NYPL

These are the books New Yorkers borrowed the most from the library in 2020

Photo credit: Jonathan Blanc / NYPL

December 21, 2020

These are the books New Yorkers borrowed the most from the library in 2020

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During an unusually tough year full of challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic, an election, and racial justice issues, New Yorkers relied on books to not only stay informed but to find comfort. The city's three public library systems on Monday released their top checkouts of 2020 lists. At the New York Public Library, which includes branches in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, the most borrowed book of the year was Brit Bennett's The Vanishing Half. In Brooklyn, the top checkout was How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and in Queens, The Guardians by John Grisham.
See the lists
NYPL celebrates the five boroughs with list of 125 books about NYC

Photo courtesy of NYPL

December 3, 2020

NYPL celebrates the five boroughs with list of 125 books about NYC

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As it wraps up its 125th anniversary year, the New York Public Library is paying tribute to the city it has called home for over a century. On Thursday, the library released "125 NYC Books We Love," a list of titles recommended for adults, kids, and teens that celebrate the five boroughs. The book list is part of the library's "Roar for NYC" campaign, which aims to lift up New Yorkers during a challenging time and remind us of the city's resiliency.
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Read before you vote! NYPL releases 200 book titles to get us election-ready

Photo credit: Jonathan Blanc/NYPL 

October 6, 2020

Read before you vote! NYPL releases 200 book titles to get us election-ready

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There's exactly one month until the presidential election, but that's still plenty of time to educate yourself about the issues at stake. To make things easier, the New York Public Library has released its 2020 Election Reading List, which features 200 titles for adults, teens, and children that "offer illuminating and engaging explorations of key voter issues, from climate change, foreign policy, and education to healthcare, political polarization, and movements toward greater justice and socioeconomic equality."
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On 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, NYPL releases feminism reading list

Courtesy of NYPL

August 18, 2020

On 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, NYPL releases feminism reading list

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On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, giving some women the right to vote under federal law. In celebration of the milestone's centennial, the New York Public Library on Tuesday released a list of over 100 non-fiction titles about feminism, with a mix of current and historic materials. The "Essential Reads on Feminism," offers diverse perspectives on the fight for gender equality as well as reflects the limitations of the early suffrage movement, especially for women of color.
See the full list
These are the 10 library books New Yorkers checked out most during the shutdown

Photo credit: Jonathan Blanc / NYPL

July 28, 2020

These are the 10 library books New Yorkers checked out most during the shutdown

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New York Public Library patrons kept busy during the citywide shutdown by reading lots of books. According to the library, since the temporary closure of all of its branches in Manhattan, the Bronx, and on Staten Island on March 16, there were over two million checkouts of e-books. Plus, 65,000 new users signed up for the SimplyE, the library's free e-reader app. Now with some of the city's public libraries reopened, the NYPL released on Monday a list of the most checked out e-books during the lockdown, with Robin DiAngelo's White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism taking the top spot.
More this way
NYC public libraries reopen 22 branches for grab-and-go service

Photo of Todt Hill-Westerleigh branch; credit: Jonathan Blanc / NYPL

July 13, 2020

NYC public libraries reopen 22 branches for grab-and-go service

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New York City's public libraries on Monday opened 22 branches for limited grab-and-go service as part of a phased reopening process. The joint plan involves a gradual reopening of physical locations in stages, with seven to eight branches opening for contactless pickups and book returns to start. All libraries were forced to close in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Get the details
Harlem’s Schomburg Center releases list of books that celebrate and explore the black experience

Book cover photos courtesy of NYPL

June 9, 2020

Harlem’s Schomburg Center releases list of books that celebrate and explore the black experience

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As the Black Lives Matter movement continues to grow across the country, take this opportunity to learn more about the experience of black Americans. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture on Tuesday released a list of 95 books that foster a greater understanding of black history and culture. The Black Liberation Reading List was curated by Schomburg staff and focuses on works by black writers and scholars.
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New York Public Library considering curbside pickup service

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

May 27, 2020

New York Public Library considering curbside pickup service

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The New York Public Library is reviewing plans for curbside pickup service as the organization prepares to reopen after the coronavirus pandemic. As first reported by THE CITY, cardholders would be able to order books or other materials by phone or online for grab-and-go pickup, under one plan being considered. Books could be picked up in the lobbies or on the sidewalks of some branches.
Details here
To mark 125th anniversary, NYPL releases list of kids books to spark lifelong love of reading

Photo: Jonathan Blanc/NYPL

May 22, 2020

To mark 125th anniversary, NYPL releases list of kids books to spark lifelong love of reading

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While summer vacation is sure to look different this year, the New York Public Library hopes kids will stay busy reading. In celebration of its 125th anniversary on Saturday, the library has released a list of 125 children's books from the last 125 years, aimed at sparking a lifelong love of reading. The collection of books, which is available online, follows a list released in February of the best adult titles, with a list for teenage readers expected this fall.
More here
NYPL’s famous marble lions mark 109th birthday with a virtual party

Courtesy of NYPL

May 8, 2020

NYPL’s famous marble lions mark 109th birthday with a virtual party

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The New York Public Library's historic marble lions turn 109 on May 11 and New Yorkers are invited to their rip-roaring celebration. Carved by the Piccirilli Brothers in 1911, Patience and Fortitude have long guarded the library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue. From a special storytime to lion-curated book lists, the activities highlight the lions' role as symbols of New York's resilience.
More here
Here are the top 10 books New Yorkers are reading during coronavirus shutdown

Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

April 15, 2020

Here are the top 10 books New Yorkers are reading during coronavirus shutdown

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Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash The New York Public Library's most-check-out book of 2019 was Becoming by Michelle Obama. And it appears that during the current coronavirus shutdown, New Yorkers are still eager to learn about the former First Lady's life, as the NYPL has just released a list of the 10 most checked out e-books since the library temporarily closed on March 13, and Becoming takes the number-one spot. Of the 10 books, three are memoirs, two are part of Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale series, and number nine is a throwback with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
See the full list
All the performances, events, and classes in NYC you can stream online

Anna Netrebko in the title role of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.” Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

April 3, 2020

All the performances, events, and classes in NYC you can stream online

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Although the coronavirus has shuttered most of the city, many museums, performance venues, theaters, and famous New Yorkers are offering free (or low-cost) online resources to entertain New Yorkers throughout this difficult period. From virtual storytime with Brooklyn Public Library librarians to live-streamed performances by the Metropolitan Opera to baking classes with Milk Bar's Christina Tosi to dance lessons from the Radio City Rockettes, support local organizations safely from your home. This list was lasted updated at 10:00 a.m. on April 3, 2020.
The full list, ahead
Looking for your next great read? Here are 125 books NYPL hopes you’ll love

Photo: Jonathan Blanc/NYPL

February 14, 2020

Looking for your next great read? Here are 125 books NYPL hopes you’ll love

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Forget the roses and chocolate, spend this Valentine's Day enjoying a new book. As part of its 125th-anniversary celebration, the New York Public Library on Friday released an expertly-curated list of 125 books that inspire a love of reading. A team of librarians spent a year debating and choosing its 125 Books We Love list, which includes fiction and non-fiction titles published after May 23, 1895, the year the library was incorporated.
The full list, here
16 places to celebrate Black History Month in NYC
January 31, 2020

16 places to celebrate Black History Month in NYC

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February marks Black History Month, a nationwide celebration of African American culture and history. New Yorkers will have plenty of opportunities to honor the contributions made by the black community, with live performances, guided tours, comedy shows, art installations, and more events happening across the city. From the Apollo Theater's open house celebration to spoken word performances at Brooklyn barbershops, pay tribute to the achievements of black Americans this February, as well as all year round.
The full list, ahead
10 best places to work remotely in NYC

Photo by Caleb Minear on Unsplash

January 16, 2020

10 best places to work remotely in NYC

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One of the best things about freelancing in New York City is not having to fight with the subway to get to my desk on time, something I did almost daily when I had an office job. One of the worst things, though, is feeling permanently stuck in my cramped apartment. Luckily, this city has lots of great, airy spaces that lend themselves well to remote work, whether you do it full time or are just looking to spend the day free of fluorescent lighting and Gary from HR. Ahead, discover 10 of our favorites.
See the full list
NYPL reveals its 10 most borrowed books of all time

Photo credit: Jonathan Blanc/NYPL

January 13, 2020

NYPL reveals its 10 most borrowed books of all time

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Brooklyn-born author Ezra Jack Keats' beloved children's story The Snowy Day is the most checked out book of all time at the New York Public Library. In celebration of its 125th anniversary, the library on Monday released a list of the 10 most borrowed books at its 92 branches since its founding in 1895. A team of experts at NYPL put together the list by looking at checkout and circulation data, overall trends, current events, popularity, and length of time in print, and presence in the catalog.
Which books made the list
The top 10 books New Yorkers borrowed from NYPL in 2019

Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

December 18, 2019

The top 10 books New Yorkers borrowed from NYPL in 2019

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Library patrons in New York City checked out former first lady Michelle Obama's autobiography Becoming the most out of any book this year. The New York Public Library shared on Wednesday its annual top checkouts list from its branches in the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, as well as its e-book catalog. Becoming, ranked as one of the best-selling memoirs of all time, follows the story of Obama's life, from growing up on the South Side of Chicago to becoming the first African American to serve as First Lady of the United States.
See the full list
New York Public Library’s iconic lions are back on guard and better than ever

Photo from this afternoon, by 6sqft

November 1, 2019

New York Public Library’s iconic lions are back on guard and better than ever

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After spending the last two months outside of public view getting a “full spa treatment,” the New York Public Library’s majestic lions are back to guarding the institution. Patience and Fortitude have been in place since the 42nd Street Library opened in 1911 and were named by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia during the Depression to signify the characteristics New Yorkers needed to survive the tough times. The iconic duo was carved by the Piccirilli Brothers out of porous Tennessee pink marble, making them quite susceptible to the elements and the toll of time. The pair requires conservation efforts every seven to 10 years and were last restored in 2011. The last bits of the scaffolding will be removed during the day on Friday, just in time for the annual Library Lions fundraising gala on Monday, November 4.
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NYPL celebrates centennial of J.D. Salinger’s birth with archive of 200 rare items from the author

J.D. Salinger on the deck of the M.S. Kungsholm, 1941; Courtesy of the New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations and the J.D. Salinger Literary Trust

October 8, 2019

NYPL celebrates centennial of J.D. Salinger’s birth with archive of 200 rare items from the author

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The life of famously private author J.D. Salinger will be the focus of a new New York Public Library exhibit. To mark the centennial of The Catcher in the Rye writer's birth, the library will display more than 200 items from Salinger's life, most of which have never before been seen by the public. The exhibition, "J.D. Salinger," includes family photographs from his time growing up in Manhattan, his own typewriter, and original typescript and proofs.
More this way
City seeks nonprofit to run NYC’s first cultural institution dedicated to immigrants

Inwood Hill Park, courtesy of Dana on Flickr

September 6, 2019

City seeks nonprofit to run NYC’s first cultural institution dedicated to immigrants

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The city is seeking proposals from nonprofits interested in running a new immigrant research center and performing arts center in Inwood. The city's Economic Development Corporation and the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) released a request for expressions of interest on Wednesday for a nonprofit organization to "design, construct, and operate" the Northern Manhattan Immigrant Research and Performing Arts Center (IRPAC). The neighborhood boasts a diverse community, with 49 percent foreign-born as well as the city's highest concentration of residents of Dominican descent.
More here
Iconic New York Public Library lions to get a laser cleaning as part of conservation effort

Photo credit: Jonathan Blanc / NYPL.

August 12, 2019

Iconic New York Public Library lions to get a laser cleaning as part of conservation effort

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The iconic lions standing guard outside the The New York Public Library’s 42nd Street location are getting some much-needed grooming this fall. The majestic pair–named Patience and Fortitude–have been in place since 1911 as international symbols for access to knowledge and information. As part of a conservation effort that happens every 7 to 10 years, the stone sentries will receive repairs to cracks and chips and laser cleanings.
A bit of history, this way
NYPL will display a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence

Photo by Nicole Mondrus for 6sqft

June 28, 2019

NYPL will display a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence

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While hotels and parks around the city are getting ready for the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show, the New York Public Library is going the historical route with their celebrations--by putting a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence on display. This copy, written in Thomas Jefferson’s handwriting, will be available to view for a limited time next Monday and Tuesday at their iconic Bryant Park location.
Find out when you can take a look...
Celebrate pride after hours at the library for talks, a literary drag show, cocktails and more

The Library After Hours. Image courtesy of NYPL.

June 19, 2019

Celebrate pride after hours at the library for talks, a literary drag show, cocktails and more

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Celebrate Pride Month at the library! As part of the New York Public Library's "Love & Resistance: Stonewall 50" exhibition, the doors at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building are staying open on Friday, June 21 for the "city's most cerebral happy hour." The after-hours event offers access to the Rose Main Reading Room and other gorgeous library spaces, artist and curator talks, readings from the archives by special guests, a literary drag show with Drag Queen Story Hour, music, food, drinks and more.
All the info, this way
NYPL officially rolls out new bookmobile in time for summer

Photo credit: Jonathan Blanc / NYPL.

June 18, 2019

NYPL officially rolls out new bookmobile in time for summer

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Update 6/18/19: The New York Public Library officially launched on Tuesday its first new bookmobile in decades. The first moving library--NYPL plans to launch two more this year-- will park at PS 11 in the High Bridge section of the Bronx, letting students browse and borrow immediately. It's National Library Week, and the New York Public Library has taken the opportunity to announce that it will be expanding its presence in New York City's neighborhoods this summer in the form of three new bookmobiles. The mobile libraries are headed to communities in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island.
A long-rolling tradition
NYPL marks 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots with new photo exhibition and events

Photo by Diana Davies, Gay Liberation Front marches on Times Square, New York, 1970. Courtesy of New York Public Library, Manuscripts and Archives Division

February 14, 2019

NYPL marks 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots with new photo exhibition and events

By
Beginning in the season so many associate with love, the New York Public Library is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots through a major exhibition, a series of programs, book recommendations, and more. "Love & Resistance: Stonewall 50" chronicles the emergence of LGBTQ activism with over 150 photographs and ephemera. An opening celebration will kick off both the exhibition and the Library After Hours series on Friday, February 15 from 7-10 P.M.
'Tis the season
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