Guest Author - Yvonne Russell

The Library Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel, in the heart of New York City. It is a favorite with business travelers and holidaymakers looking for a quiet haven from the hustle and bustle.

The Theme
Housed in a 1900 building, the hotel has a distinctive library theme. This is especially fitting, as it is very close to the New York Public Library, and to the Morgan Pierpont Library. The architect's set designer son, Jordan Jacobs, has managed to pull off a theme which works well with the building, the area, and the clientele. Some themed hotels have a "Disneyland theme park" artificiality, but the Library Hotel is more about luxury with a unique touch.

The Concept
The theme is set the moment you walk through the front door. The foyer has rich wooden bookshelves filled with books. There are also shelves around the wood panelled reception desk. It reminded me of a gentlemen's club library.

Each of the ten floors is themed after one of the ten main Dewey Decimal Classification categories. These are social sciences, languages, math and science, technology, the arts, literature,history, general knowledge, philosophy and religion.

The Rooms
Guests can request their choice of any of the 60 rooms. On floor 5, the math and science floor, you can stay in Room 500.005, the Dinosaur room, a favorite with children. Other themed rooms include astronomy, fairytales, erotic literature, computers, music and fashion design.

Each room has books and art work which reflect that theme. All told, there are over 60 000 books in the Library Hotel. If you get engrossed in a book, and it's time to leave, you can even arrange to purchase it, and take it home.

Facilities
The Libary Hotel offers a Business Center, Readers' Room, Writers' Den and a Poetry Garden. The room amenities and furnishings are as you would expect for a luxury hotel. Business facilities such as two line speaker phones, data ports, voice mail and high spped internet are standard.

For relaxing, there is a VCR, complimentary video selection, health club privileges, refreshments, breakfast buffet, and an evening wine and cheese reception. And with Belgian chocolates on the pillow, the scene is set for a relaxing night in with a good book...or two...

Prices range from $335 to $495.

Contact The Library Hotel
299 Madison Avenue at 41street New York, NY, 10017