515 Malcolm X Boulevard (135th St and Malcolm X Blvd)
New York, NY 10037
917-275-6975
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Fully Accessible
Closed today
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.

Our Art & Artifacts and Moving Image and Recorded Sound divisions are temporarily closed. 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 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 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.

2023 in Review | The Top 3s of 2023

 A collage of two illustrations and one photograph are side by side. The photos are veritical.

Digital Collections Images 1108120 and 1221554. Photo by Bob Gore. 

As 2023 comes to an end, take a look back at some of our most-viewed online content of the year.

The list includes: a blog that continues to make a big splash two years after it was first published; an online research guide that’s become a three-peat in popularity; and a conversation with one of hip-hop’s luminaries. Read more

Fall 2023 Exhibitions & Programs

Against a yellow/gold background, the words Fall 2023, Exhibitions and Programs.

Exhibitions:
Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration | Schomburg Center | Through Dec 4
Fundi: A Legacy of Learning | Schomburg Center | Through May 1, 2024
Nellie Mae Rowe: Something From Nothing | Online
Michael Cummings & A Bygone Era of Art | Online
Watercolors Amongst Friends | Online

Public Programs Schedule:
Fall 2023

In the Spotlight

Current Exhibitions

  • 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…

  • Michael Cummings & A Bygone Era in Art

    Ongoing
    Online Only
    Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

    Beginning in the 1970s, American artist and quiltmaker Michael A. Cummings began collecting Black art event ephemera. Recently…

  • Watercolors Amongst Friends

    Ongoing
    Online Only
    Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

    Letters between Arturo Schomburg and illustrator, Albert Alexander Smith from the 1930s discuss the acquisition of these newly digitized…

  • FUNDI: A Legacy of Learning & Liberation

    Through May 1, 2024
    Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

    Celebrating the artistic contributions of the Schomburg Center's Junior Scholars Program.

  • Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration

    Through December 4, 2023
    Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

    Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration explores the impact of the US prison system on contemporary visual art.…

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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