New York Free Circulating Library
| New York Free Circulating Library | |
|---|---|
49 Bond Street (opened 1883) where the first branch of the NYFCL settled for most of its existence. | |
| Location | New York, New York, United States |
| Type | Public lending library |
| Established | 1879 |
| Branches | 11 |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 1,600,000 (1900) |
The New York Free Circulating Library (NYFCL) was founded in 1879 and incorporated in 1880. Its aim was to supply free reading material and reading rooms to the people of New York City. Over its lifetime, it expanded from a single location to eleven locations and an additional traveling department. It was notable for the large part women played in its administration and staffing. In 1901, the system became part of the New York Public Library.