Elmer Holmes Bobst Library - A Campus Cornerstone

When you think of New York University, one place often comes to mind, a central spot for learning and discovery right in the heart of Greenwich Village. That, you know, is the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, or just Bobst, as most folks call it. It stands as the primary learning hub at NYU, a really big building that many students and teachers rely on for all sorts of things.

This library, you see, is more than just a place with books; it's a vibrant center where ideas take shape and knowledge is shared. It helps connect people with information, offering a vast collection of materials and services to support academic pursuits. It's, like, a go-to place for anyone connected to the university looking for resources or a quiet spot to get some work done, or just a little bit of peace.

Opened its doors back in 1973, this building has quite a history, and its name honors a very generous person who helped make it all possible. It’s a spot that has, in a way, grown with the university, adapting to new ways of learning and staying relevant for generations of students. So, it's pretty important, actually, to the daily life of the campus.

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Table of Contents

• Who Was Elmer Holmes Bobst - The Library's Namesake?
• A Look at Elmer Holmes Bobst's Generosity
• What Makes Elmer Holmes Bobst Library So Special?
• Beyond Books - Services at Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
• How Can You Access Elmer Holmes Bobst Library's Offerings?
• Finding Your Perfect Spot - Study Spaces at Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
• Reserving a Room at Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
• The Visionaries Behind Elmer Holmes Bobst Library's Design
• Why is Elmer Holmes Bobst Library a Community Hub?
• What Else Does Elmer Holmes Bobst Library Provide?

Who Was Elmer Holmes Bobst - The Library's Namesake?

The library, as you might guess, carries the name of a person who played a big part in its creation. Elmer Holmes Bobst was, basically, a very important supporter of New York University for a long time. He served on the university's governing body, which is a pretty big deal, you know. His connection to NYU was deep, and he had a vision, it seems, for what a modern university library could be for its students and teachers.

A Look at Elmer Holmes Bobst's Generosity

This kind person, Elmer Holmes Bobst, gave a lot of money to help build this particular library. We're talking about a sum of around $11.5 million, which, back in the day, was an absolutely huge amount of money. That contribution really helped get the building finished and ready for everyone to use. It’s a clear sign of how much he believed in the university and the power of knowledge, actually.

What Makes Elmer Holmes Bobst Library So Special?

So, what makes the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library stand out from other places where you might find books? Well, for starters, it's got an enormous collection of reading materials, almost four million books, to be exact. That's a pretty large number, so you can imagine the variety of subjects covered. But it's not just about the physical books, though; there's a whole lot more that makes this spot a true asset for the university community, you know, in some respects.

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Beyond Books - Services at Elmer Holmes Bobst Library

Beyond the sheer volume of books, the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library offers a wide range of helpful services. If you're working on a media project, need some digital assistance, have questions about data, or want to look at very old or unique items, this place has staff and resources to help. They also have spots for quiet reflection for people of different beliefs, and calm rooms for those who might need a different kind of quiet space. It’s, in a way, trying to be a welcoming place for everyone, which is kind of nice.

You can also get to a lot of digital materials from anywhere, which is super convenient, really. If your teacher has put aside some books for your classes, you can pick them up here. And if you have a question about research, or just about anything library-related, you can talk to someone who works there any time of day or night, which is, like, pretty amazing, if you ask me.

How Can You Access Elmer Holmes Bobst Library's Offerings?

Getting into the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library and using its many features depends a bit on who you are. If you're a student or a teacher at NYU, it's pretty straightforward. You just use your university identification to get in. People who work at NYU Langone Health or the NYU Grossman School of Medicine can also come in by showing their proper identification at the security spot in the main entrance area, which is pretty handy, you know.

For visitors who aren't directly part of the NYU student or staff body, there's a process to follow. You'll need to be sponsored by someone who currently works as a teacher or employee at NYU before you visit. It's a good idea to ask for this access at least two business days before the days you'd like to come, just to make sure everything is ready for your arrival. This policy helps keep things organized and safe for everyone, actually.

Finding Your Perfect Spot - Study Spaces at Elmer Holmes Bobst Library

The Elmer Holmes Bobst Library understands that people study in different ways, so it offers a variety of places to hit the books. You can find quiet corners for solo work, or larger areas where you might see groups collaborating. There are different service points around the library too, in case you need help finding something or have a question about the resources available. It’s all set up, you know, to help you find just the right environment for whatever you need to do.

Back in the day, the old NYU humanities library was, frankly, not nearly as good. It was in the main building, below ground, and students couldn't even get to the books directly; you had to ask for them using some kind of underground request system. So, the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library was a big step up, providing much better access and a more welcoming space for everyone, which is pretty clear, if you think about it.

Reserving a Room at Elmer Holmes Bobst Library

If you're working on a group project or just prefer to study with others, the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library has many rooms you can book. These rooms are found on the lower levels, specifically levels 1 and 2, and also on the seventh floor. The rooms on the seventh floor are known as the Bobst Collaborative Media Rooms, which are, you know, set up for group work involving media. It’s a good idea to plan ahead if you want one of these spots.

There are a few simple rules for booking a room. You can only make one booking per day, and you can use the room for up to three hours at a time. You can also book a room as far as fourteen days in advance, which gives you plenty of time to organize your study sessions. This system helps make sure everyone gets a fair chance to use these popular spaces, which is pretty sensible, actually.

The Visionaries Behind Elmer Holmes Bobst Library's Design

The look and feel of the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library didn't just happen by chance; it was the creation of two well-known designers, Philip Johnson and Richard Foster. These two had, in fact, worked together on several other important jobs before this one. For example, they were behind the New York State Pavilion for the 1964 World’s Fair, which was held in Flushing Meadows, Queens. So, they knew a thing or two about making impressive buildings, you could say.

The current plan for the library includes a careful update of the first two floors above ground. This means that while the building has been around for a while, it’s still getting attention to make sure it stays modern and useful for everyone who comes through its doors. It’s, in a way, a building that keeps up with the times, which is pretty cool.

Why is Elmer Holmes Bobst Library a Community Hub?

The Elmer Holmes Bobst Library is more than just a place to find books; it really serves as a central gathering place for the entire NYU community. Its location, right at 70 Washington Square South, across from Washington Square Park and next to Gould Plaza, makes it easy to get to for most people. This means it naturally becomes a spot where students, teachers, and staff often cross paths, making it a true heart of the campus. It’s, you know, a very central point.

The fact that it offers so many different kinds of spaces, from quiet study areas to collaborative rooms and even places for reflection, means it caters to a wide range of needs. This variety helps make it a place where people feel comfortable and supported, no matter what they're looking to do. It’s pretty clear that it’s designed to be a welcoming spot for everyone, which is, like, a good thing.

What Else Does Elmer Holmes Bobst Library Provide?

Beyond its main offerings, the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library also works with other libraries and has various connections that expand its reach. This means that if you can't find something directly within Bobst, there might be other ways to get it through these partnerships. It’s all about making sure you have access to as much information as possible, which is, you know, a big part of what a good library does.

If you're interested in staying informed about what's happening at the libraries, you can sign up for their regular email update, which comes out every two weeks. This is a good way to keep up with new services, events, or changes that might be useful to you. And if you're looking for something new to read, the library has a special group of books called the engagement collection, which is, like, designed to get you thinking and discovering your next favorite story. So, there's always something new to check out, basically.

The Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, located at the southeast corner of Washington Square Park on the New York University campus in Greenwich Village, lower Manhattan, serves as the main library and a key building for NYU. It offers a huge collection of books, places to study, special rooms for different needs, and spaces for quiet reflection. You can also get to online materials, put aside books for your classes, and talk to someone who can help with research any time of day or night. It provides services for media, digital work, data questions, and unique collections. Access is available to NYU students and teachers, NYU Langone Health and Grossman School of Medicine staff, and sponsored visitors. The library has reservable group study rooms on lower levels and the seventh floor, with rules for booking. It was designed by Philip Johnson and Richard Foster. The library also sends out a regular email update and has a special collection of books to encourage reading. NYU also has partnerships with other libraries.