Donnell Public Library

Okay, so I can't say enough good things about the New York Public Library...so let me bring up some of their branches. The Donnell Public Library on 53rd Street in NYC, across from the Museum of Modern Art (M.O.M.A.) is well worth the trip.
A visit to the children’s department at the Donnell Public Library yields a great number of treasures to the eye and intellect. There is a Harry Potter chess set on display as one alights from the elevator and steps on to the third floor. Directly behind that, is a display of the winners and honorees from the N.C. Wyeth Bookmaking Competition. This is an annual contest where children make their own book covers for their favorite works and their craftsmanship rivals that of some adults. One will also be quite amazed by the foreign language collection which not only includes Spanish, but French, Italian, Russian, Chinese and Portuguese. A fine way to make non-English speaking children feel part of the community!
Lastly, the rare books room holds many treasures. Sadly, it is open by appointment and for special tours only. However, the collection includes hundreds of non-catalogued items. A brief dialogue with the librarian on duty informed me that this included an eighteenth century work titled The girl who beat her sister as well as the actual Newbery medal awarded to Eric P. Kelly for the Trumpeter of Krakow. Although the website doesn’t do the facility justice, it is www.nypl.org/branch/central/dlc. A physical visit is much more rewarding, however!