Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

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.

Our Art & Artifacts,  Moving Image and Recorded Sound, and Photographs & Prints divisions will be closed through Monday, Sept. 25. We apologize for any inconvenience.

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.

The Schomburg Shop sells clothing, jewelry, books, and more for all ages. Items are created by Black and Brown artists. The Shop is open Tuesday to Saturday 11 AM—6 PM.

Though there are no guided tours at this time, we are working diligently to restore this key service to visitors in spring 2024. 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.

This year marks the 150th anniversary since the Spanish National Assembly abolished slavery in Puerto Rico in 1873. At the time, enslaved people were required to work an additional three years and owners of enslaved people received financial compensation.

Through our collections, examine the island's history as a colony of Spain and later as a U.S. territory following the Spanish-American War. Plus, discover the role our founder Arturo Schomburg, who was of African and Puerto Rican descent, played in the island's liberation from Spain and his advocacy for the equal treatment of Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican people by the U.S. federal government in the early 1900s. Read more

Exhibitions:
Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration | Schomburg Center | Through Dec 4
Michael Cummings & A Bygone Era of Art | Online
Watercolors Amongst Friends | Online

Public Programs Schedule:
Fall 2023

Are you a postdoctoral scholar, independent researcher, or creative writer who is interested in studying at the Schomburg Center? Apply to our Scholars-in-Residence Program.

It offers long and short-term fellowships designed to support and encourage research and writing on the history, politics, literature, and culture of the peoples of Africa and the African diaspora. Fellows receive a stipend, research support, and more.

The deadline to apply is Friday, December 1, 2023. Read more

The New York Public Library created a special-edition library card commemorating 50 years of hip-hop! The card features imagery from the soundtrack cassette of the iconic 1983 film Wild Style, directed by Charlie Ahearn, widely considered to be the first film dedicated to hip-hop. Our Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division holds the original cassette in its collections. The cassette book, which was produced by Kaz Kuzui, includes photos of soundtrack producer Fab 5 Freddy and the “Wild Style” art that was created by artists Zephyr, Revolt, and Sharp.

Apply online or at a branch, and pick up your hip-hop library card from an NYPL location near you!