1. In 1940, Alice Bowen (right) was the oldest mother to attend the World’s Fair Mother’s Day ceremonies. Then 93, Bowen had seven children, 17 grand-children, four great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren! NYPL wishes all the mothers out there a Happy Mother’s Day! [Image: NYPL Digital Gallery.]

    In 1940, Alice Bowen (right) was the oldest mother to attend the World’s Fair Mother’s Day ceremonies. Then 93, Bowen had seven children, 17 grand-children, four great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren!

    NYPL wishes all the mothers out there a Happy Mother’s Day!

    [Image: NYPL Digital Gallery.]

  2. Happy Earth Day!

    Celebrate the world we live in with the New York Public Library! It takes a lot to preserve the environment and there are so many actions that each of us can take to make it happen. Just doing little things like recycling water bottles and picking up litter on the streets makes a difference.

    Earth Day began over 40 years ago so let’s protect the Earth so we can celebrate for another 40 years!

    Check out NYPL’s Earth Day reading list to see what you can to do to help.

  3. Check out this 1899 April Fool’s sketch by Jay Campbell Phillips that we found in our Digital Gallery. It looks like those two boys are having a lot of fun playing an April Fool’s joke on the young girl.  What type of mischief will you get into today playing an April Fool’s joke? Happy April Fool’s Day!

    Check out this 1899 April Fool’s sketch by Jay Campbell Phillips that we found in our Digital Gallery. It looks like those two boys are having a lot of fun playing an April Fool’s joke on the young girl. 

    What type of mischief will you get into today playing an April Fool’s joke?

    Happy April Fool’s Day!

  4. It’s time to find the Easter eggs and see what goodies the Easter Bunny has brought!  Did you know that Easter Bunny traditions originated in Germany, with the first edible Easter Bunny being made of sugar and pastries instead of chocolate? And to think, today billions of chocolate Easter bunnies are made each year. In between easter egg hunts and eating our fair share of chocolate, one of our favorite children’s books to read at Easter is Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit. What’s your favorite Easter book? Happy Easter! (Check out more Easter postcards in the NYPL Digital Gallery.)

    It’s time to find the Easter eggs and see what goodies the Easter Bunny has brought! 

    Did you know that Easter Bunny traditions originated in Germany, with the first edible Easter Bunny being made of sugar and pastries instead of chocolate? And to think, today billions of chocolate Easter bunnies are made each year.

    In between easter egg hunts and eating our fair share of chocolate, one of our favorite children’s books to read at Easter is Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit. What’s your favorite Easter book?

    Happy Easter!

    (Check out more Easter postcards in the NYPL Digital Gallery.)

  5. Roses are red, violets are blue,

    Happy Valentine’s Day to each one of you!

    Enjoy these Valentine’s tokens from many years ago,

    They’ll surely go nicely with emails and texts received from your beau!

    If you like these historic Valentine’s Day cards, it’s not too late to send one to your friends and family! Share an NYPL Valentine eCard today.

    (More Valentine’s greeting cards can be found in NYPL’s Digital Gallery.)

  6. Happy Groundhog Day!

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    Hopefully the groundhog (seen here in an image from our Rare Books Division) doesn’t see his shadow today - if he does, that, of course, would mean six more weeks of cold, hard winter. But if he does, NYPL has you covered. Drop into one of our nice warm libraries for many, many, MANY upcoming free events,  classes, or exhibitions. Or, what better way to spend a frigid, wintery day than inside, cozy by the fire, reading one of our library books? Visit our website to see what else you can do to make winter fly by!


    Update:

    Staten Island chuck predicted spring! Woohoo! Guess what? You should still go to the Library - read in the park!

  7. Today is Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, a time to celebrate an extraordinary individual who shaped U.S. history with these words, “I have a dream.”  Please join NYPL as we celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King also will be our featured Mustache Monday for the week! (Photo courtesy of NYPL Digital Gallery — Dr. King with Eslanda Goode Robeson)

    Today is Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, a time to celebrate an extraordinary individual who shaped U.S. history with these words, “I have a dream.” 

    Please join NYPL as we celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Dr. King also will be our featured Mustache Monday for the week!

    (Photo courtesy of NYPL Digital Gallery — Dr. King with Eslanda Goode Robeson)

  8. Today marks the first day of Kwanzaa, the seven-day celebration honoring African heritage in African-American culture. Observed from December 26 to January 1 each year, Kwanzaa has seven core principles: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith).   Check out Kwanzaa: Seven Days of African-American Pride and the other great books the NYPL has celebrating this wonderful holiday! Happy Kwanzaa!

    Today marks the first day of Kwanzaa, the seven-day celebration honoring African heritage in African-American culture. Observed from December 26 to January 1 each year, Kwanzaa has seven core principles:

    Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith).  

    Check out Kwanzaa: Seven Days of African-American Pride and the other great books the NYPL has celebrating this wonderful holiday!

    Happy Kwanzaa!

  9. It is November and a bit chilly outside, so we hope you’ll excuse us for being in the holiday frame of mind! Thanksgiving is just two weeks away, which means that many of you might be gearing up to send out your seasons greetings. So for today’s Flashback Friday, we’re sharing these fantastic holiday cards featuring the art of Edward Gorey and the seasonal staple known as fruitcake.  You can order a set of your very own at The Library Shop!

    It is November and a bit chilly outside, so we hope you’ll excuse us for being in the holiday frame of mind! Thanksgiving is just two weeks away, which means that many of you might be gearing up to send out your seasons greetings. So for today’s Flashback Friday, we’re sharing these fantastic holiday cards featuring the art of Edward Gorey and the seasonal staple known as fruitcake. 

    You can order a set of your very own at The Library Shop!

  10. As our final St. Patrick’s Day postcard post of the day, here is a truly beautiful card from 1932, currently in our Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection. Enjoy!

    As our final St. Patrick’s Day postcard post of the day, here is a truly beautiful card from 1932, currently in our Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection. Enjoy!