In 1989, the United States Congress designated October 1989 as the first Italian American Heritage and Culture Month, meant to honor the achievements and contributions of Italian Americans. As with all Heritage Months, this becomes a time to learn more about the people and work that has become so foundational to the identity of this country. At The New York Public Library, we wanted to celebrate Italian Americans during this month and are doing so by having Online Programs, highlighting ways to research your Italian heritage, and introducing you to an incredible artist.

This is also a great opportunity to highlight some of the collections in Italian the Library offers year round. An interesting fact to note is that this year Italian has been the sixth most circulated language in both our physical and digital collections. Perhaps in these resources you will find your next best read or watch.

All of these resources require you to have a Library card, which you can get through the SimplyE App.

Books in Italian

Browse through our collection of books in Italian, from bestselling novels to renowned memoirs. Our collection of books in Italian is wide and hopefully you can find a great and memorable read from all of our offerings. 

E-books in Italian

Check out the e-books available through Overdrive, all accessible with your New York Public Library Card. From romances and thrillers, to books for kids and cookbooks, these titles can be accessed wherever you usually read e-books. 

Movies and Music in Italian

The New York Public Library also has a robust collection of movies and music in Italian that you can check out the same way you check out books. Movies in Italian, recordings of operas being performed, and even music CD’s are just a few of the materials we have available. 

Digital Collections

The Digital Collections at the New York Public Library holds many interesting images and scans that you can browse from almost any device. Some interesting finds in this collection for Italian American Heritage Month include portraits of Italian explorers and famous opera singers, photos of early italian immigrants in New York City, and even scans of newspapers detailing Christmas in the Tenements. 

Mango Languages

Mango Languages is an interactive database where patrons can learn a new language and refine a language they already know. This resource can be useful for people learning English, but can also be a good tool for practicing Italian—and all you need is your NYPL Library Card!