515 Malcolm X Boulevard (135th St and Malcolm X Blvd)
New York, NY 10037
917-275-6975
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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
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100 Schomburg logo on a green background.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem is one of The New York Public Library’s renowned research libraries. A world-leading cultural institution devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diasporic, and African experiences, the Schomburg stewards a collection of over 11 million items.  

This year, we're celebrating our 100th anniversary! Stay tuned for our official kickoff this spring, and join us all year long for a wide array of special events, exhibitions, and more as we celebrate this milestone and continue the legacy of Arturo Schomburg. Learn more.

Visit the Schomburg Center

The front doors of the Schomburg Center. The words “Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture'' is written as a metal awning above the front doors.

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.

Explore our in-person exhibition, Letters from Home: The Black ABCs Reimagined. 

The Schomburg Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 5:45 PM. The Shop sells books, clothing, jewelry, and more created by Black and Brown artists for all ages.

Guided group tours take place Monday–Friday from 11 AM through 2 PM. Visit our Schomburg Tours page. Confirmed reservations are required for all guided group tours. 

Online applications are open for the 2025-2026 class of our Junior Scholars Program. The priority deadline is Sunday, June 15. The final deadline is Monday, June 30. 

Our 13th Annual Black Comic Book Festival will be part of a larger celebration during our Centennial Festival in June 2025. More information will be coming soon. 

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.

Coming Soon! ‘100: A Century of Collections, Community, and Creativity’

Six sets of sepia-colored vertical lines against an off-white background. Above are the words in sepia-colored lettering, 100: A Century of Collections, Community and Creativity. Next to it is a painting of figures posed amid gears and skyscrapers.

Image: Aspects of Negro Life: Song of the Towers, 1934 by Aaron Douglas

On View Starting May 8

Join us for a major new exhibition showcasing some of the many extraordinary items from our collections! Curated by Schomburg Center Director Joy L. Bivins, the exhibition will surround visitors with the sights, sounds, and objects that have shaped this historic institution’s first century. Read more. 

What's On | Events & Content Inspired by Our Centennial

Against a green background, the words: Inspired by Our Centennial in white lettering. The 100th anniversary logo is in the lower right hand corner.

See our 2025 public programs schedule. Read more. 

Explore, It Happened in Harlem, our new list of recommended books for all ages. Learn more.   

Available May 8! Special-Edition Schomburg 100 Library Card. Apply. 

Access the Centennial edition of Teaching with the Schomburg Center's Archives. Read more. 

April Is National Poetry Month

Against a dark purple background, are three images: an archival photo of Langston Hughes, which is autographed,an illustration of Phillis Wheatley in profile, and a black and white photograph of Claude McKay.

Digital Collections Images: psnypl_scg_244, 1232382, and 1689990

Explore our research guide, which lists collection materials, books, manuscripts, and more of acclaimed poets featured in our archives such as Langston Hughes, Phillis Wheatley, and Claude McKay. Read more. 

In the Spotlight

  • 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!

    Madam C. J. Walker driving a car, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division.

  • 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.

    Schomburg Center cosmogram as seen from above.

  • 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 them online! Also, explore online exhibitions such as Watercolors Amongst Friends and view past multimedia projects produced by students in our Junior Scholars Program.

    Three people are looking at archival materials inside a glass display case.

  • Space Rentals

    Hosting an event? Consider our Langton Hughes Auditorium, Langston Hughes Lobby, American Negro Theatre, or Schomburg Courtyard. Learn more about these spaces.

    Circle-shaped tables covered with blue tablecloths and chairs are arranged in the Langston Hughes Lobby. Along the left side is a rectuangular shaped table that has glasses on top. It is covered with a blue table cloth.

  • 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!

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Featured at the Schomburg Center

  • Visit the Schomburg Shop

    The Schomburg Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM for in-person shopping. Or, you can shop online.

    A shelf containing books shown at a side angle. In the background there are floor to ceiling shelves with books and items.

  • From Our Blog

    Read blog posts from the librarians, staff, and fellows at the Schomburg Center.

    An archival photos of librarians sitting a table looking at paperwork and typing letters.

  • Public Programs

    The Schomburg Center advances knowledge of the global Black experience through dynamic programs and exhibitions.

    Two people are seated in club chairs onstage at the Schomburg Center. Behind the is a video screen listing the name of the program and panelists.

  • Digital Schomburg

    Access exhibitions, podcasts, videos, books, digital collections, and more about the global Black experience 24/7.

    A black and white illustration of people dancing.

  • Support the Schomburg Center

    Schomburg Society members receive discounts, invitations to exclusive events, and more!

    Photograph of the Schomburg Center's exterior facade

  • In the News

    Read news stories featuring interviews with Schomburg Center curators, librarians, and staff.

    A male sitting in profile reading a newspaper

Current Exhibitions

  • Letters from Home: The Black ABCs Reimagined

    Ongoing
    Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

    Step into Letters from Home: The Black ABCs Reimagined, an extraordinary exhibition by the Schomburg Junior Scholars Program. 

  • Nellie Mae Rowe: Something From Nothing

    Ongoing
    Online Only
    Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

    Inspired by the premiere of a documentary film honoring the creative spirit of Nellie Mae Rowe, check out this curated selection of…

About the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Interior view of 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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