Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

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! 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.

To learn about the Center's research divisions, schedule an appointment, or find out about other services, see our resources for researchers. 

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. 

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.

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. 

To ensure the safety of the Schomburg Center's collection and provide a smooth experience for all guests we kindly ask that visitors leave large bags—including book bags, backpacks, and shoulder bags—at home or in a secure location before arriving. Any item that could pose a risk to the artwork/artifacts or other visitors may be prohibited at the discretion of our security team. 

On Tuesday, May 20 at 5 PM, join us for a free workshop on our curriculum guide, Aesthetics of Black Power: Identity, Resistance and Style at NYPL's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. Register. 

See our 2025 public programs schedule. Read more. 

Free Book Giveaway! Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library (While supplies last) Read more. 

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

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

Take a look back to June 2020, when we served as a gathering site for the community to honor George Floyd. His death sparked a national conversation about civil rights. After getting permission from the Schomburg, Gerdine Behrmann—then a Harlem resident and teacher—organized the community to create a tribute wall alongside the Center’s courtyard fence at 135th Street. Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer while being arrested on May 25, 2020. Some of the items from the project are now held in our Art and Artifacts Division. Read more.