In the Spotlight

New! Introducing Shelf Help 

Not sure what to read next? Looking for books for your kids? The Library has got you covered! With our new Shelf Help service, get books handpicked just for you or your family when you call one of our expert librarians or fill out our form. Just let us know your reading interests—then we’ll select your five books and tell you when they’re ready for you at your local branch. Find out how you can start requesting books today. Happy reading!

NYPL's 2020 Election Reading List

Get ready for Election Day on November 3 with NYPL's list of essential books for all ages. Featuring selections from across our Library system, these titles offer deep analysis of the topics on voters' minds today, including healthcare, education, and climate change, as well as trends in political polarization, the media, and movements toward greater justice and socioeconomic equity. 

Get Ready for Halloween with NYPL & Tim Gunn 

The Library is throwing a virtual costume party—and you’re invited! Share your best literary-themed costume with the hashtag #NYPLHalloween and join us on Friday, October 30, when Project Runway’s Tim Gunn will review his favorite looks and share highlights on our social media. Learn more about how you can tune in to check out the parade—and submit your own book look to be featured.

LIVE from NYPL

Introducing the Harry Belafonte Black Liberation Speaker Series, with Thanks to Kenneth Cole

Malcolm X: The Facts and the Fictions

Monday, October 26 | 8 PM
​Join the Library for an illuminating discussion of The Dead Are Arising, the new biography of Malcolm X's life that was last week named a finalist for the National Book Award. In 1990, Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist Les Payne embarked on what would become a near-30-year quest to reconstruct the life and death of Malcolm X. His daughter, Tamara Payne, heroically completed the project after his death in 2018. She will speak with the Rev. Calvin O. Butts III about her father's life and work, and the book that reaffirms the centrality of Malcolm X in American political life. Presented in partnership with the Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Raven Leilani & Kiley Reid in Conversation

Monday, November 16 | 8 PM​
Join Raven Leilani, author of Luster, and 2020 Young Lions Fiction Award nominee Kiley Reid, author of Such a Fun Age, for an in-depth discussion on the politics of writing and their bestselling debut novels. Both novels feature young Black women trying to navigate the challenges of a world often neglectful of their needs. Leilani and Reid will speak with writer Roxanne Fequiere about the particular resonance of their novels in the broader context of Black feminism. 

Virtual Book Club

Hear More from Raven Leilani: October Livestream Event

Wednesday, October 28 | 7 PM
Coming up this week, dive deep into Leilani's book, Luster, with our October book club livestream and Q&A. For a limited time, Luster is available to download on the Library's free e-reader app, SimplyE—no holds or waiting. Download the book and join the conversation with this special event, as well as our librarian-led discussion groups, held throughout the month. Plus, keep an eye out for our November book club announcement to find your next great read!

For Kids & Teens

TeenLIVE: The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

Wednesday, October 28 | 4:30 PM​
Award-winning author Brandy Colbert joins the Library to discuss her novels, including her latest release, The Voting Booth, about a civic-minded teen on a quest to help her fellow classmate after he's turned away from the polls when trying to vote for the first time. Tune in and submit your questions for a chance to speak with the author herself!

KidsLIVE with Padma Venkatraman

Tuesday, October 27 | 3:30 PM​
Join us for a special edition of KidsLIVE with Padma Venkatraman, author of The Bridge Home. Venkatraman will share her inspirations for writing the book and read an excerpt. Then, NYPL librarians will join the author for a Q&A.

New! Sing, Dance & Learn with Your Littlest Learners 

The Library is excited to announce a new regular series of videos to help prepare your youngest learners for a lifetime of learning. Join us for music, movement, and multilingual fun, with five new videos posted online every week to get your little one dancing, singing, and learning in a variety of languages, including English, Spanish, and Urdu. 

Remote Resources & Events

Now Expanded: Virtual Career Services Just for You

The Library is proud to offer personalized, one-on-one job support from our expert librarians to help New Yorkers during this critical time. Our trained staff can help you edit your resume and cover letters, identify job search resources, and find partner organizations that will provide you with job training and specialized job search assistance. Sign up today!

Networking Best Practices to Land the Job and Career You Want

Monday, October 26 | 6 PM​
Having a network of relationships is crucial in today’s challenging environment, where bulk-applying to jobs can be an inefficient way to find one. In this webinar, Robert Hellmann, president of Hellmann Consulting, takes you through strategies and techniques that will help you to build the relationships that will advance your career. 

Find Out What's New in Medicare 

Wednesday, October 28 | 12 Noon
Understanding the ins and outs of Medicare can be difficult, but our experts are here to help. Join us for an overview of what Medicare offers and your coverage options, and learn about programs that may help with your Medicare costs. Get the latest information and your questions answered.

মহামারিতে পথে পথে | Pandemic on the Road with Reetu Sattar

Wednesday, October 28 | 6 PM​
নিউইয়র্ক পাবলিক লাইব্রেরির সহযোগিতায় সুইস ইন্সটিটিউট নিউইয়র্ক বাংলাদেশি শিল্পী ঋতু সাত্তার এর একটি নতুন ‘লেকচার পারফর্মেন্স’ আয়োজন করতে পেরে অত্যন্ত আনন্দিত। উপস্থাপনাটি সম্পূর্ণ বাংলা ভাষায় পরিচালিত হবে এবং গোটুওয়েবেনার এর মাধ্যমে নিউইয়র্ক পাবলিক লাইব্রেরির ওয়েবসাইট থেকে পরিবেশিত হবে। বিস্তারিত জানতে এবং রেজিস্ট্রেশন করতে দয়া করে এখানে ক্লিক করুন।Presented in Bengali, this lecture-performance by artist Reetu Sattar will spotlight the power of community and hope during this troubled time.

Panel: Contagion in Fiction

Wednesday, October 28 | 6:30 PM​​
The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked overwhelming interest in books and films depicting pandemics, contagion, and other biological threats. Join writers and experts including Richard Preston, Peng Shepherd, Laura van den Berg, and Mike Chen, to explore the past, present, and future of quarantine writing.

NYPL TechTalk: Starting a Podcast in Quarantine

Friday, October 30 | 6 PM
Interested in starting a podcast but need some inspiration? The creators of Pineapple Media's popular Back Issue podcast, including hosts Tracy Clayton and Josh Gwynn, share an exclusive tour of the home studios where they've been recording during social distancing and answer your questions. They'll discuss everything from launching their new show to tech tips and tricks, industry secrets, and more.

New & Noteworthy

 

15 Eerie Novels Perfect for Spooky Season

The spookiest season has arrived, but not everyone can consume horror classics and sleep soundly at night. If you want a small thrill but need to rest easy, check out these October reads, perfect for folks who like eerie but aren’t quite into horror. 

Italian American Heritage Month

This October, join the Library to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Italian immigrants and their descendants living in the United States with new resources, online programs, and more!

Discover the 2020 National Book Award Finalists

Each year, the National Book Awards recognize and reward excellence in literature in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and young people’s literature. The New York Public Library is pleased to have nearly all of the 2020 National Book Award Finalists in our collections already, and in various formats. Dive into some of the best books of the year!

New Episode! The Librarian Is In: What We're Reading & The Haunting of Bly Manor

Frank and Rhonda are back to share their thoughts on what they've been reading. Plus, they discuss the new Netflix show The Haunting of Bly Manor, which is based on their last book club pick, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. James’s novella also featured on our anniversary list of 125 Books We Love. 

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