Events

Performers and celebrity judges deliver a one-night-only improv showdown where comedy, literature, and history collide. Registration for this event is full but there may be a limited number of standby tickets available if space permits. Sign up for our bi-weekly NYPL Events e-newsletter to stay updated on the latest programs and events from the Library. What happens when Shakespearean heroines tackle modern-day dilemmas? Or when historic women’s movements get the TikTok treatment? Hosted by Set…

Discover the Dorot Jewish Division’s collection of Yiddish sheet music in this hands-on session. Learn how to utilize the Library’s catalog and other bibliographic resources to find Yiddish sheet music, including published sheet music, songbooks, and unpublished music manuscripts. Participants will have the opportunity to view and interact with physical collection items. Image: Die bist mein glick [Du bist mayn glik], sheet music cover. NYPL Digital Collections 2051377

Discover the inimitable Sanora Babb, an overlooked voice of midcentury American literature. In Riding Like the Wind, Iris Jamahl Dunkle reconstructs the extraordinary life of Sanora Babb, a writer perhaps best known for her Dust Bowl novel Whose Names Are Unknown. Babb’s extensive field notes and oral histories of migrant farmworkers helped shape not only her work but also that of John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath. Steinbeck’s novel, published first, overshadowed Babb’s which remained unp…

A major biography of civil rights icon John Lewis, celebrated as “the conscience of Congress,” offers profound insights into his significant role in American history. Born into poverty in rural Alabama, John Lewis rose to prominence in the civil rights movement. As one of the original Freedom Riders, he joined the fight to integrate bus stations across the South. Lewis was a leader in the Nashville sit-in movement, delivered a historic speech at the 1963 March on Washington, and transforme…

Please join 10×10 Photobooks and the Wallach Division at The New York Public Library for a Photobook Salon with Carmen Winant and Mariette Pathy Allen, moderated by Elizabeth Cronin, Robert B. Menschel Curator of Photography at The New York Public Library Left: Carmen Winant; right: Mariette Pathy Allen Carmen Winant is an artist and the Roy Lichtenstein Chair of Studio Art at the Ohio State University. Her work utilizes archival and authored photographs to examine feminist care networ…

The New York Times film critic explores Joan Didion’s enduring influence through the lens of American mythmaking. From her early fascination with John Wayne and California’s pioneer past to her rise as a Hollywood screenwriter, Joan Didion both shaped and dismantled the myths that define American culture. In We Tell Ourselves Stories, Alissa Wilkinson delves into the nearly 40-year span during which Didion and John Gregory Dunne worked in Hollywood, examining their impact on film and storytel…

Check out the film adaptation of the National Book Award–winning novel the day before it hits theaters. Followed by a talkback with the directors and author Sigrid Nunez. The Friend is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Sigrid Nunez and stars Naomi Watts and Bill Murray. Writer and teacher Iris (Watts) finds her comfortable, solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor (Murray) leaves her his beloved 150-pound Great Dane. The dog, named Apoll…

A true story of literary obsession, rare-book intrigue, and a family’s unexpected link to the world’s most famous book. Registration for this event has sold out. A limited number of standby tickets may be available on the day of the event. In his new book, Noble Fragments, journalist Michael Visontay unravels the century-old mystery of Gabriel Wells, the New York bookseller who shocked the literary world in 1921 by dismantling a priceless Gutenberg Bible and selling it page by page. The Gute…

In this age of strife and turmoil, how do we think deeply and differently about the changes in our politics and our societies? The Yale professor of history and award-winning author delivers the annual Robert B. Silvers Lecture. Do we live in an age of enlightenment or an age of divination? Timothy Snyder argues that our present moment—one in which obsession with the new distracts from patterns that are very old—is best understood as a political religion, rooted not in Christianity but in somet…

This event is online only. Join us, as we demonstrate how to use maps to research armed conflicts and wars where the United States sent armed forces overseas for military action, starting in the 20th century. We will show you how to utilize NYPL's catalogs to locate maps related to international conflicts, locate a place, amidst changes in a location's name and boundaries due to conflicts, and utilize digital resources from NYPL and other reputable institutions. Captioning is provided. If you…

The new documentary explores how public libraries have shaped the country and continue to serve as a sanctuary for all Americans. Free for All: Inside the Public Library tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who brought a simple yet powerful idea to life. From the pioneering women behind the “Free Library Movement” to today’s librarians who serve the public despite working in a contentious age of closures and book bans, meet those who created a civic institution where everything is fre…

The librarian and scholar explores how Jewish and Muslim mystics interpreted the same alphabets through distinct cosmological traditions. Islamic Letterism is a tradition of Arabic numerology in which numerical values are assigned to the Arabic alphabet to interpret the Quran and uncover hidden meanings, much like Hebrew gematria, which also uses numerical values of words or phrases to reveal deeper insights or concealed messages. Guy Burak, Librarian for Middle Eastern, Islamic, and Jewish Stu…

Celebrate the power of poetry at the Library with an evening of drinks, mingling, crafts, and live readings. LIVE from NYPL’s happy hours happen on select Fridays—this April, we're bringing poetry to life. Connect with fellow poetry lovers Enjoy live readings Unwind with creative activities, including coloring images from the Library collections Join us at any point between 6–8 PM. If you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or suspect you have been in close contact with someone who…

This event is online only. Registration is required. Please click HERE to register. Whether you're new to the Library or need a refresher, this virtual class will cover the basics of using all the resources that our flagship library at 42nd Street has to offer. No matter your level of expertise, it serves as a baseline introduction for all researchers and will equip you with the knowledge you need to make visits to the Library productive and fulfilling. What you will learn: How to find a…

Join creators Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann, The New York Public Library, and teens across the country for a special virtual discussion of Go with the Flow. REGISTER NOW! Start Reading Now! NYPL cardholders can start reading Go with the Flow on the Libby app, right away! Download Libby to get immediate access to the book. Don't have a library card yet? Get started today. ​​About the Book Sophomores Abby, Brit, Christine, and Sasha are fed up. Hazelton High never has enough tampons. Or…

This class is online only. Please join us for a librarian led class that will provide tips and suggestions for organizing your genealogy research, with the goal of making you a better researcher. Attendees will learn about information organizers, citations, and planning for research trips. Captioning is provided. If you have a specific accessibility request, please email accessibility@nypl.org at least two weeks before the program date. This class is online. Registration is required. REGISTER…

Explore the life and work of Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Murray Kempton. Murray Kempton was a distinctive figure in American journalism: a labor reporter, sharp political observer, and man known for his three-piece suits, polished oxfords, and bicycle rides through New York City. In Going Around: Selected Journalism, editor Andrew Holter showcases Murray Kempton’s work with a focus on his years at the New York Post. Using the Library’s archival collection of Dorothy Schiff—the paper’s l…

The Michelin-starred chef and founder of World Central Kitchen shares lessons learned from a lifetime of experience everywhere from the kitchen to crisis zones. Pre-order your copy of Change the Recipe and get your free ticket now! From running more than 30 restaurants to feeding the hungry in the wake of a disaster, José Andrés has amassed a wealth of stories and teachable moments. In his new book, Change the Recipe, Andrés has collected some of the funniest, most touching, and insightful ta…

This event is online. Register About this event Event lasts 1 hour Join The New York Public Library’s Center for Educators and Schools for an inspiring virtual conversation with Rio Cortez, author of El río es mi mar, and Denise Vega, author of Los mariachis de Adela. Both Cortez’s and Vega’s books were recently recognized as part of NYPL’s annual Spanish-language book list, Los mejores libros para pequeños.This conversation will explore how multilingualism and Latinx identity influence c…

This class is online only. Experienced librarians demonstrate the steps involved in starting your family history research. Discover essential research methods and strategies, identify relevant records and how to locate them, and organize your family research information. Captioning is provided. If you have a specific accessibility request, please email accessibility@nypl.org at least two weeks before the program date. This class is online. Registration is required. REGISTER HERE. Image: U.S…

The economist and Facebook co-founder discusses his revelatory and unexpected history of the rise of American capitalism. What created the most dynamic economy the world has ever known: the mythical “free market” or entrepreneurial leaders in government? In his new book, Marketcrafters, Chris Hughes argues that American policymakers on the right and the left have spent much of the past century actively shaping our markets for social and political goals. Hughes seeks to debunk the myth that fr…

Whether you're new to the Library or need a refresher, this class will cover the basics of using all the resources our flagship library at 42nd Street offers. No matter your level of expertise, it serves as a baseline introduction for all researchers and will equip you with the knowledge you need to make visits to the Library productive and fulfilling. What you will learn: How to find and request materials. How to search our catalog and databases How to connect with Library staff for assis…

Join an archivist from the Manuscripts and Archives division for an introduction to archival research at The New York Public Library. This 60-minute virtual class will help researchers learn more about searching and accessing the Library’s archival collections. After completing this course, participants will be able to navigate the Library’s collection guides, identify relevant archival collections, formulate research questions, and gain a better understanding of how primary sources fit into the…

Join us, as we show you how to navigate the collection at NYPL's Map Division. You will learn how maps can be utilized in your research and with other materials, how to navigate our catalogs to locate maps effectively, and how to search additional cartographic digital databases.

This class is online only. Join librarians from the Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History, and Genealogy and the Dorot Jewish Division as they walk you through the initial steps of Jewish genealogical research. This session will focus on genealogy basics, resources in the Local History and Genealogy collection, and utilizing online databases. Captioning is provided. If you have a specific accessibility request, please email accessibility@nypl.org at least two…

This class is online only. Join librarians from the Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History, and Genealogy and the Dorot Jewish Division as they walk you through the initial steps of Jewish genealogical research. The focus of this session will be on resources located within the Dorot Jewish Division, as well as materials specific to Jewish subjects that could assist in providing context to your discoveries. Captioning is provided. If you have a specific accessibi…

This class is online only. In this class you will learn what is local history? what materials make up a local history collection? why does local history matter? We'll look at maps, photographs, ephemera, records, published local histories, guidebooks, city directories, and more as we explore how to research a city, town, village, or neighborhood, its history, and its people and institutions. To join this online class, Register here Captioning will be provided for this class. Image:…

This event is online only. Registration is required. Please click HERE to register. Whether you're new to the Library or need a refresher, this virtual class will cover the basics of using all the resources that our flagship library at 42nd Street has to offer. No matter your level of expertise, it serves as a baseline introduction for all researchers and will equip you with the knowledge you need to make visits to the Library productive and fulfilling. What you will learn: How to find a…

Amitava Kumar, Instructor This is a week-long seminar taking place from July 14th to July 18th. Click here to apply. The title for this seminar comes from a line by William Maxwell: "After forty years, what I came to care about the most was not style but the breath of life." How are we to find in what we read but also, crucially, in what we write that particular feeling or intimation, touch, unyielding grit or, for that matter, the elusive trace of what we understand as the authentic or the r…

Maaza Mengiste, Instructor This is a week-long seminar taking place from July 28th to August 1st. Click here to apply. Saint Augustine says that the dead are invisible but they are not absent. In this historical fiction workshop, we will imagine these restless dead who make a claim on our present lives. Guided by personal and collective memories, as well as myths, archival research, and family lore, this class will begin to name the shape of the absence that the dead leave behind. By brainsto…