Explore Our Free Programs
Discover a wide array of free programs across the Library, including at our neighborhood branches in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island.
Get Homework Help at NYPL After School
NYPL After School is a free drop-in program for kids aged 6–12 that takes place after regular school hours on Mondays through Thursdays. Join us at one of our 20 participating branches across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island for homework help from one of our tutors or Teen Reading Ambassadors, reading recommendations, fun writing, STEAM, and enrichment activities—and even snacks! Find out where NYPL After School is happening in person, explore online activities and resources, and more.
Take Home One of Our STEAM Discovery Kits
Build, code, and stargaze with NYPL’s amazing STEAM Discovery Kits! Available to borrow from 30 branches across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, these kits enable kids to explore robotics, astronomy, engineering, coding, and more using exciting tools, toys, and books at home.
TeenLIVE
TeenLIVE events at The New York Public Library feature thought-provoking conversations, real debates, and exciting performances with your favorite authors, artists, filmmakers, musicians, fashionistas, and more.
Visit the Teen Center at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)
At the Teen Center, discover a fully equipped space just for you, including areas for exploring technology, finding academic support, or just hanging out. Find inspiration, pursue your interests, and discover resources for schoolwork, job help, or creating the next innovative breakthrough! Look out for events and programming for teens, our recording studio and media lab, amenities just for teens, and class visit opportunities.
Explore engaging resources for supplemental learning on core subjects such as math, science, and reading that include activities like games and puzzles.
Brightly
An online hub from Penguin Random House to “help raise kids who love to read.” Features reading tips, book recommendations, activities, and more.
BBC iReporter
Take on the role of a BBC social media reporter breaking the story of a hacking crisis in this choose-your-own adventure game with live-action video. Touches on digital literacy issues such as sources, fake news, and sharing on social media.
Code Club
Get started learning programming languages like Scratch, HTML/CSS, or Python with these fun tutorials and creative projects! We recommend beginning coders start with the Scratch modules while more experienced coders can test out HTML/CSS or Python.
Community Oral History Project
Not only can you explore the oral histories from folks in your community, you can also help by transcribing interviews.
Digital Compass by Common Sense Education
Digital literacy choose-your-own-adventure games for middle school students.
Hour of Code
Fun, themed coding tutorials that are great for beginners as well as kids who are comfortable with coding, but want to practice or tackle a fun challenge. Spend an hour making art or designing games using popular characters from Frozen, Minecraft, or Star Wars.
Incredibox
Build an animated beatboxing crew using drag-and-drop musical samples. Play around and make your own beats or complete challenges to unlock music choruses. Incredibox has both a limited online demo and an app.
Microsoft MakeCode Arcade
Design, remix, and play games while learning the code that powers them. Start with a tutorial game before building your own game or taking a deeper dive into a coding course.
Mouse Open Projects
Find resources and tutorials for creative technology projects using 3D modeling, eight-bit pixel art, coding, and more.
NPR’s Kids and Families Podcasts
We especially love Wow in the World, “a podcast designed for parents and kids to listen to together,” with its content focus on learning more about the world.
OldNYC—Mapping Historical Photos from NYPL
Ever wondered what your neighborhood looked like way back when? See New York City through the ages in these archival photographs.
PBS Above the Noise
Each short episode in this series takes on a current event or controversial topic, giving you facts and figures to cut through the hype and rise above the noise.
PBS Kids
Play games online and watch fun videos.
ReadWriteThink
An online reading and language arts hub jointly hosted by the International Literacy Association and the National Council for Teachers of English. Features printable activities, book recommendations, and interactive tools like a digital comic book creator!
Sampulator
Create the next chart-topper with a web-based keyboard of music samples. Record and layer different tracks, then listen to your creation.
Scratch
A programming language developed by MIT especially for beginning coders. Use the Scratch website or download the free software to create, remix, and share coding projects like games and animations in a safe online community.
Sketchpad
An online platform for making digital art. Paint and draw with a wide range of tools and special effects or add clip art and text. Sketchpad’s website can be used on a computer or a tablet.
Stereogranimator
Create weird, old-timey gifs with the New York Public Library’s own stereography site.
-
Academic Support: Middle School
ExploreExplore an array of resources that will help you with everything from chemistry and history to English and math.
-
Back to School with NYPL
The New York Public Library is here to support kids of all ages, educators, and parents and caregivers with an array of programs and resources, both in person and online. Discover what we’re doing for kids and teens as New Yorkers return to school this fall—plus books, free homework help, learning tools, and fun, engaging activities to help you develop all your skills.
More for Kids & Teens
Everything early learners, kids, and teens need to become lifelong learners.
