Summer at the Library 2025 graphic displays a row of colorful houses and buildings with a train moving by on an above ground track.

Summer at the Library 2025

Create your world this summer at The New York Public Library. Discover free events and activities for all ages, programs for kids and teens, reading recommendations, exhibitions, and much more! Plus, use your library card to book free passes to 90+ museums, gardens, theaters, and more cultural attractions across NYC.

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

Brooklyn Public LibraryQueens Public Library

Save the Date for the Official Kickoff!

Starts June 4, 2025

Get ready for a summer full of fun at your local library. Starting June 4, branches across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island will offer an array of exciting programs, activities, and fresh reading recommendations for all ages! Sign up for our mailing list for the latest updates straight to your inbox—and have your library card ready to make the most of everything the Library offers all year round. Check back on Friday, May 23 for more information in English, español (Spanish), français (French), 中文 (Chinese), Русский (Russian), বাংলা (Bengali), and العربية (Arabic)!

Calendar on a yellow background showing the date June 4.

For Educators

The Library 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), engaging tools for classrooms, reading recommendations, and much more.

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For Kids: Create Your World!

Join us for arts and crafts, bilingual storytimes, STEAM activities, special events in branches, and more this summer. Become a summer star by taking our 60-day reading challenge, come to special Summer Adventure programs in branches, and enter our annual summer writing contest! 

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Coming Up! For Babies & Toddlers: Pop-up Playdates

May 2 & 15, June 3 & 16 | Various Locations 

Come play at our Pop-up Playdates! You are invited to a play extravaganza for little ones. Celebrate the power of play and practice—important early literacy skills—all while having fun!

An image of two young children and an adult playing in a library. The children look at the camera as the adult smiles behind them.

Register Now! Anti-Prom 2025

May 16 & 30, Jun 20 | Various Locations

Calling all teens! Come hang out and dance the night away at the Library's free annual summer party, with music, snacks, art activities, and more! Anti-Prom welcomes and celebrates young people of all sexualities as well as gender identities and expressions. Join us in the Bronx on May 16, Staten Island on May 30, and Manhattan on June 20!

Attend
Colorful illustration of people dancing alongside the words 'Anti-Prom'.

Just for Teens: Free Events, Tech Tools, and More! 

At the Library, there’s always something for teens! Discover tech workshops, book and manga clubs, college prep resources, and more. Plus, swing by our one-of-a-kind Teen Centers stocked with gaming consoles, video equipment, art supplies, and other cool stuff to enjoy. 

A colorful graphic of a teen sitting down and reading an wavy-shaped book.

Culture Pass: Get Free Access to NYC Museums with a Library Card

Explore New York City’s museums and attractions with Culture Pass! With your library card, you can get free admission to more than 100 cultural institutions. Save money and discover more about your city this summer. 

Colorful illustration of people in various art-related scenes for NYC's Culture Pass program.

Discover Events & More for Adults

Explore our free programs, events, and services for adults, including our TechConnect classes, arts and cultural programs, English and basic literacy classes, jobs and careers resources, personal finance help, research tools, and much more—all free, all year round.

Learn More
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More Resources: Early Literacy, Kids, and Teens

From one-on-one online tutoring and homework help to after-school activities and bilingual storytimes for the youngest readers, the Library is here to help students all year round with a wide array of resources.

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Get a Free Library Card

With a library card, you get free access to the Library’s wide array of resources—including books, e-books, databases, educational resources, and more in a range of languages. 

Get Your Card Today
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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
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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. 

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White text on a kelly green background reads "Say Goodbye to Late Fines!"

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!

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Interior of the Polonsky Exhibition of the New York Public Library's Treasures, including a large marble arch.

Multilingual Resources

The New York Public Library is here for everyone! At our 92 locations across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, we welcome speakers and readers of a wide range of languages. The Library is committed to helping everyone navigate our free services and resources: get a library card, learn about Library offerings, search the catalog, and more in world languages.

Explore
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Help Us Support All New Yorkers

The New York Public Library depends on donors like you to support our essential services. Friends of the Library are 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.

Support
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Thank You

Major support provided by the New York Life Foundation, the 2025 city-wide sponsor for the Summer Reading and Learning Programs.

Additional support is provided by Jane Lauder; 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.

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