Step Into the New York Public Library Phone Booths

I first shared photos of these hoary old wood phone booths at the New York Public Library in 1999, when the booths still had phone books. In July, 2009, these old booths were still looking pretty good. In 2012 the surviving booths still look no worse for wear.

There used to be 8 phone booths at the main branch of the NYPL. Today (February, 2012) it looks like two of the booths are gone. Two phone booths seen on the 2nd floor of the NYPL in July, 2009. appear to be MIA in 2012.

All of the NYPL phone booths had a Blower, with a handy “Off-On” switch. None of these blowers work. The Off-On switches do nothing, but they offer a satisfyingly CLICK feeling should you flip the switch.

I hope Luis -n- Gaby are doing alright 3½ years after declaring their love for each other on the wall of this New York City phone booth.

More pictures of the New York Public Library phone booths are at Payphone Pictures.com.