515 Malcolm X Boulevard (135th St and Malcolm X Blvd)
New York, NY 10037
917-275-6975
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Fully Accessible
Open today
10 AM–6 PM
Regular Hours
Day Hours
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 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.

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

Left to right: A page of archival meeting minutes, a picture of Arturo Schomburg seated in a chair, a page of archival meeting minutes

Digital Collections Images 1941531, 1939249, and 1941532

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

Against a blue background, there are four covers of the curriculum featuring the titles: Race, Racism, and White Supremacy, Abolition as a Black-led Movement, The Black Panther Party in Harlem, and Aesthetics of Black Power.

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

All-New Programs | Fall 2024

Against an orange background, the words Schomburg Center are listed on the top portion in white lettering.  The Schomburg Center logo is in white and next to the “r” in Center. The words Fall 2024 are listed on the lower portion of the page in white lettering.

See our Fall 2024 schedule. Learn more

In the Spotlight

Current Exhibitions

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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