
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.
Our Art & Artifacts and Moving Image and Recorded Sound divisions will be closed through Monday, October 2. The Photographs and Prints Division will be closed on Saturday, September 30. 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.
Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month | Examine Puerto Rico’s History from Spanish Colony to US Territory

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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
Fall 2023 Exhibitions & Programs

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
Apply to our Scholars-in-Residence Program | Deadline Dec. 1

Photo: Lisa Herndon
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
In the Spotlight
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Get Your Special-Edition Hip-Hop Library Card
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. Apply online or at a branch, and pick up your hip-hop library card from an NYPL location near you!
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Explore Past Schomburg Center Exhibitions and Multimedia Projects
If you missed past in person exhibitions such as Beloved: African American Portraits from the Dawn of Photography and Been Seen, you can see them online. Plus, 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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Michael Cummings & A Bygone Era in Art
OngoingOnline OnlySchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureBeginning in the 1970s, American artist and quiltmaker Michael A. Cummings began collecting Black art event ephemera. Recently…
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Watercolors Amongst Friends
OngoingOnline OnlySchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureLetters between Arturo Schomburg and illustrator, Albert Alexander Smith from the 1930s discuss the acquisition of these newly digitized…
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Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration
Through December 4, 2023Schomburg Center for Research in Black CultureMarking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration explores the impact of the US prison system on contemporary visual art.…
Events
See All-
DJ Lynnée Denise’s Mixtape: Willie Mae Thornton
Tuesday, October 3 | 6:30 PM -
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks: Film Screening and Discussion
Thursday, October 5 | 6 PM
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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