Get Your Free Book in NYPL Branches!

Join us in your nearest branch in the Bronx, Manhattan, or Staten Island starting June 9 as we give away 500,000 books for kids and teens! Drop by one of our friendly neighborhood locations anytime to choose one of the new diverse books we’re giving to kids and teens, from birth through 18, to take home and keep forever. A lifelong love of reading—and your own home library—begin with choosing your first book. Come to the Library and choose yours!

Diverse piles of children's and teens books to be given away to the public during Summer at the Library.

Personalize Your Free Book!

Pick up a specially designed NYPL bookplate to stick in your new book: a gift from us to you! Choose from an array of new paperback books by authors and featuring characters who reflect the rich multicultural diversity of New York City. Select locations will offer Spanish, Chinese, and Large Print titles. These books are chosen by our expert librarians inspired by our recommended reading lists.

Photo of a hand holding an NYPL book giveaway book in front of a wall of bookshelves.

What Else Can I Do at the Library?

  • For Kids

    ​​Read, learn, and have fun all summer long with our all-new Make Waves program! Take the summer reading challenge, join us in branches for our “Summer Cruise” programs, and enter our annual summer writing contest.

    Learn More

  • For Teens

    Make Waves this summer by contributing to our brand-new magazine for teens! Plus, join us for Anti-Prom, author talks, arts and crafts, photography, zine-making, and much more in branches and online.

    Learn More

  • For Babies & Toddlers

    Join the Library this summer—and all year round—for storytimes, free events and programs, activities, and much more. Plus, explore what you can do at home with your Little Learners!

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  • For Adults

    From book discussions and author talks to plant swaps and a citywide dance party, there’s something for everyone this summer at The New York Public Library! Explore everything the Library has to offer.

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Free Events and Programs

Dive into the Library this summer in branches across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island with our free events and programs for all ages!

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  • Stay Connected

    Get the best from the Library direct to your inbox! From our free programs, events, and exhibitions to activities for kids and research news, there's something for everyone.

    Sign Up

  • Library Cards

    Join your library community! New Yorkers can access millions of books, e-books, digital resources, and more—all FREE with a New York Public Library card.

    Apply Now

  • Did You Know?

    There are no more late fines at the Library—and all old fines have been removed—so you can borrow books and more from any branch with no worries!

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  • LIVE from NYPL

    Join the Library's premier cultural event series, LIVE from NYPL, for in-person, outdoor, and online programs that bring together distinguished writers, artists, and scholars for conversations and performances.

    Attend

  • Friends of the Library

    The New York Public Library depends on donors like you to support our essential services. Friends of the Library will be vital as we expand access to our resources, including job help, community outreach, and language learning materials. Make a membership gift now and enjoy benefits all year long.

    Learn More

  • Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures

    Stay cool this summer and explore a wide array of extraordinary highlights from NYPL’s collections in this free exhibition at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

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  • E-Books & Audiobooks

    Download SimplyE, the Library's free e-reader app, which makes it easy to borrow e-books and audiobooks from a catalog of more than 300,000 titles.

    Outside in Bryant Park, a hand in a denim jacket holds up an iPhone with SimplyE displayed on the screen.

  • Personalized Book Bundles

    Tell us what you like to read and we’ll handpick a personalized book bundle just for you! Get Shelf Help in open branches, online, or by calling Ask NYPL on 917-ASK-NYPL.

    Try It Now

  • NYPL App

    With the NYPL app, you can access everything the Library has to offer from home or while you’re on the go. Information available in:

    In the foreground, two hands hold an iPhone with the NYPL App displayed on the screen; in the background is a bookshelf.

Explore Summer at the Library

Discover oceans of possibility at The New York Public Library this summer with free events and programs for all ages, book giveaways, our all-new Make Waves program for kids and teens, reading recommendations, and much more!

Explore Summer at the Library for all ages in español (Spanish), 中文 (Chinese), বাংলা (Bengali), Русский (Russian), and English.

Learn More

Thank You

The Book Giveaway is supported in part by a generous grant from the Gray Foundation. 

Major support provided by the New York Life Foundation, the 2022 city-wide sponsor for the Summer Reading and Learning Programs.

Additional support is provided by The Rona Jaffe Foundation; New York Yankees Foundation; anonymous donors; and the continuing major support of the Andreas C. Dracopoulos Family Endowment for Young Audiences.

Major support for educational programming is provided by Merryl H. and James S. Tisch.

Logos for: the Gray Foundation, the New York Life Foundation, The Rona Jaffe Foundation, New York Yankees Foundation, and Summer Reading at New York Libraries.