The Performing Arts Library

[Livin' Legend]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 9:32pm

So I am going to be in the city soon and I wanted to stop by the library to watch a show. The show is Red and I was wondering if I could just walk in without a legit reason? And by the way how is the quality? What out of 10.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 9:34pm

It is professionally shot and edited. You need to apply for an access card from the library and then give a reason as to why you need to watch that show. If your request is accepted you can either watch it then and there (depending if they have space available) or you will have to make a reservation for another day. There are plenty of times when reservations for a space are booked solid for days in advance.

[Livin' Legend]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 9:40pm

Okay thanks. And I was wondering what you watch it on? It is a normal sized T.V? A computer screen or something? Thanks!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 9:41pm

A television.

[Livin' Legend]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 9:42pm

Thanks. What shows have you seen there?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 9:44pm

In my research I've spent more time than I could count and have watched maybe a hundred or so shows.

[Simon4]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 10:16pm

Do you need to be a NY resident to get an access card?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 10:21pm

No.

[binau]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 11:23pm

I don't know if you need an ACCESS card anymore. When I went to the Lincoln Centre library in July they only said a NYPL card was required and they gave me one on the spot (I live internationally). Any information about access cards appears on the 'legacy' subdomain of the NYPL website and the apply online link for it is now broken. I didn't end up going to the archive itself because I stupidly didn't book an appointment and they were booked out for the only weekend I could go..they very rarely are able to take 'walk-ins' on the weekends...so don't make the same mistake as me and book an appointment!

Updated On: 1/21/12 at 11:23 PM

[michellek45]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 11:14am

You actually can't walk-in on weekends at all anymore. I went on a Saturday and tried to get in, but they said that even though they had open time slots, they don't have the staff to take walk-ins anymore.

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 11:22am

It's been a while since I used this resource, and I'm going to need to in the upcoming weeks for a project I'm working on. Do they not take walk-ins at all anymore, or just on the weekends? I know you said weekends, Michelle, but your overall comment makes it seem like they've done away with walk-ins all together.

If that's the case, I'm going to make an appointment ASAP.

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 11:43am

AC- They take walk-ins during the week. Saturday is the only day with no walk-ins.

I've never made an appointment, an only once did I run into trouble. You can't watch the same thing as anyone else, as it's very old-school and not digital.

Remember also that Sundays the library is closed and Monays TOFT is closed.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 12:05pm

It has strange opening hours, something like:

Tuesday - Saturday. 12:00pm - 8:00pm

Just wish they opened at 10:00am and Mondays, as I am from out of town, so a tourist to New York City, so I only can use the resource Tuesday/Thursday and Friday, at other times it clashes with shows, hence why Monday opening and 10am opening on matinee days would be good.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 6:17pm

The NYPL card has replaced the ACCESS card if you don't have an ACCESS card. If you have an ACCESS card, you can still use it.

If you're coming in from out of town and planning a trip around a particular tape, reserve it in advance. Nothing makes you feel more like an idiot than arriving at the desk to find out that, no, you cannot access that tape because someone else is watching/the stations are all booked.

[Scottsacto]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 9:36pm

Is there an online place that you can find a listing of what productions are available. For us Out-of-Towners?

Thanks in Advance!!

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 9:55pm

nypl website

[Orangesaretuesdays]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 10:22pm

http://catalog.nypl.org/search~S61?/hMusicals./hmusicals/-3%2C-1%2C0%2CB/exact&FF=hmusicals&1%2C1172%2C