Happy new year—I hope you are all safe and well as we begin a new chapter. Entering 2021, it's important that we remain vigilant in our efforts to keep ourselves and our communities safe, and that we continue to champion diversity, open and honest discourse, curiosity, and a love of truth and learning. These are the core values that have guided the Library's mission for over 125 years, and they are the best tools we have to fight the fear and ignorance that ignited the events of last week. We all must come together to learn, grow, talk, heal, and fight these forces of fear and ignorance. The Library will be here as always, supporting and inspiring you in those efforts, and helping us all make the most of the new year.  

Tony
Anthony W. Marx
President, The New York Public Library

New Year, New Start

Make the Most of 2021 with the Library

As we turn the page on the past year and look ahead, the Library is here to help you find important resources, connect with your fellow New Yorkers, learn new skills to navigate the digital world, and more. With everything from free classes and programs to personalized book recommendations, find the tools you need to make 2021 a success for you. 

Kick-Start Your Reading Resolutions with Our Monthly Book Club

It's easier than ever to kick-start your 2021 reading with NYPL and WNYC's Get Lit with All of It book club! This month, you can start reading Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia immediately on our free e-reader app, SimplyE. All month long, you'll be able to participate in online discussions led by our librarians. Start reading now! 

SimplyE for iOS | SimplyE for Android

Story Line: Dial-a-Story in English, Español, and 普通话 

Need a new way to add more stories and imagination to your life? Calling all kids and families: We've got a new service for you! Start the new year with Story Line. You and your family can hear a children's book read by one of our talented librarians over the phone—just give us a call! Beginning today, dial 917-ASK-NYPL and select option 6# to hear a story in English, Español, or 普通话. New recordings released every Monday!

Featured Events

Schomburg Center's Black Comic Book Festival

Wed, Jan 13–Sat, Jan 16
Comic book fans of all ages: get ready for the ninth annual Schomburg Black Comic Book Festival! This year, we've gone virtual to bring you interactive panel discussions, exclusive titles by Black creators, and a cosplay show. Don't miss our launch event featuring award-winning comic book creator John Jennings's new imprint, Megascope, a tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman, a workshop with artist Tim Fielder, and more!

Tomorrow! Live Stream Event: Jonathan Lethem

Tues, Jan 12 | 7 PM
Our last Get Lit book club pick of 2020 was Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem, a thrilling noir about a detective at a small-time agency and his search for his mentor's killer. Tomorrow, tune in for a live stream conversation with the author himself and Get Lit with All of It host Alison Stewart. Lethem will take audience questions, so come prepared!

Raised Voices: Classic Speeches from Feminist Pioneers

Tues, Jan 19 | 8 PM
On the eve of a historic inauguration, join The New Yorker's Jiayang Fan and contemporary activists to read speeches from past generations of BIPOC activists, including Jovita Idár, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Susette La Flesche, Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, and Mary Church Terrell, that demonstrate the enduring power of citizenship, the ongoing struggle for equality, and the value of a vote. 

The Harry Belafonte Black Liberation Speaker Series, with thanks to Kenneth Cole

LIVE from NYPL: Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar

Thurs, Jan 28 | 8 PM
Amber Ruffin, a Late Night with Seth Meyers writer and host of Peacock's The Amber Ruffin Show, joins her sister, Lacey Lamar, to discuss their new book, You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism. Together, the pair will share horrifying and outrageous tales, either painfully relatable or shockingly eye-opening, that tackle modern-day racism.

Stay Updated! Free Events, Exhibitions & Resources from NYPL

Looking for even more events to stay informed and engaged in the new year? Don't miss out! The Library offers tons of free events and programs, from author talks to tutorials and webinars. Sign up for our e-newsletters to find out what’s going on across the Library, including the best new online events from your local branch, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

For Kids & Teens

NYPL After School: Activities & Resources

Start the new year with the tools you need to help your kids thrive. Every week, the Library provides STEAM activities, book talks, and tips for staying focused while learning remotely. This month, the theme is “appreciate”—check back every week for new recommended reads, crafts, and more to learn about the power of appreciation. The Library is here to help you and your family succeed, no matter the obstacles this year.

Family Friendly Fun with NYPL Kids

Wed, Jan 13 | 4 PM
Explore and discuss books about civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy. This book discussion is geared toward parents and caregivers and their children.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Book Discussion

Discover world languages and cultures through reading, song, and movement. Engage your young ones with five new videos every week to get them dancing, singing, and learning about the world around them. Coming up: Talk about your emotions in Haitian Creole, sing about transportation in Mandarin, dance ballet to Dr. Seuss, and much more!

Bilingual Drag Queen Story Hours for Little Learners

Entertain your young ones with videos to get them dancing, singing, and learning about the world around them. Tune in this week and next for new storytimes from Drag Queen Story Hour, including seven stories read in Spanish and English! This week's bilingual storytimes include Don't Touch My Hair! by Sharee Miller, Julián at the Wedding by Jessica Love, Most Marshmallows by Rowboat Watkins, and The Family Book by Todd Parr. Don't miss next week's titles, featuring Alma y cómo obtuvo su nombre by Juana Martinez-Neal, ¡Estamos en un libro! by Mo Willems, and more.

WFUV Public Radio, The New York Public Library & Drag Queen Story Hour Present a Virtual Storytime and Concert for Kids

Mon, Jan 18 | 3 PM
As part of WFUV’s Strike a Chord campaign, which aims to engage kids through the arts, WFUV and The New York Public Library are teaming up to present an online storytime and concert for kids aged 3–10. The event will feature a story for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day read by Miz Jade, one of the amazing performers from Drag Queen Story Hour, followed by performances from three acclaimed children’s musicians: Grammy Award winner Lucy Kalantari, Grammy nominee Joanie Leeds, and music and social justice artist Fyütch.

Free Events & Resources

Get Ready for the 2021 New York Primary Election

With New York's 2021 primary election for mayor, city council, and state-level officials coming up, now is the perfect time to review your voter information and stay engaged. The deadline to confirm or change your party affiliation is Sunday, February 14, so make sure your information is up to date. Selecting your party affiliation now determines which candidates you'll be able to vote for during the primary on June 22, 2021.

New Year, New Job: A 7-Week Strategy for Landing Your Next Role

Tues, Jan 12 | 5 PM

Fix Your Finances with Goal-Focused Budgeting

Wed, Jan 13 | 12 Noon

Conversaciones comunitarias de COVID-19: salud mental, equidad y resiliencia

Wed, Jan 13 | 1:30 PM

Jalapeño Social Hour: A Spanish Conversation Group

Wed, Jan 13 | 4 PM

Grab Attention in the Online Job Market with Win Sheffield

Fri, Dec 11 | 12 Noon

The Best-Kept Secrets (Until Now) for Promoting Your Business

Thurs, Jan 14 | 6 PM

New & Noteworthy

New Year, New Mindset: Books to Promote Positive Thinking

Refocusing on self care and adopting a positive mindset can help with adversity in  the upcoming year. These feel-good books will help you start 2021 with an uplifting attitude. 

NYPL President in the Daily News: Hard Lessons for Libraries & All of Us

NYPL President Tony Marx recently wrote an op-ed for the New York Daily News about how the Library is tackling the digital divide during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Behind the Dream: Researching Dr. King Online

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, learn more about the work of Dr. King at the Library with this list of online resources that patrons can use to go behind his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.

A Look Back: Our End-of-Year Literary Quiz

Are the National Book Awards your Oscars? Would you be mortified not to know who won the Nobel Prize in Literature? Is there a movie or TV show adapted from a book you didn't see this year? Try our quiz to see how closely you paid attention to 2020's literary landscape. Good luck!

The Librarian Is In Book Club: Bodega Dreams

In this episode, Frank and Rhonda chat about resolutions for the new year (or the lack thereof) and discuss the novel Bodega Dreams by Ernesto Quiñonez.

Spark & Fire: New Podcast Featuring the Library

Let these epic stories from iconic creators spark your own creative journey. Listen now to the Spark & Fire podcast to hear the creative journey behind Susan Orlean’s nonfiction classic The Orchid Thief, with a special introduction from the Library at the beginning of the episode.

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