Express Yourself with Our Summer Adventure Programs & Activities!

Join the Library for special Summer Adventure programs in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island—or download a wide array of activity guides to use at home—as we get creative and explore the art and artists of New York City!

Explore

  • Free Events and Programs

    Join us all summer long in branches across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island for a wide array of free events and programs! Plus, express yourself at our special Summer Adventure programs exploring the art and artists of New York City!

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  • KidsLIVE Summer Author Talks

    The New York Public Library’s KidsLIVE programs introduce favorite authors, illustrators, and more to our youngest audiences! This summer, join us as we talk to authors and artists Ying-Hwa Hu, Katie Yamasaki, Karina Yan Glazer, Claribel Ortega, Lyn Miller-Lehmann, and Shauna J. Grant.

    Attend

  • Summer 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!

    Downloadable summer resources displayed on a teal background.

  • Summer Writing Contest

    We want to know what you think would happen if the Statue of Liberty came to life and set out to explore New York City! Send us your entry by Friday, August 4, and find out what you could win.

    Enter Now

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 kids of all ages, including picture books, libros en español, and more! Many are also available in accessible formats.

Explore the List

  • More Book Recommendations for Kids

    Discover books for kids by and about a diverse array of people and communities, handpicked by the expert librarians and staff at The New York Public Library.

    Learn More

  • STEAM Discovery Kits

    Build, code, and stargaze with NYPL’s amazing STEAM Discovery Kits, available to borrow from 40 branches across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Explore robotics, astronomy, engineering, coding, and more.

    Discover

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). 

Illustration of an adult reading to a child seated on their lap.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

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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

  • Free Exhibitions

    The Library offers free major exhibitions and special displays at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the Library for the Performing Arts, and the 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

Explore Summer at the Library

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!

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

Learn More

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; 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.

Logos representing the New York Life Foundation, The Ronna Jaffe Foundation, New York Yankees Foundation, and the Summer Reading and Learning Programs.