From the proud lions guarding the entrance to the miles upon miles of shelves groaning under a mind-boggling collection of books, the New York Public Library remains one of the city’s most beloved institutions. Opened more than 100 years ago in a splendid Beaux Arts building, the NYPL is the headquarters of one of the largest branch public library system of the world. The NYPL’s varied collections easily measure up to those of the British Library and the Library of Congress, and include such venerable pieces as the Gutenberg Bible and Jefferson’s manuscript copy of the Declaration of Independence along with magazines, romances, and kids’ books. The enormous Reading Room, whose seats have been warmed by the likes of Norman Mailer and Leon Trotsky, makes for a memorable spot to while away a rainy afternoon. You’ll have plenty of company: More than 15 million people visit the NYPL annually.