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Summer at the Library 2023

Get creative and express yourself all summer long at The New York Public Library with free events for all ages, programs for kids and teens, reading recommendations, exhibitions, and much more!

Learn more in español (Spanish), 中文 (Chinese), বাংলা (Bengali), Русский (Russian), français (French), العربية (Arabic), 한국어 (Korean), Kreyòl Ayisyen (Haitian Creole), اردو (Urdu), and English what the Library offers kids and teens this summer.

Colorful Summer at the Library illustration features people dancing, singing, reading, and talking together.

Español (Spanish) | 中文 (Chinese) | বাংলা (Bengali) | Русский (Russian)

Free Events and Programs

Library branches across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island are offering free summer events and programs for all ages. See what’s happening in your neighborhood!

  • Babies & Toddlers
  • Kids
  • Teens
  • Adults
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  • For Kids

    Read, learn, and have fun all summer long with the Library’s Summer Adventure program! Take our 60-day reading challenge, come to special events in library branches, enter our annual summer writing contest, and much more. Download an activity and reading tracker or pick one up in your nearest branch to get started.

    Learn More
    Illustration features two kids reading and wearing costumes.
  • For Teens

    Express yourself and explore our all-new expanded and enhanced Teen Centers, contribute to our Teen Voices magazine, and get ready for the first Teen Voices Festival in August! Plus, join us for author talks, arts and crafts, photography, zine-making, and much more!

    Learn More
    Illustration features three teens sitting on the ground with a basketball in the foreground.
  • For Babies & Toddlers

    Join the Library this summer—and all year round—for storytimes, open play, art activities, free events, and much more. Plus, explore what you can do at home!

    Learn More
    Illustration of a child blowing bubbles with their parent.
  • For Adults

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

    Learn More
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Just Dropped! Special-Edition Hip-Hop Library Card

Unlock the power of the Library with a new, special-edition library card commemorating 50 years of hip-hop! The card features imagery from the soundtrack cassette of the iconic 1983 film Wild Style, directed by Charlie Ahearn, widely considered to be the first film dedicated to hip-hop. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture's Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division holds the original cassette in its collections alongside key archives related to the birth and legacy of hip-hop. The cassette book, which was produced by Kaz Kuzui, includes photos of soundtrack producer Fab 5 Freddy and the “Wild Style” art that was created by artists Zephyr, Revolt, and Sharp.

Apply online or at a branch, and pick up your hip-hop library card from an NYPL location near you!

Apply for a Card Online
Hip-hop library card on a yellow background. The front of the card shows grafitti art reading "Wild Style," and the back side shows a teal cassette tape.

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 recommendations, including fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, and libros en español! Many are also available in accessible formats.

  • Adults
  • Kids
  • Teens
Book covers from the Summer Staff Picks list displayed on a blue background.

Summer at the Library: Downloads Center

Track your reading and activities to become a Summer Star at the Library! Head to your nearest branch to pick up your very own activity and reading tracker, book log pages, and book review sheets—or download and print them at home!

Download these resources in español (Spanish), 中文 (Chinese), বাংলা (Bengali), and Русский (Russian).

Learn More
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For Educators & Caregivers

NYPL offers a wide range of resources to support kids’ learning and development through the summer and all year round. Learn about special opportunities for teachers offered by our Center for Educators and Schools (CES). 

  • Vibrant Voices: New Books from Authors of Color
  • Book a Field Trip to the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures
  • NYPL’s Center for Educators and Schools
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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.

    • English
    • Español
    • 简体中文
    • বাংলা
    • Русский
       
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  • Get a Free Library Card

    Get a free library card today and explore all the Library has to offer, including books, e-books, audiobooks, music, and movies!

    Get Your Card Today
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  • No More Late Fines!

    Did you know? There are no more late fines at the Library, so you can borrow books and more from any branch with no worries.

    Learn More
    White text on a turquoise gradient reads "Say Goodbye to Late Fines!"
  • LIVE from NYPL

    Join us for free events at The New York Public Library’s premier cultural series. Enjoy free events, conversations, and performances featuring the best writers, artists, and thinkers—as well as our rooftop happy hours! 

    Learn More
    LIVE from NYPL logo on a blue background.
  • Free Exhibitions

    The Library offers free major exhibitions and special displays at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Library for the Performing Arts, and Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, plus community showcases at many branch locations throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. See what’s on view this summer!

    Learn More
    Original Winnie-the-Pooh and friends stuffed animals.
  • 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:

    • English
    • Español 
    • 简体中文
    • Русский
    • বাংলা
    • Français
    Hands hold an iPhone displaying the NYPL app in front of a bookshelf.
  • 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
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  • Multilingual Resources

    The New York Public Library welcomes speakers and readers of a wide range of languages. We are committed to helping everyone navigate our free services and resources for all ages. Get a library card, learn about Library offerings, search the catalog, and more in select world languages.

    Explore
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  • 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
    Photo of a librarian reading a picture book to a group of children and caregivers in an outdoor setting.

Thank You

Major support is provided by the New York Life Foundation, the 2023 city-wide sponsor for the Summer Reading and Learning Programs.

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

These programs and initiatives are part of the Library’s overall commitment to our branch patrons and education programs, led by the Merryl and James Tisch Director of Branch Libraries and Education. Major support for educational programming is provided by Merryl H. and James S. Tisch.

Sponsor logos: New York Life Foundation, The Rona Jaffe Foundation, New York Yankees Foundation, Montblanc, and NYS Summer Reading.