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Ottendorfer Library

The oldest continuously existing free lending library in New York, it was designed in 1884 as a "Freie Bibliothek u. Lesehalle" (free library and reading hall) when this neighborhood was part of Kleindeutschland (Little Germany) and now serves as a branch of the New York Public Library. Another part of this lovely red brick building, constructed as a "Deutsches Dispensary," features reliefs of heroes of German culture such as Goethe but stopped functioning as a clinic several years ago.

Address: 135 Second Ave
Getting there: between St Marks and 9th St
Hours: Mon Wed 10AM-6PM, Tue Thu 10AM-8PM, Fri Sat 10AM-5PM
Website: nypl.org (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Manhattan/East Village, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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St. Marks Place
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