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Photographer quietly captures life at the Reading Room at New York Public Library

Curious about the never-ending rise of digital, photographer David Katzenstein decided to begin a series of photographs about books and where they're housed.

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Patrons study and work at individual desks in the grand Reading Room of the New York Public Library, lined with bookshelves and illuminated by ornate hanging lamps, in black and white photography

Kicking off with a closer look at the famous Reading Room at the New York Public Library on 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue – probably because it's the penultimate place to spend time as a researcher, student or book enthusiast.

"It is so famous and so beautiful that it draws hundreds of tourists each day who simply want to experience the wondrous space that exists in the centre of this great city," said David. "Over the next year I will explore other spaces where the printed word still commands respect."

Discover more of David's work at davidkatzenstein.com.

All images courtesy of David Katzenstein

A woman in a puffy jacket receives a book from a man at a desk in the Reading Room at New York Public Library, with other visitors visible in the background
A librarian sits at a desk with a computer monitor and desk lamp in the Reading Room at New York Public Library, with rows of study tables and chandeliers visible behind her in black and white
Black and white photograph of shelves lined with books in a library, with fluorescent lighting overhead and polished flooring reflecting the architectural space
Visitors stand and chat in the ornate Reading Room at New York Public Library's main branch, with classical arched doorways visible in the background
Visitors stand in the entrance hall of the New York Public Library's Reading Room, with a man and woman in focus checking their phones and bags among other library patrons
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