Seward Park Library — Attraction in New York

This is the library I grew up with. Being a teenager for me was overwhelming and scary. And this library felt like it was all that I needed to not feel alone. I would see the same friendly faces of librarians working hard. And they always said hi. Felt so welcoming.

Now I am 28 y/o. Two years ago November 2021 I brought my 1 y/o at the time to the kids library section. It was just me my daughter and the librarian with short blonde hair and blue eyes. I remember at the time how depressed I was. My hair was always undone. First time being a mother, and breastfeeding exclusively day and night. However, I made sure to take my baby out daily for neighborhood walks, playgrounds and my favorite library that made me feel safe until it didn’t. I remember I was breastfeeding my baby in the kids library section. And the joy I had seeing my baby finally be independent from me as I sat there watching her look through books. Next thing you know more than one staff, and security were asking my daughter if she was okay.. I remember how stuck in my head I was I didn’t realize what was going on and I remember telling my one year old at the time to say hi. It wasn’t until I was walking out the library I realized security was called on me. I remember looking on google “reasons why someone would call the security on someone and it stated it meant someone’s is putting themselves or others in danger… so when I realized this I was triggered and scared to speak up for myself at the time. I felt uncomfortable to come back.. I tried my best to go back and I have but not as much at the time.. I also remember during quarantine I was searching for therapy and it was so hard. It took a year to find a therapist that my insurance could help cover for.. I had to deal with feelings of fear by myself. However, I’ve been coming here but sometimes I think about it and it’s uncomfortable and still a scary thought for me. However, what made me feel a little better is knowing that there are cameras. And hopefully they were on.

Today, I feel strong, supported, and courageous to speak up for myself and feel like I want to understand why that happened.. so I asked a woman who was one of the persons to check up on my baby and I asked her if she remembered me and she said no.. I expressed what happened and she told me “we wouldn’t call security on someone for breastfeeding” and it was left like that. I didn’t say anything else and thanked her. It felt dismissive for me and it landed for me to express myself on...

The library is quiet for the most part. The space is cramp because of the seating arrangement. The liberian staff are very good for helping people to find books. I was enjoying to come to this library, but..

I personally giving a lower rating because of that one security guard is a lazy bum. No manners. Rude. Unprofessional. I witness that security guard hostile towards a young man who simply wants to use the WiFi on his cellphone. The notification sounds seems to spooked the security guard ordering him to leave the library. The volume of the notification sounds seems was at lower level. Not justified to make him leave?

Seriously, NYPL needs to background check these security guards.

It is good library to go to. But this incident make me to rethink going to...

I started to take my toddler for Story Time this September. I found that conditions at Story Time 90% of the time are unsafe: the room is overcrowded, adults blocking the exit door. It took me 2 months to make the library comply with public occupancy limit that they were exceeding most of the time! The branch and district managers were super slow to react to the issues I pointed out and make necessary changes only I spoke with higher management.

Another struggle on its own is Story Time schedule that is toddler unfriendly. Class is available at 11.15 am on Monday and Thursday, 11 and 11.30 am on Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s been very hard to make management understand an average toddler routine: Lunch at 12 pm and midday nap...