Located just a quick stroll from Grand Central Terminal and a block from the namesake New York Public Library, this property is the frontrunner among Henry Kallan's quartet of fine boutique-hotels and a contender at the top of the list of best boutique-hotels in the Big Apple. This one is aimed at traveling bookworms. The unique, slender 12-story building has gilded art-deco detailing on its upper facade. Inside, the bookish theme carries through bold contemporary public space right into the guest rooms.
The lobby's 15-ft walls are fitted with dark-stained shelving filled with thousands of colorful books. Arrivals are immediately encouraged to pick one out and settle in. The second-floor Reading Room looks like a private club for the well-read and well-fed, and it is also home to the complimentary breakfast in the morning and to juice, bottled water, coffee and
snacks throughout the day.
The popular Italian restaurant, Branzini, provides well-regarded Tuscan treats at lunch and dinner. Like the hotel, this stylish, contemporary room is full of light, inviting and blessed with an attentive staff. It also provides room service, but it is closed on Sundays.
Perhaps the best feature here is the hotel's penthouse sanctuary. It encompasses almost the entire roof, with two beautifully furnished terraces, a glassed-in conservatory and a small but popular bar that has recently been revamped. The terrace is open to guests round-the-clock. In the evening, complimentary wine and cheese are laid out, and bottled water and fruit are always available. This is one of the city's most inviting lounges, bar none. 
A nearby health club supplements the small gym here. A conference room for 30 is in the penthouse, the business center has computer stations, and valets handle parking. Pets are not allowed.
Guest rooms show sleek contemporary design that tucks everything nicely into limited space. Some of the standard rooms are downright tiny, but the building's odd layout creates rooms with interesting shapes, most with high ceilings. Polished dark wood furniture and paneling add elegance, and cabinetry hides the TVs, VCRs, refrigerators and safes. Built-in desks, data ports, complimentary high-speed Internet access and dual-line phones with voice mail aid business travelers. The spacious chrome and slate baths are very well-designed, offering plush towels, many 
toiletries and hair dryers. Even in the smallest rooms, the baths are generously proportioned. Aside from choosing a room based on size or exposure (the best rooms are the Junior Suites facing Madison Avenue head on), guests can select rooms by subject matter, provided they can recall the Dewey Decimal System. The eighth floor, for example, is literature, and each room on that floor has books keyed to the cataloging. Room 800.001 comes with a queen bed and erotic literature. Journalists should aim for floor 11, lawyers for three, and so forth.
The Library is one of the most intriguing hotels in the city, and the friendly, professional staff and exceptional rooftop oasis are noteworthy. Like a good book, guests should check this one out.
