The Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures
Please note that the Polonsky Exhibition will be closed from Monday, May 12, through Wednesday, May 21. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Join us for The New York Public Library's first-ever permanent exhibition highlighting our world-renowned research collections.
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.
Please note that the last entry to the Polonsky Exhibition is 30 minutes before the close of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. See building hours and plan your visit. Please be prepared for a short wait between lining up and entering the exhibition, especially during busy times such as weekend afternoons.
Free 45-minute tours of the Polonsky Exhibition take place Monday to Saturday at 12:30 and 3:30 PM.
New! Censorship and the Freedom to Read
Explore a new display in the Polonsky Exhibition containing items documenting censorship around the world throughout history. Highlights include Toni Morrison's frequently challenged Beloved and a rare decoy copy of James Joyce's Ulysses disguised as a children's book to evade censors. The items on show all feature in the expanded online exhibition Banned: Censorship and the Freedom to Read, which explores the history of censorship and is accompanied by a curriculum guide from the Library's Center for Educators & Schools.
James Baldwin: Mountain to Fire
Explore the extraordinary rise of the writer and activist James Baldwin through some of the Library’s holdings at the Polonsky Exhibition.
Baldwin was a constant NYPL patron in his youth, and today his vast archive of personal papers is kept by the Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Discover never-before-exhibited literary manuscripts—including draft pages from Go Tell It on the Mountain, Giovanni’s Room, and The Fire Next Time—and other remarkable items from our research collections, presented in honor of Baldwin’s 100th birthday year.
Plus, listen to the free James Baldwin: Mountain to Fire audio guide on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app, or online!
Note: Bloomberg Connects is a third-party mobile app not owned or operated by NYPL. See privacy notice below.
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.
Access the Digital Guide on Bloomberg Connects
Explore the full exhibition, accompanying audio guide, specialized tours, outgoing items, newest additions, and more about the Library on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.
Acceda a la guía digital en Bloomberg Connects
Explore la exhibición completa, la audioguía que la acompaña, los recorridos especializados, los tomos y materiales salientes, las adiciones más recientes y más sobre la Biblioteca en Bloomberg Connects, la aplicación gratuita de arte y cultura.
在 Bloomberg Connects 上访问数字导览
在免费的艺术和文化应用 Bloomberg Connects 上探索全部展览、随附的音频导览、特别导览、外出展品、新展品以及图书馆的更多精彩内容。
LIVE from NYPL
LIVE from NYPL, the Library’s premier cultural series, offers special events exploring the objects, ideas, and themes that animate the Polonsky Exhibition.
Watch Now:
Plan Your Visit
Get the most out of your visit to the Polonsky Exhibition and the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, and find out what you need to know about what to bring with you, how to find us, accessibility, and 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 objects related to the exhibition are available at the Visitor Center.
- ASL-interpreted, verbal description, and touch tours can be arranged with two weeks’ advance notice. Contact accessibility@nypl.org.
- Sensory-friendly family days (soft rest areas, limited background noise, activities with educators) are available every three months.
- Benches are located throughout the exhibition for visitors to use.
- We welcome all wheelchairs and mobility devices.
To request an accommodation, please email visitorexperience@nypl.org.
To learn more about the accessibility of NYPL websites and mobile applications, see our Web & Mobile Accessibility Policy.
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.
All audio guides can be accessed via your mobile device. Visitors on site are welcome to connect to our free Wi-Fi service (“AudioGuide_Treasures”) in Gottesman Hall.
Audio Guide in English with Verbal Descriptions
The Treasures Audio Guide with verbal descriptions contains full image descriptions of every item on the audio tour, followed by interpretive commentary hosted by actress, playwright, and Library Lion Anna Deavere Smith. A complete transcription of every stop is also included in the guide.
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.
Learning with the Library's Treasures
Plan a class field trip to the Polonsky Exhibition for a free guided tour of some of our greatest treasures. Students will be introduced to the history of The New York Public Library and some of the most extraordinary items from the millions in our vast collections.
Discover all the programs that NYPL’s Center for Educators and Schools offers through the Polonsky Exhibition, including free class field trips, special access to items in our collections, and much more.
Exhibition Tours
Free 45-minute tours of the Polonsky Exhibition will take place Monday to Saturday at 12:30 and 3:30 PM. Please note:
- Tours are limited to the first 15 people who sign up.
- Registration will be available at the exhibition entrance, where the tour convenes, 15 minutes prior to the start of the tour.
In the Spotlight: Exhibition Highlights
Portrait of John and Alice Coltrane by Chuck Stewart, 1966.
1 of 11 Slides
Explore Treasures with Library Experts
Listen to expert Library staff discuss some of the extraordinary items in the Polonsky Exhibition and the collections that house them in our new video series.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 theater, film, dance, music, and recorded sound, as well as a wide array of circulating and reference materials.
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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.
Questions?
For any questions about visiting the Polonsky Exhibition, please call 917-ASK-NYPL (917-275-6975) or email us: visitorexperience@nypl.org.
Please note that due to limited space, strollers are not permitted in the exhibition. Please inquire with staff on site about solutions for storing your stroller or with any additional concerns. This does not apply to mobility aids used by people with disabilities.
Select photography by Robert Kato.
Privacy Notice: Bloomberg Connects is a third-party mobile application (app) developed by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The app is not owned or operated by NYPL and therefore we encourage you to review the Bloomberg Connects privacy policy here. The policy can also be reviewed within the app on your mobile device. Once you have downloaded the app, we also encourage you to review the app’s specific privacy settings, found in the “Settings” menu on your mobile device.
For more information about NYPL’s third-party partners and vendors in general, please see Section 3 of NYPL's Privacy Policy describing “Third-Party Library Services Providers.”