NYPL Connect: Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
In the Spotlight
New Book List! Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage
Join the Library in celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month throughout May with an all-new book list as well as a full lineup of free online events and resources! Featuring fiction and nonfiction, biographies and poetry, our librarians’ recommendations will help you find books for all ages spotlighting a range of experiences within Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
Free Online Events for AAPI Heritage Month
Throughout May, discover an array of events—from book talks to performances, discussions, and more—to help you celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. See what's happening at your local branch, and check out what events are happening across the Library!
Service Updates
Beginning May 10: Services Expanding at Select Locations
The Library will be expanding our onsite services at select branches starting May 10, as we work toward a full reopening of our physical locations. Throughout the month, we will reintroduce public computer reservations and limited browsing at select grab-and-go locations on a rolling basis. Check back throughout May for details and to find the closest location offering the services you need.
LIVE from NYPL
Tonight! A Thousand Years of Persian Poetry by Women: Readings, Music, & Conversationn
Thurs, Apr 29 | 8 PMCo-presented by LIVE from NYPL and The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
The Mysteries: Marisa Silver with Jennifer Egan
Tues, May 4 | 8 PMCo-presented by LIVE from NYPL and the Library's Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers
Let’s Talk About Hard Things: Anna Sale with Michael Arceneaux
Tues, May 18 | 7 PM
Immigration History, Politics & Prejudices: Jia Lynn Yang
Tues, May 25 | 8 PM NYPL's World Literature Festival
In Conversation: Naomi Hirahara | 著者との対話：ナオミ ヒラハラ
Today! Thurs, Apr 29 | 3 PMAs part of NYPL's World Literature Festival, join us for a conversation with author Naomi Hirahara about her book Clark and Division, which captures the day-to-day uncertainty of the post-concentration camp Nisei world, where poverty, racism, and squalid living conditions coexist with freedom, excitement, and dreams for a better future in wartime Chicago. Presented in English with live Japanese interpretation.
Celebrating Indigenous Languages of the Americas in NYC
Fri, Apr 30 | 1 PMThe Quechua Collective and the Mixteca Organization, two New York City–based organizations, join the Library to discuss the triumphs and challenges of preserving the Indigenous languages of the Americas.
Ending Soon: NYPL's World Literature Festival
Don't miss the final days of our World Literature Festival! Join in with workshops, book chats, and author talks, plus programs for kids in a host of languages. Explore all of the Library’s rich collections and services in world languages—including books, music, DVDs, language classes, and assistive technologies—available all year round.
For Kids & Teens
Online Storytimes Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Enjoy weekday storytimes that celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, brought directly to you by our expert children's librarians as they read beloved books, sing songs, and share early literacy tips. We'll kick off May with readings of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho, Festival of Colors by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal, and more! Plus, enjoy a special Japanese bilingual storytime on Wednesday, May 5, for こどもの日 (Children’s Day)!
Multilingual Fun with Little Learners
Discover all the Library has to offer kids, including our Little Learners programming that will get kids dancing, singing, and learning with music, movement, and multilingual fun! Check out our latest programs in English, français (French), Русский (Russian), and Kreyòl Ayisyen (Haitian Creole).
TeenLIVE: Robin Ha
Mon, May 10 | 4 PMJoin us for a talk with Robin Ha, author of graphic memoir Almost American Girl: An Illustrated Memoir, featured on the Library's 2020 Best Books for Teens list.
Outdoor Event: Story-on-the-Go
Apr 30–May 2Kids and their caretakers can take a self-directed walk through Woodlawn Cemetery and have socially distanced fun while reading Jane Yolen's Shape Me a Rhyme: Nature's Forms in Poetry as part of our new project, Story-on-the-Go. Activities will be posted on each sign and families get to take a special gift home with them!
Special Storytime with Mona Golabek
Tues, May 18 | 10 AMCome and learn about the story of pianist Lisa Jura and the "Children of Willesden Lane" during World War II. Concert pianist, author, and Lisa Jura’s daughter, Mona Golabek, will share a very special reading of her new children’s book, Hold On to Your Music, beautifully illustrated by renowned Italian artist Sonia Possentini.
More Events & Resources
May Book Club: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
In May, WNYC and NYPL are partnering to read Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles, a retelling of Homer's classic The Iliad. Start reading now with the Library's free e-reader, SimplyE, available for iOS and Android devices. There are many ways to join in! Catch up with your local library for online book discussions, follow along on Twitter, and tune in later in the month for a livestream conversation with Miller herself, hosted by WNYC's Alison Stewart. Borrow the book today!
SimplyE for iOS | SimplyE for Android
CEO Series | Tricia Brouk: Saying What You Mean for Lasting Legacy
Thurs, Apr 29 | 6 PMIf you feel you have a powerful story to tell, join us for this fireside chat with international award-winning director, author, and producer Tricia Brouk. She will share her knowledge and expertise, as well as insights from her new book, The Influential Voice: Saying What You Mean for Lasting Legacy.
ReelAbilities Film Festival
Sat, May 1Explore short films from the ReelAbilities Film Festival, an online festival presenting international and award-winning films by and about people with disabilities, and join discussions with the filmmakers and creators.
Find Help Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine
The Library is here to help you find reliable resources about getting vaccinated. Discover organizations and providers across the city that can help you learn about all the COVID-19 vaccine options available to you.
ActionNYC: Free Legal Immigration Help
Anyone living in New York City can access free and safe immigration legal help through ActionNYC and the Library. Find free immigration legal screenings and representation in your language, plus referrals to other legal services and more resources.
New & Noteworthy
Celebrate Ramadan with Books for Kids and Teens
Find a selection of books by Muslim authors to help young people celebrate and learn more about Ramadan!
The Librarian Is In Podcast: Crystal Chen Joins as New Co-Host
Meet Crystal Chen, a Young Adult librarian from our Woodstock branch and our new co-host of The Librarian Is In. Crystal joins Frank to discuss books, culture, library school, and, in this episode, ASMR. Listen in to hear Crystal on The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen and Frank on Dominique Fabre's The Waitress Was New.
Check Out These Titles from the International Booker Prize Shortlist
If you enjoy global literature, check out the translated works that just made the shortlist for the 2021 International Booker Prize. The books on this year's list are translated from French, Spanish, Danish, and Russian.
Read E-Books with SimplyE
With your library card, it's easier than ever to choose from more than 300,000 e-books on SimplyE, The New York Public Library's free e-reader app. Gain access to digital resources for all ages, including e-books, audiobooks, databases, and more.
If you don’t have an NYPL library card, New York State residents can apply for a digital card online or through SimplyE (available on the App Store or Google Play).
Need more help? Read our guide to using SimplyE.