Edward Bear, known to his friends as Winnie-the-Pooh, or Pooh for short, graciously reserved public comment yesterday about the efforts of Those Who Would Present Him Permanently to the Children of the City of New York.

''It is fitting that Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends find a home here at the New York Public Library's Central Children's Room,'' said Dr. Vartan Gregorian, president of the library, in a ceremony at the Donnell Library Center, 20 West 53d Street.

During what many in attendance thought to be a historic occasion, Pooh seemed content to look on with silent modesty from a library shelf. Dr. Gregorian proceeded to make Some General Remarks to the effect that the original bear, now 65 years old, will henceforth be on display in the Children's Room.

His were not the only remarks. ''Pooh will now be here so that children of all ages can see these magical animals that inspired the stories of Pooh and his friends in the forest,'' added John Dyson, the former owner of E. P. Dutton, who helped arrange the donation from the publishing house. Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet

Although Pooh was an exceedingly long way from the Hundred Acre Wood, he was not lacking in the company of old and good friends. Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore and Kanga were there beside him, maintaining silence in deference, perhaps, to the example of their more illustrious companion.

They, too, have been donated to the public library, and will be on display with Pooh in temporary quarters. Ultimately they will occupy a climate-controlled case that some might think of as a shrine.

Naturally, there were refreshments on hand to mark the occasion: tea, shortbread and, of course, honey. Some of those present wondered if Pooh refrained from partaking because there was no Cottleston Pie.

It was a celebrated reunion for Pooh and company, who first belonged to Christopher Milne, the son of Alan Alexander Milne, a writer living in Surrey, England. He began weaving bedtime stories for Christopher, using the stuffed animals as characters.

In 1924, the first ''Winnie-the-Pooh'' volume by Mr. Milne appeared. Subsequently the Pooh books sold tens of millions of copies all over the world and were translated into about 20 languages, according to officials at Dutton, which published the first Pooh book in the United States in 1926.

Christopher Milne, who became the fictional Christopher Robin, is now a retired bookseller in England. He gave his blessing to the donation of the toys, ''and sent his apologies that he could not be here himself,'' said John Macrae 3d, former president and editor of Dutton.

Mr. Macrae, too, is an old friend of Pooh; in 1947 his uncle, with A. A. Milne's permission, first brought the stuffed animals to the United States. They were exhibited in a tour that lasted a decade, and later returned to a more or less permanent home at Dutton's offices in Manhattan.

Another old friend, Elliott Graham, was on hand, and it was something of an emotional occasion.

''If I were an ordinary person, the tears would be streaming down my face,'' said the 80-year-old publicity agent for Dutton. But he is not an ordinary person: his responsibility for the last 40 years has been to care for the 19-inch-tall Winnie and his friends. There were some new friends present, too. ''I think he likes to be hugged,'' said 6-year-old Sara Gould, of Brooklyn. And she hugged him. It was she who Symbolically Accepted Pooh on Behalf of the Children of New York.

''He seems bemused,'' said Mr. Macrae, nodding toward Pooh, who was holding court for Assorted-Friends-and-Relations, photographers and reporters. ''He's wondering whether he should say the same thing he's said for the last 30 years at public events, or whether he might shock everyone with an irreverent remark.'' In the end, Pooh chose quiet restraint, letting his benevolent presence make a statement of its own. Despite Pooh's worn aspect, it was quite an elegant statement indeed, befitting a bear who got his start in life at Harrods in London.

And when ultimately the event came to its conclusion, most who attended found themselves in agreement: altogether, there had been Much Bon-hommy.

Illustration from Winnie-the-Pooh (E.P. Dutton); Photo of Dr. Vartan Gregorian with Winnie-the-Pooh and friends (NYT/Edward Hausner)
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