Join NYPL and WNYC's Virtual Book Club

The New York Public Library and WNYC — two indispensable New York institutions — are partnering to host a virtual book club to bring New Yorkers together and foster community during an unprecedented time of social separation.

Presented as part of “Get Lit,” the monthly book club from WNYC’s weekday arts and culture show All of It, the partnership debuts with a group reading experience of James McBride’s new book, Deacon King Kong, a hilarious and deeply human tale set in 1969 Brooklyn.

Host Alison Stewart and the Library will accompany readers throughout April, providing touchpoints on-air and on social media at @allofitwnyc and @nypl.

Borrow the book (and more than 300,000 others) for free through the Library’s e-reader app SimplyE, available for iOS and Android devices.

Join McBride, Stewart, and readers everywhere on Thursday, April 30 at 7 PM for a live stream conversation and audience Q&A.

McBride is the author of The New York Times bestseller and National Book Award winner, The Good Lord Bird, as well as the bestselling novels Song Yet Sung, Miracle at St. Anna, and the #1 New York Times bestseller, The Color of Water. He is also a saxophonist and composer who teaches music to children in the housing projects of Red Hook, Brooklyn, where he was born. He is a Distinguished Writer In Residence at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at NYU.

Get Started With SimplyE

New York Public Library cardholders can gain access to an array of digital resources for all ages, including e-books, audiobooks, databases, and more.

If you don’t have an NYPL library card, New York State residents can apply for a digital card through the Library’s SimplyE app (available on the App Store or Google Play). Once you’ve received your barcode and PIN, explore SimplyE to discover hundreds of thousands of e-books, plus visit our website to find many more digital resources.

Patrons 13 years and older can apply for their own library cards. Patrons 12 and under will need a parent or caregiver to create an account. Note: These accounts cannot be restricted to only children’s materials.

After registering, it may take a few hours to receive your barcode in order to access the Library’s digital resources. Once you sign up for a card through SimplyE, you will need to select a home library after your barcode has been emailed to you. Log into your account and click on Settings to set your Preferred Pickup location.

If you have further questions about how to use SimplyE, please contact Ask NYPL.