Situated next Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan is one of the most marvelous libraries in the United States. This is the home of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, one of the four research centers of the New York Public Library. It is a formidable building worthy of housing the great wealth of history inside. To access it, one must pass between the two steadfast lion statues, aptly named patience and fortitude, that flank its entryway. Once through it's doors, guests will be immediately awestruck the vast marble atriums and halls that fill the building's interior. The architecture alone is worth the visit.
In the past, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building has hosted many of the exhibitions that the New York Public Libraries opens to the public. One such exhibition is what first drew my attention to this library. In the winter of 2007 this branch opened its doors to Beatific Soul: Jack Kerouac on the Road. It was an exploration of the life and career of Jack Kerouac that featured many sundry items from his life including the famous 120-foot-long scroll on which he typed the original draft of On The Road.
Though the NYPL continues to put on exhibitions at the other branches, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building has temporarily ceased this practice. This is only a temporary suspension as it works to open a permanent exhibition in 2020 featuring the treasures of the many collections housed in the building, of which there are many. The Pforzheimer Collection features many works by Percy Bysshe Shelley and his close inner-circle. The Berg Collection features a variety of American authors and literary minds. Though the aforemention Beatific Soul exhibition has long since moved on, those that are equally drawn to Kerouac will be delighted to know that the Berg Collection is the permanent home for a vast collection of his work known as the Jack Kerouac Papers. In total, the collection comprises 90 manuscript boxes and includes all manner of record from manuscripts of On The Road to bank statements and canceled checks.
Due to the delicate nature of these collections access must be requested ahead of time and will only be granted for legitimate research purposes. In truth, many of the works that were housed in this branch in the past have been moved offsite. Originally all research material was housed in the library stacks, which was a separate, multi-story facility underneath the research center. Books would be hoisted up for use by researcher via an apparatus similar to a dumbwaiter. However, a poor climate control system meant the books were deteriorating at a distressing rate and eventually the bulk of them were moved to buildings that could safely store them indefinitely. Still though, members of the New York Public Library can request any work from the catalogue to be brought onsite so that they may conduct their research in a building truly worthy of the nickname The People's Palace.