Skip Navigation

Young Lions

Young Lions Co-Chair Ethan Hawke and Committee Member Uzodinma Iweala at the Young Lions Fiction Award.Young Lions Co-Chair Ethan Hawke and Committee Member Uzodinma Iweala at the Young Lions Fiction Award.The Young Lions is a membership group for New Yorkers in their 20s and 30s who are committed to supporting the work of the Library.

Join • Renew • Give the Gift of Membership

Each season, members enjoy exclusive events that feature young writers and leaders in the arts, politics, business, law, and the media.  Through presenting dynamic events and contributing to the General Book Fund, the Young Lions are integral to the life of the Library and its future.

Membership Benefits

Young Lion ($350 - $749)

  • Join prominent young writers, artists, and intellectuals for drinks and debate at Young Lions Forums
  • Invitation to the Young Lion's Fiction Award ceremony
  • Private, after-hours, behind-the-scenes tours with curators of the Library's collections
  • Preview screenings of films with Q&As
  • Invitations to lectures and tours presented by the Library's Friends Program
  • Invitations to VIP exhibition openings
  • 10% discount at The Library Shop
  • 33% savings on LIVE from the NYPL tickets, and waived service fees on those tickets

Young Lion Conservator ($750 - $4,999)

All Young Lion benefits, plus:

  • Invitations to attend Young Lion Conservator Salons and read highly anticipated books prior to publication and meet renowned authors in intimate settings
  • Opportunity to attend Conservators Forums and Preview Clubs
  • Invitation to the Library's annual Library Lions gala

Young Lion Lenox Conservator ($5,000 - $9,999)

All Young Lion Conservator benefits, plus: 

  • Invitations to the Lenox and Astor Reading Groups, at which distinguished authors discuss their favorite classics
  • Invitation to the special Holiday Cocktail party at the home of Dr. Paul LeClerc, President of the New York Public Library

Young Lion President's Council ($10,000+)

All Young Lion Lenox Conservator benefits, plus:

  • Invitations to two intimate and elegant dinners each year arranged exclusively for the President's Council, organized around the Library's collections and featuring lively conversations with notable public figures
  • Private tour of the Library or special exhibitions tailored to individual interests on request
  • Complimentary tickets to LIVE from the NYPL events on request as available

Discounted Three-Year Membership ($950)

The Young Lions Program offers a three-year membership! For the discounted, one-time price of $950, keep your Young Lion membership active for the next three years.

Chat with a librarian now