiful little slice of architecture became the Library Hotel.
The renovations left the exterior wonderfully intact, while adding rooms and over a million dollars of mahogany bookshelves in the interior.
Books are everywhere, from the moment we checked in at the card catalogue-decorated front desk in the shelf-lined lobby, to the hundreds of titles in each room that correspond to its number in the Dewey Decimal System.
For example, our room, 905, is based on 900.005 in the famous library-organizing system, which is the travel and geography category. Absolutely a perfect fit for us, and we fell asleep blissfully reading of far-off places every night.
As we investigated the motifs of the other rooms, we realized that we could have been just as happy in 800.005, filled with fairy tales, or the mysteries right next door, or the Love Suite at 1100.006.
But it would be tough to beat 500.006, the Astronomy Suite where Neil Armstrong took one giant sleep for mankind.
The rooms aren’t the only place designed to inspire reading and writing, the second floor Reading Room serves as a quiet getaway, or the place to be for breakfast and each evening’s wine and cheese reception.
For even more inspiration, the rooftop Writer’s Den and Poetry Garden did the trick.
Come cocktail hour, the garden transforms into the hotel’s lounge, Bookmarks.
We couldn’t think of a better place to thank all of the folks at Skyhorse Publishing who worked so hard getting our book, Going Gypsy: One Couple’s Adventure from Empty Nest to No Nest at All, ready for publication, so we invited them all over for an after-work, literary-inspired drink.
We all sipped our “Ernest Hemingway”s and “Tequila Mockingbird”s while enjoying each other’s company and fantastic views of Manhattan.
See how we slipped that plug in there, downright clever, huh? Sorry, couldn’t pass up the chance for some shameless self-promotion.
Especially since we were so excited to see everyone that we forgot to take pictures to commemorate the occasion (still kicking ourselves!).
We also couldn’t pass up visiting New York’s best known literary landmark, the public library, so we followed the ninety-six bronze sidewalk insets along 41st Street that form Library Way.
The walk’s bronze plaques feature quotes from classic literature and authors, paired with innovative artwork by Gregg LeFevre.
We read our way right to the steps between Patience and Fortitude, the two lions that guard the entrance to the massive archives. Fortitude is pictured above, and the easiest way to tell them apart is that Fortitude is closest to 42nd Street. –> 42=fortitude!
As we climbed the stairs things felt very familiar, must have been because the grand old building has been the star of countless movies, from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, to Spider-Man, to the haunted book stacks in Ghostbusters.
Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to see those famous stacks. The one-hundred-and-twenty-five miles of shelves are off limits to the public. Can’t have the books getting misplaced or out of order, because the proverbial needle in the haystack would seem simple compared to finding a lost volume.
So we contented ourselves with simply taking in the grandeur of one of America’s largest marble buildings and viewing some of the artifacts on display. Of course the library has an outstanding collection of rare books, but it also serves as a museum of sorts, with hundreds of heirlooms donated throughout the years.
Back in our geography-and-travel-inspired hideaway in the Library Hotel, just thinking about all of those books was a bit mind boggling.
But we contentedly drifted off counting books instead of sheep.
Did we get any writing done? Yup. We wrote this!
David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com
We are so honored to be Writers in Residence at the Library Hotel. As always, all opinions are our own.
Delve Deeper:
Visit the Library Hotel website
Find out Things You Don’t Know About in NYC – even if you live there!
See all of our adventures in New York City!
YOUR turn: Is this the coolest hotel, or what?
Great post.
Thanks!
I’ve never wanted to visit NYC until I saw this. Now there’s a place I’d like to stay! Thanks for showing so much of it to me.
Glad to Barbara. It is one of the most fun hotels we’ve ever stayed in.
This post is worth everyone’s attention. When can I find out more?
Oh. My. Goodness!!! What a dream of a hotel. How exciting to be invited to stay as Writers in Residence! And to have all the bookish wonderfulness topped off by good service and comfort is the icing on the cake.
It was a great stay.
What a fantastic blog. LOVED it!! Perfect for one who lives Books and Travel!
Thanks Sharon! So nice of you! 🙂
Love it! The poetry garden looks awesome and the rooms based on the Dewey Decimal system, a book nerd’s dream!
Guess we must be book nerds, because we loved it! 🙂
This looks like a great place to check into, and perfect for future printed authors like the two of you too!
It really was perfect for us Dale, thanks.
We’re huge readers (in fact we say over and over how perfect Kindles are for long term, perpetual travelers!)and can’t imagine being far from a good book. I’d love to visit this quaint and inviting hotel. Thanks for the tour!
Perfect for readers, and writers! 😉
I’d love to stay in this hotel. I can imagine spending time on the rooftop Poetry Garden and Writers’ Den doing some writing. Room numbers based on the Dewey Decimal system – fun idea.
No doubt you would Donna, it’s very peaceful up there. The whole place is very clever, and accommodating.
Wow! Don’t know how I didn’t know about this hotel. Loved your photos and story. We’ll have to check it out next time we’re in NYC. Thanks!
Thanks Sue! Hope you get the chance to see it.
#1 Huge congrats for your book. (Who better to shamelessly promote it than yourselves? ) #2 This hotel seems truly inspired—and inspiring.
Thanks Suzanne!
I showed this story to my hubby and he agreed that this is the place to stay on our next NYC trip. What beautiful rooms and ceilings to take such awesome photos.
I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
What a great hotel and theme! I can certainly understand why you fell in love with it!! Very creative!!
It’s a great idea, and they really captured the literary feel.
Great post! Great hotel! Great location! Kudos!
Great comment! 😉
I’ve long heard about the Library Hotel, but I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting or staying there. Your article changed that. The detailed description and numerous photos took me there. I hope someday I, too, will get to actually spend the night amid the books.
Glad you got to check it out Carole! Hope you can stay there sometime too.
What a neat and quaint place to stay the night! I love how there is a literary touch to it all, and how fitting you visited the local library!
Couldn’t miss checking out the library.
That hotel looks right up our alley! We are recent empty nesters and enjoy reading here and on Facebook. We are about to take our first Viking Cruise. So excited to be traveling!
Thanks Jill! Have a great trip with Viking, they are fantastic.
I love quirky hotels like this. Plus, it looks pretty luxe too. I’ll have to check it out next time I’m in NYC. Congrats again on the book too!
Thanks Jennifer! Yes, it has character, and is “pretty luxe” too.
Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! I have just GOT to stay at that hotel! My BA is in English and I’m an avid reader. Thanks for the pictures and your post.
Sounds like it is just right for you Nina! 🙂
That is so very cool to have a hotel based on the Dewey decimal system and I love that your room 905 is based on 900.005 — my favourite section at the library- Travel! Will try to stay there next visit to NYC
A perfect fit!
Wow – I’m way cynical about “hotels I’ve been comped to stay in posts” – but this just sounds awesome- amazing location and I’d love to stay at this hotel!
We are too Lis, but this was really a destination in itself. Loved it!
How cool is that?! I am definitely adding this one to the list and you’re so right about writing posts about where we stay. I think of that as well, but like you said, how much can you say?! Congrats on the book, that’s really great and I did love the book mark. That’ pretty cool in itself, having ones very own bookmark! 😉
Pretty darn cool, we’d say. 😉 Thanks, we’re very excited.
There is so very much to see in New York and I’ve spent so little time there. Your photos make me want to visit. My husband and I were just discussing going there right after Thanksgiving to see the Christmas decorations. I love the ceiling with the painting of Prometheus. The Library Hotel looks amazing!
New York is great at Christmas time, so dressed up! Hope you can make it Michelle.
Oh this is fascinating – and what a privilege to be writers in residence – congrats! Will definitely check out the hotel next time we’re in NYC.
Thanks Anne! If nothing else, head up to the rooftop for a drink, it’s great.
Fabulous hotel reno – what fun to stay there. Perfect location to get to everything, not just the library. We’ll put it on the NYC list.
You’re right about the location. Just a block from Grand Central so it is easy to get anywhere.
Looks like a great hotel. Love the narrow building- NYC real estate has never been cheap and they fit things in nooks and crannies.
They definitely made the most of the space and created one of the most unique hotels we’ve ever stayed in.
What a fun place to stay and enjoy all those wonderful books and spaces to relax and just escape!
Certainly was Noel!
As a former librarian AND a travel writer, I must stay here during our next visit to New York!! Thanks for sharing.
Sounds like a perfect fit for you Jan!
What a novel idea! The Library hotel sounds amazing. I love cool one-of-a-kind places like this. Great photos inside the library too. Both places I’ll have to visit on our next Manhattan visit.
Thanks Shelly! Above and beyond the clever decor, it was very comfy and the service excellent.
Definitely worth checking out Mackenzie.
Thanks for posting. I walked right past this several weeks ago and never knew it was there. Next trip!
Mac