Posts by Laura Rietz

What does a ballot from the first post-apartheid election in South Africa have in common with the first Russian-language edition of Karl Marx’s Das Kapital?

Stop staring at your computer screen, drop all your mobile devices, and head to your local library branch: today is national Drop Everything And Read (D.E.A.R.) day! Need some suggestions for reading material to celebrate the occasion? NYPL’s staff has you covered with book lists for readers, big and small.

The sixth season of AMC’s hit show Mad Men premieres on Sunday, April 7. If you’re interested in throwing a historically accurate premiere party, or you just want to learn more about the 1960s, NYPL offers plenty of groovy resources.

Ebenezer Scrooge, among the best-known characters envisioned by British author Charles Dickens (1812–1870), remarked prophetically: “I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.” This comment could just as well have been uttered by Dickens about himself. Today marks the 201st anniversary of the canonical author’s birth and NYPL invites you to celebrate it with us.

Justin, a 14-year-old with special needs, sits at a computer in the Huguenot Park Library, in Staten Island, and ponders a comprehension quiz about an article he’s just read. The multiple-choice question asks him to fill in the blank: “A packet is a kind of ____.” His choices: Bag, zone, plant, or map. Justin answers incorrectly on his first attempt, so he thinks long and hard before finally settling on “Bag,” then submits his answer. “Fantastic!” says a pop-up message on the screen. “Fantastic!” echo Justin and his teaching aide, who sits next to him, keeping him focused.

Looking for a way to get into the Halloween spirit? NYPL is here to help with a playlist of spooky videos—no tricks, just treats!

Show your Library spirit by carving NYPL’s signature lion into your holiday pumpkin:

Have a chat with Frankenstein’s Creature, the ghoulishly friendly star of our latest Biblion app for iPad:

Also check out our spellbinding collection of videos from Biblion: Frankenstein and listen to chilling dramatic readings of Mary Shelley’s novel:

What’s the history of your favorite haunt? Teens from The New York Public Library’s Seward Park Branch explored the hidden past of their neighborhood earlier this year and made some surprising discoveries.

The top children and teen readers of the New York Public Library’s 2012 Summer Reading program celebrated their accomplishments on August 29th at Yankee Stadium, where they met Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson and stood on the field before a cheering crowd of more than 45,000 baseball fans.