For more than 125 years, The New York Public Library has collected, preserved, and made accessible the world’s knowledge. Now, for the first time, the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures showcases some of the most extraordinary items from the 56 million in our collections, inspiring and empowering visitors to discover, learn, and create new knowledge—today and in the years ahead.

The treasures in this exhibition tell the stories of people, places, and moments spanning 4,000 years—from the emergence of the written word through to the present day. Visitors will encounter manuscripts, artworks, letters, still and moving images, recordings, and more that bring vividly to life voices of the past. While the Library’s collections have always been available for public use, the Polonsky Exhibition builds on our 125-year legacy by offering a unique opportunity to make new connections and expand our understanding of the world and each other—so that together we can shape a better future.

Plan your visit and explore the free Treasures Audio Guide.

  • Treasures: Black Progress and Representation

    Delve deeper into the Library’s collections, exhibitions, and resources, including the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures, with our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app. Use the app to explore the Library onsite, or from anywhere! Plus—for Black History Month, explore a special tour that features Black creators and activists reclaiming and establishing space in various fields and illustrates evolving representations of Black identity around the world.

    Collage featuring historic depictions of Sojourner Truth, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Toussaint Louverture.

  • Explore the Exhibition Online

    Dig deeper into the themes explored in the Polonsky Exhibition and discover more information about the wide array of objects on display, including the remarkable collections from which they are drawn.

    Learn More

Exhibition Accessibility: Accommodations & Resources

The New York Public Library strives to ensure that everyone has access to the full range of information, services, and programs offered at the Library. 

  • Large print and braille label text as well as tactile and multisensory kits for the exhibition are available at the information desk.
  • ASL-interpreted, verbal description, and touch tours are available periodically. 
  • Sensory-friendly family days (soft rest areas, limited background noise, activities with educators) are available monthly. 
  • There are benches in Gottesman Hall for visitors to use. If you require additional accommodation onsite, please speak to a staff member.

If you would like to reserve a spot at your preferred time or request accommodation, please email visitorexperience@nypl.org.

To learn more about the accessibility of NYPL websites and mobile applications, see our Web & Mobile Accessibility Policy.

Learn More

Special Thanks:

  • Victor Chu, Director—Sky Tech One
  • Justin Namon, FPV Drone Pilot
  • Rob McEnaney, FPV Drone Technician

  • Audio Guide in English

    Discover highlights of the Polonsky Exhibition with the free Treasures Audio Guide, accessible onsite or from anywhere on mobile devices. Don’t forget your headphones! The audio guide in English is hosted by actress, playwright, and Library Lion Anna Deavere Smith.

    Listen Now

  • Audio Guide in English with Verbal Descriptions

    The Treasures Audio Guide is available with verbal descriptions of each of the highlights featured followed by interpretive commentary hosted by actress, playwright, and Library Lion Anna Deavere Smith.

    Listen Now

  • Audioguía en español

    Descubra los aspectos más destacados de la exhibición Polonsky con la audioguía gratuita Treasures, a la que podrá acceder in situ o desde cualquier lugar a través de dispositivos móviles. ¡No olvide sus auriculares! La audioguía en español es presentada por el novelista, periodista y productor de radio Daniel Alarcón.

    Escuche ahora

  • 普通话音频导览

    在展览现场或随时随地在移动设备上利用免费的宝藏展音频导览探索展览的亮点。不要忘记佩戴耳机！普通话音频导览由电影制作人赵婷担任讲解员。

    立即收听

In the Spotlight: Exhibition Highlights

A black and white photograph of a Black man and woman. The man is in the foreground holding a saxophone in his lap with his right fist resting in front of his face. The woman is in the background in less clear focus
Portrait of John and Alice Coltrane by Chuck Stewart, 1966.
Close-up of the top half of a creased, handwritten page that reads: A Declaration of the Representatives of the United States of America in General Congress assembled.
Thomas Jefferson, fair copy of the Declaration of Independence, 1776, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.
A painted portrait of a white woman who sits slightly at an angle while looking over her right shoulder
Portrait of Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797), John Keenan (fl. 1791–1815), 1804, after ca. 1797 portrait by John Opie (1761–1807)
Photo of two bronze busts positioned on columns: one of a Black man, the other of a Black woman, both gazing off into the distance
Vénus africaine and Saïd Abdullah by Charles Henri Joseph Cordier, 1852
A sepia photograph of a young woman dressed in Indian garb. Her left hand rests on her hip and her right elbow rests atop a plush chair with a high back
Darogha Ubbas Alli, Juddan Dancing Girl from Beauties of Lucknow, Calcutta, 1874
An old yellowed piece of paper with light script running across the page
Bill of Rights, United States Congress (New York), 1789
Two cylinders sitting within a brown background. The cylinder on the left is solid brown, and the one on the right is slightly lighter and larger with the image of a man's face on it
Lionel Mapleson (1865–1937), Early opera recordings on wax cylinders, 1900–1904
Colorful poster of a woman in theatrical garb, with a cape and a sword in a hilt, set against an ornate background
Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939), Poster for the Thêàtre de Sarah Bernhardt production of Tragique Histoire d’Hamlet, Prince de Danemark - Sarah Bernhardt, 1899
Close-up of a large book opened to a page featuring two columns of decorated text and gothic type, with hand-written notes in the margins.
Johannes Gutenberg, Biblia Latina, 1455, Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library.
Detail of frontispiece of Shakespeare's portfolio showing an engraving of the author in 17th-century dress. Above it reads: Published according to the true original copies.
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. Published according to the True Originall Copies
London: Isaac Jaggard and Edward Blount, 1623
Original stuffed animals Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Kanga, Piglet, and Tigger
Winnie-the-Pooh and Friends, ca. 1921

    • Featured: NYC Treasures with Gothamist

    Discover a selection of highlights from the Polonsky Exhibition that represent our very own hometown: New York City. Every weekday in September, our friends at Gothamist are spotlighting an NYC-themed object featured in the exhibition.

    Learn More

    • Shop the Library

      Celebrate the Library’s vast collections with a variety of books and gifts inspired by the Polonsky Exhibition. All purchases help support the important work of the Library. 

      Shop Now

    • Bring the Exhibition Home

      This beautifully illustrated companion volume showcases the breadth and depth of the Library’s collections, and gives visitors from around the world an opportunity to take home and enjoy these extraordinary items for years to come.

      Get the Book

    Research at the Library

    With our expansive historic collections, expert librarians, and a variety of fellowships and learning opportunities available, The New York Public Library is an invaluable resource for writers, scholars, students, and creators worldwide.

    Start Your Research

    • Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

      The New York Public Library’s flagship location, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is renowned for its extraordinary historical collections and its commitment to providing free and equal access to its resources.

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    • Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

      The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem is a world-leading cultural institution devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences.

      Learn More

    • The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

      The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts houses one of the world's most extensive research collections in the fields of theatre, film, dance, music, and recorded sound, as well as a wide array of circulating and reference materials.

      Learn More

    • Get a Library Card

      Sign up for a library card for free online today! Access everything the Library has to offer, from free one-on-one online tutoring to e-books, with your library card.

      Get Your Card Today

    • Stay Connected

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    • Support the Library

      Our collections, programs, and resources are made freely available to New Yorkers thanks to contributions from supporters like you. Become a member today and enjoy exclusive benefits, including special access to the Polonsky Exhibition, behind-the-scenes access to our collections, and more.

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    Select photography by Robert Kato.