Patience and Fortitude

The New York Public Library (NYPL) is one of the leading public libraries in the world and is also one of America's most significant research libraries. It is unusual in a way because it is composed of a very large circulating public library system combined with a very large non-lending research library system. The library is a privately managed not for profit with a public mission, operating with both private and public financing.

Currently, the library consists of 89 libraries: four non-lending research libraries, four main lending libraries, a library for the blind and physically handicapped, and 77 neighborhood branch libraries in the three boroughs served. All libraries in the NYPL system may be used free of charge by all visitors.



The two famous stone lions guarding the entrance to the main branch of the library were sculpted by Edward Clark Potter. They were originally named Leo Astor and Leo Lenox, in honor of the library's founders. These names were transformed into Lady Astor and Lord Lenox (even though both lions are male; bet Astor didn't like that). In the 1930s they were nicknamed "Patience" and "Fortitude" by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia. He chose these names because he felt that the citizens of New York would need to possess these qualities to see themselves through the Great Depression. Patience is on the south side (the left as one faces the main entrance) and Fortitude is on the north.

More info at Wikipedia.