Book Giveaways!
We are giving away 500,000 free books for kids and teens at branches this summer! Drop by your local branch and pick up new books to take home for kids and teens—plus, look out for programs and events where we’re giving away books for adults, too.
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!
Reading Rocks! Join Dance Party NYC
One day, five boroughs—join us for Dance Party NYC, a joyous citywide festival of music and movement! Part of The New York Public Library’s biggest-ever summer program, Dance Party NYC will take place on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at more than 80 venues across the city, including events at many library locations and a K-pop dance party at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.
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For Kids
Learn MoreRead, 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.
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For Teens
Learn MoreMake 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.
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For Babies & Toddlers
Learn MoreJoin 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
Learn MoreFrom 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.
For Educators & Caregivers
The Library has a wide array of resources to support you and your kids or students with our all-new Make Waves program. Find out in a range of world languages what we offer this summer. Download our Summer 2022 Educator Guide for recommended reading and discussion points.
Summer Staff Picks
Our expert librarians have curated a wide array of fun, thought-provoking, and inspiring books for all ages to read this summer! Check out these books for adults, including fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, and libros en español! Many are also available in accessible formats.
Summer at the Library: Downloads Center
Get the most out of our all-new Make Waves program with our downloadable activity and reading tracker for kids of all ages, which includes badges to earn as you meet your reading targets and complete activities! Plus, download and print new book log pages and more space to write your reviews. Download these resources in Español (Spanish), 中文 (Chinese), বাংলা (Bengali), and Русский (Russian).
What Are You Reading This Summer?
Share your go-to summer reads and add to the #NYPLSummerBookshelf. Become a guest librarian at the Library’s new virtual branch and see what your fellow readers are recommending.
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Stay Connected
Sign UpGet 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.
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Library Cards
Apply NowJoin 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.
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Did You Know?
Learn MoreThere 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
AttendJoin 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.
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Friends of the Library
Learn MoreThe 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.
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Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures
Learn MoreStay 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
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Personalized Book Bundles
Try It NowTell 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.
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NYPL App
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.
Note About Privacy & External Websites
Please note: This web page contains third-party links. By clicking on the website links above, you will leave NYPL’s website and enter a website not operated by NYPL. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of every third-party website or service that you visit or use, including those third parties with whom you interact through our Library services.
For more information about these third-party links, please see the section of NYPL's Privacy Policy describing "Third-Party Library Services Providers.” Note that children under the age of 13 should not submit any personally-identifiable information (e.g., name, email address, etc) to any online website, per federal COPPA requirements.