NYPL Connect: A Midsummer Book Lover's Dream
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Summer Reads
New Staff Picks: Treat Your Shelf This Summer!
Whether you're looking for a book to enjoy during a summer getaway or while curled up in the comfort of your own home, our librarians have got you covered with our latest Staff Picks. Browse genre-spanning recommendations for kids, teens, and adults to find your next great read! Request them for pickup at a branch near you, or read on the go with the Library's free e-reader app, SimplyE.
July Book Club Event: Zakiya Dalila Harris
Thurs, July 29 | 7 PM | Online
Join NYPL and WNYC for a livestream Q&A with our July book club author, Zakiya Dalila Harris. Tune in to hear Harris and Get Lit with All of It host Alison Stewart discuss Harris's debut novel, The Other Black Girl, about two Black women who are pitted against each other amid the starkly white backdrop of the New York City book-publishing world. Plus, don't miss the reveal of our August book club selection.
Check It Out
Make the Most of Your Visit with NYPL's App
The Library is here for you, and checking out books is even easier with the NYPL app! Download it now and use contactless checkout at any Library branch. You can also manage your account online, browse for books, request materials for pickup at your local branch, and discover upcoming programs at your favorite location.
Find an NYPL Location Near You
As part of our service restoration, we've expanded our hours of operation at all available branch locations. Find NYPL locations near you that are open for general library use and seating, unlimited browsing, computer access, and more. Plus, look out for more in-person programs and services as conditions allow. See you at the Library!
Now Open: The Library Café at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)
Visit the recently renovated Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), which now features the Library Café by Amy’s Bread, located on the seventh floor. Enjoy stunning Midtown views on the rooftop terrace with a selection of sandwiches, delicious baked goods, and coffee and espresso beverages. Plus explore our largest circulating collection, dedicated spaces for kids and teens, the Thomas Yoseloff Business Center, and more. Friends of the Library save 10% on all café purchases.
Pop By the Shop for Bookish Gifts & More
The Library's flagship location at 42nd Street has reopened its doors to the public and the Library Shop is back! Browse a curated selection of book-themed gifts for sale in the Library's Astor Hall, including apparel, accessories, puzzles, NYPL-exclusives, and more. You can also shop our full line of products online and schedule an in-store pickup. Check our opening hours and plan your visit!
LIVE from NYPL: Outdoors at Bryant Park
Jelani Cobb on the Kerner Commission Report
Wed, Jul 21 | 5 PM | Bryant Park
Columbia University professor and New Yorker writer Jelani Cobb joins journalist Trymaine Lee to discuss the prescient findings of a 1968 report on systemic racism in America and why its detailed examination of economic inequality, race, and policing remains urgent in 2021.
Emily Bass and Sheri Fink on America's Fight Against AIDS in Africa
Wed, Jul 28 | 5 PM | Bryant Park
Writer and activist Emily Bass, a former Martin Duberman Visiting Research Fellow at the Library, speaks with health and science journalist Sheri Fink about her new book, To End a Plague: America's Bold Quest to Defeat AIDS in Africa, which tells the story of the U.S.-led PEPFAR program.
For Kids & Teens
KidsLIVE with Mahogany L. Browne
Wed, July 21 | 3:30 PM | Online
Join us for a special edition of KidsLIVE with Mahogany L. Browne, author of Chlorine Sky! Browne will join NYPL librarians for a Q&A to discuss her inspirations for the book and what it’s like to be an author.
Enter for a Chance to Win: NYPL's Summer Writing Contest
Calling kids and teens aged 6–18! Enter our Summer Writing Contest now and tell us what you would invent to help your community or city. What would it do? Who would it help? How would you build it? Tell us all about your idea—every exciting detail! Kids aged 6–9 could win a Kids First Coding and Robotics Kit, while kids aged 10–12 and teens 13–18 could win a pair of Beats by Dr. Dre Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones. Send us your entry by Friday, August 6—plus, discover everything the Library has to offer kids in this year’s all-new Summer Learning program, Imagine Together.
Tune In! NYPL Storytime on TV
Thurs, July 22 | 8 AM | WLIW21
Thurs, July 22 | 11 AM | Thirteen
Tune in throughout the summer to see storytimes from NYPL librarians on Let's Learn, a program for young learners from the WNET Group. First up, children’s librarian Olisha James, from Stapleton Library, will read Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony.
Get the Best of the Library for Kids Direct to Your Inbox!
Be the first to know about the best the Library has to offer kids of all ages with our biweekly e-newsletter, NYPL Kids! Get updates on everything that’s new, including our recent summer book kit giveaway, in-person programs, the latest book recommendations, fun crafts and activities, and more!
More Events & Resources
Explore Outdoor Events at NYPL!
This summer, discover a wide array of outdoor events at locations across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Find author talks, workshops, and events for book lovers of all ages. Capacity may be limited, but check back as more events are added—and browse our full lineup of events for kids, teens, and adults.
Investing from A to Z
Starts July 28 | 12 Noon | Online
Join the Thomas Yoseloff Business Center at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL) and the Museum of American Finance for a nine-part series on investing that will guide you through what professional investors look for in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and options.
Citizenship Study Groups
New Americans can prepare for the civics portion of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Naturalization Test with a selection of citizenship study groups hosted online by our branch libraries.
Language Conversation Groups
Practice conversation skills in an array of languages, including Español (Spanish) and 中文 (Chinese), with your fellow New Yorkers and expert librarians from branches across NYPL.
New & Noteworthy
15 Books to Celebrate Disability Pride
July is Disability Pride Month, commemorating the passage in July 1990 of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Celebrate with these books written by authors with disabilities.
10 YA Thrillers for Fans of Cruel Summer
While you wait with bated breath for the second season of teen thriller Cruel Summer, we recommend some suspenseful YA books to satisfy your craving for stories of deception, secrecy, and the slow unraveling of the truth.
Recommended by Our Teen Reading Ambassadors: Children's Books About Feelings
Teens from our Teen Reading Ambassadors program share book recommendations for kids ages 5–12 that explore all of the big feelings we experience as we grow up.
Cookbooks & Memoirs from Your Top Chef Favorites
Whether you love to cook, love to eat, or just can't get enough of your Top Chef favorites, you're sure to find a delicious read at the Library.
Notable Professional Wrestling Books
Whether you're a fan of wrestling, rasslin', lucha libre, or プロレス, you can find everything from the history of wrestling to memoirs by notable greats and fan favorites.
The Librarian Is In Podcast: New Reads in July
In this episode of the Library's podcast, hosts Frank and Crystal share what they've been reading lately. Frank talks about Let's Get Back to the Party by Zak Salih, in which an American art professor reminisces about coming of age before the Supreme Court's 2015 decision to recognize marriage equality. Crystal discusses Rebecca Roanhorse's Trail of Lightning, about a monster hunter whose search into the disappearance of a young girl leads her to uncover dark truths about her own past. Tune in to hear their thoughts and find out about their next book club pick!
Sign up for NYPL Connect today and get the latest updates from the Library sent straight to your inbox.
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.