New York, NY 10037
Day | Hours |
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Monday | 10 AM–6 PM |
Tuesday | 10 AM–6 PM |
Wednesday | 10 AM–6 PM |
Thursday | 10 AM–6 PM |
Friday | 10 AM–6 PM |
Saturday | 10 AM–6 PM |
Sunday | CLOSED |
Visit the Schomburg Center
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, one of The New York Public Library’s renowned research libraries, is a world-leading cultural institution devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences.
To learn about the Center's research divisions, schedule an appointment, or find out about other services, see our resources for researchers. Please note: Division hours may vary.
If you are a postdoctoral scholar, independent researcher, or creative writer who is interested in studying at the Schomburg Center, consider applying to our Scholars-in-Residence Program. The deadline is Sunday, December 1.
Explore our in-person exhibitions: Visibility & Resistance: New Acquisitions of Contemporary Afro-Mexican Photography (through 12/2/24), Code Switch: Distributing Blackness, Reprogramming Internet Art (through 12/19/24), JIMMY! God’s Black Revolutionary Mouth (through 2/28/25), and Letters from Home: The Black ABCs Reimagined (through 5/22/25).
Visit the Schomburg Shop’s Holiday Market on November 8 & 9, December 20 & 21 from 11 AM—5:30 PM. Schomburg Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 5:45 PM. They sell books, clothing, jewelry, and more created by Black and Brown artists for all ages.
Although there are no guided tours at this time, we are working diligently to restore this key service to visitors in spring 2025. Please continue to check this page and the Schomburg Tours page for updates and more information.
Please note: Due to new Library policy, e-bikes, e-scooters, and electronic transportation devices are not permitted inside any NYPL location. This does not apply to mobility aids.
Puerto Rican Heritage Month | Explore the Activism of our Founder
November is Puerto Rican Heritage Month. It's a terrific time to learn more about our founder Arturo Schomburg (1874–1938). He was of Puerto Rican and African descent. Discover his role in helping to liberate the island from Spanish colonial rule. Mr. Schomburg also advocated for the equal treatment of Puerto Rican people by the U.S. federal government. Learn more.
Discover an All-New Curriculum Series Based on our Archives
Explore a multi-part curriculum series that introduces middle- and high-school students to Black history, experience, and culture through our archives and collections. Access four all-new curriculum guides featuring primary source documents and ready-to-use discussion questions—plus, stay tuned for even more guides and resources! Learn more.
In the Spotlight
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New! Free Digital Guide on Bloomberg Connects
Download Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app, to explore the Schomburg Center on your mobile device.
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Explore Past Schomburg Center Exhibitions and Multimedia Projects
If you missed past in person exhibitions such as Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration, you can see it online. Also, explore online exhibitions such as Watercolors Amongst Friends and view past multimedia projects produced by students in our Junior Scholars Program.
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Space Rentals
Hosting an event? Consider our Langton Hughes Auditorium, Langston Hughes Lobby, American Negro Theatre, or Schomburg Courtyard. Learn more about these spaces.
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Get Updates from the Schomburg Center
Sign up for our bi-monthly e-newsletter, Schomburg Connection. Get updates and information on our upcoming programs, exhibitions, research guides, blogs, and more!
Featured at the Schomburg Center
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Visit the Schomburg Shop
The Schomburg Shop is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 AM to 6 PM for in-person shopping. Or, you can shop online.
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From Our Blog
Read blog posts from the librarians, staff, and fellows at the Schomburg Center.
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Public Programs
The Schomburg Center advances knowledge of the global Black experience through dynamic programs and exhibitions.
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Digital Schomburg
Access exhibitions, podcasts, videos, books, images, and more about the global Black experience 24/7.
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Support the Schomburg Center
Schomburg Society members receive discounts, invitations to exclusive events, and more!
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In the News
Read news stories featuring interviews with Schomburg Center curators, librarians, and staff.
Current Exhibitions
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Nellie Mae Rowe: Something From Nothing
OngoingOnline OnlySchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureInspired by the premiere of a documentary film honoring the creative spirit of Nellie Mae Rowe, check out this curated selection of…
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Letters from Home: The Black ABCs Reimagined
Through May 22, 2025Schomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStep into Letters from Home: The Black ABCs Reimagined, an extraordinary exhibition by the Schomburg Junior Scholars Program.
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JIMMY! God's Black Revolutionary Mouth
Through February 28, 2025Schomburg Center for Research in Black CultureNovelist, essayist, intellectual, and activist James Baldwin (1924–1987) is renowned as one of the world’s most influential and…
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Code Switch: Distributing Blackness, Reprogramming Internet Art
Through December 19, 2024Schomburg Center for Research in Black CultureThe first of its kind internationally, Code Switch: Distributing Blackness, Reprogramming Internet Art presented by The…
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Visibility & Resistance: New Acquisitions, Contemporary Afro-Mexican Photography
Through December 2, 2024Schomburg Center for Research in Black CultureVisibility & Resistance celebrates the recent acquisition of a collection of contemporary Afro-Mexican photography. By…
About the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. As a research division of The New York Public Library, the Schomburg Center features diverse programming and collections spanning over 11 million items that illuminate the richness of global Black history, arts, and culture.
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