Happy Immigrant Heritage Month! The Library is proud to be hosting a wide array of events throughout the month of June to celebrate. Join us for book conversations, programs that help you discover your immigrant roots, services and events that help immigrants achieve the American dream of becoming US Citizens and much more!

Started by Welcome.us in June 2014, Immigrant Heritage Month is an initiative to partner community organizations, elected officials, corporations, artists, and leaders to gather and share inspirational stories of American immigrants, encouraging all of us to explore our individual heritage and recognize our distinct and shared experiences by telling your story. You can participate and create your own image at iamanimmigrant.com/generate, and join the conversation with #ImmigrantHeritageMonth #IHM2016 #IAmAnImmigrant.

If you are unable to attend, you can still participate by checking out books or DVDs from our curated lists.

Book Club

The Gracie Book Club is a joint effort between the Gracie Mansion Conservancy and First Lady Chirlane McCray. The theme of this season’s selections is “Envisioning Distant Neighbors,” which aims to open dialogue on New York City’s diversity and rich immigrant community. Come and join us for a live video feed of the Gracie Book Club discussion at one of our local libraries and participate in the virtual discussion. In June we will discuss Bright Lines by Tanwi Nandini Islam, her debut novel which traverses from Bangladesh to Brooklyn exploring the secrets of three young women.

1. Spuyten Duyvil Library
   650 West 235th Street, Bronx, NY 10463
   Tuesday, June 14 at 1 PM
2. Parkchester Library
   1985 Westchester Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463
   Wednesday, June 22 at 11 AM
3. South Beach Library
   21-25 Robin Road, Staten Island, NY 10305
   Wednesday, June 22 at 11 AM

Genealogy

Stories from Ellis Island

Saturday, June 18, 2016, 11:45 a.m.
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Celeste Auditorium

Did you have relatives who came through Ellis Island?  Did the inspectors detain them?  Were they treated at the island’s hospitals?  Did your family names get changed by the inspectors?!  Fred Voss is a tour guide at Ellis Island National Park.  He will give an illustrated talk about the past, present and future of this iconic American landmark as well as share some of his favorite immigration stories.

Writing Your Family History

Saturday, June 18, 2016, 2:15 p.m.
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Celeste Auditorium

Learn the different types of family history writing styles and explore the writing manuals that will match your writing style. Explore the history of the places where your family lived, tips for creating a cohesive narrative, and why writing a family history is the ultimate goal of genealogy research.

Discover more programs for Family History Day and register online at nypl.org/familyhistoryday

Genealogy Essentials: Immigration Research: An Introduction to Passenger Lists

Wednesday, June 22, 2016, 6 p.m.

Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy

Learn the history of ship passenger lists for vessels arriving at U.S. ports in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and how to get started using the research methods and resources related to passenger list information.  

Cultural Programs

Latino Americans: 500 Years of History  - Los Mas Valientes - Music + Memory Circle

Aguilar Library
174 East 110th Street New York, NY, 10029
Saturday, June 25, 2016, 1 p.m.

Enjoy a performance by Los Mas Valientes, a Veteran NYC-based band. Los Mas Valientes acoustic quartet will perform a concert of Latin jazz as well as traditional Cuban and Puerto Rican music. * Immediately after the performance, join your neighbors, friends, and family to tell your stories about Latino American entertainment in New York City! This recorded group conversation will be a permanent part of our NYPL Oral History archive.

To listen to previously collected oral stories, visit: oralhistory.nypl.org

Citizenship

Citizenship Fair

Saturday, June 25, 2016  11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Mid-Manhattan Library, Sixth Floor

Learn about the citizenship application process, financing the application, and studying for the exam. Presentations and information sessions throughout the day. For more information visit

Citizenship Test Preparation English Class for BEGINNER ENGLISH SPEAKERS

Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Tuesdays, June 7, 14 & 28 2016, 5:30 p.m.

These classes are for adults preparing to take the United States Citizenship Test in the next 6-9 months. Each class will focus on several of the 100 citizenship test civics questions. A new topic each week!

NYCItizenship

NYCitizenship provides free legal help with citizenship applications at select public library branches. As part of NYCitizenship, you can:

Meet 1-on-1 with a free, trusted lawyer. Apply for citizenship easily. Find out if you can apply for free. Get free, confidential financial counseling

Attend an upcoming information session to find out more about this program: