1. This photo of Columbus Circle by photographer Berenice Abbott was taken exactly 75 years ago today on Feb. 10, 1938. It is part of the photographer’s  “Changing New York” WPA series of hundreds of black and white photographs taken from 1935 to 1938. About 80 percent of the photos in that series are in The New York Public Library’s Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs - take a look and browse away. Meanwhile, notice there’s snow on the ground in this pic. Some things never change! 

    This photo of Columbus Circle by photographer Berenice Abbott was taken exactly 75 years ago today on Feb. 10, 1938. It is part of the photographer’s  “Changing New York” WPA series of hundreds of black and white photographs taken from 1935 to 1938. About 80 percent of the photos in that series are in The New York Public Library’s Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs - take a look and browse away. Meanwhile, notice there’s snow on the ground in this pic. Some things never change! 

  2. All NYPL Locations Closing at 5 pm

    imageBecause of the rapidly approaching snowstorm, all NYPL locations will close at 5 p.m. today, including Mid-Manhattan Library, Bronx Library Center, The Science, Industry and Business Library, The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the Library for the Performing Arts, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Stay safe, and stay tuned here and to other NYPL channels tonight and tomorrow morning for updates on possible hour changes or closings due to inclement weather. Remember, if the weather’s terrible (as it was in this print from our Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection depicting Fifth Avenue and 17th Street in 1893), you can stay inside and download an NYPL eBook from the comfort of your home!

  3. The Library’s Fort Washington Branch got an unexpected delivery this week — a book that was last checked out 55 years ago. The extremely overdue book — The Fire of Francis Xavier by Rev. Arthur R. McGratty — was checked out on April 10, 1958 and returned Monday by mail in a plain brown envelope. There was no note, but there WAS a generous donation of $100 from those who sent it back. So big thanks to them - the Library greatly appreciates the support! If you want to read more about this, check out just a few recent accounts by DNA Info, NY Daily News, WCBS, and WNBC.

  4. Look who visited The NYPL this morning! The Cat was a guest along with NASCAR superstar Jeff Gordon as they - excuse me, Mr. Gordon - did a  reading of the Dr. Seuss classic The 500 Hats of  Bartholomew Cubbins which is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. So in honor of The Cat, what is your favorite Dr. Seuss book? 

    Look who visited The NYPL this morning! The Cat was a guest along with NASCAR superstar Jeff Gordon as they - excuse me, Mr. Gordon - did a  reading of the Dr. Seuss classic The 500 Hats of  Bartholomew Cubbins which is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. So in honor of The Cat, what is your favorite Dr. Seuss book? 

  5. Happy 111th birthday to the legendary American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist Langston Hughes. At The New York Public Library you can find ample Langston Hughes information, including photos (the one featured here is from our Manuscripts and Archives Division), papers , books, and films. Of course, you can also go over to the NYPL’s great Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and visit the Langston Hughes Auditorium.

    Happy 111th birthday to the legendary American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist Langston Hughes. At The New York Public Library you can find ample Langston Hughes information, including photos (the one featured here is from our Manuscripts and Archives Division), papers , books, and films. Of course, you can also go over to the NYPL’s great Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and visit the Langston Hughes Auditorium.

  6. In case you missed it, on the front page of today’s New York Times is the amazing story of Kirsten the American Doll who has been in circulation with little girls at the Ottendorfer Branch of The New York Public Library for 8 years!!!! It’s an amazing story about a library, a librarian, and a community. 

    In case you missed it, on the front page of today’s New York Times is the amazing story of Kirsten the American Doll who has been in circulation with little girls at the Ottendorfer Branch of The New York Public Library for 8 years!!!! It’s an amazing story about a library, a librarian, and a community. 

  7. Today, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, the September 11th Families’ Association, and NYPL President Tony Marx unveiled a new exhibition at the Jefferson Market Library. Following the attacks of September 11th, the tiles - shown here and currently on display at the Library - were affixed to a fence at the corner of Greenwich and 7th Avenues across the street from the former St. Vincent’s Hospital, where they remained on-site until this past fall.  To quote our President, “The Library is honored to display these treasured expressions of hope and support, which for so long have served as heartfelt tributes to those lost and injured on 9/11.”

    Today, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, the September 11th Families’ Association, and NYPL President Tony Marx unveiled a new exhibition at the Jefferson Market Library.

    Following the attacks of September 11th, the tiles - shown here and currently on display at the Library - were affixed to a fence at the corner of Greenwich and 7th Avenues across the street from the former St. Vincent’s Hospital, where they remained on-site until this past fall. 

    To quote our President, “The Library is honored to display these treasured expressions of hope and support, which for so long have served as heartfelt tributes to those lost and injured on 9/11.”

  8. Next week one of the most anticipated films of the year, Les Miserables, opens in theaters. In celebration of the film’s release Doug Reside, our Digital Curator of Performing Arts at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, has written a wonderful blog about his long anticipation to see a film adaptation of Les Miserables: The Musical. He also has been able to digitize and post on his blog some great photographs of the early cast from the show. And of course you can find all of your Les Miserables needs from soundtracks to films to books throughout branches of The New York Public Library. 

    Next week one of the most anticipated films of the year, Les Miserables, opens in theaters. In celebration of the film’s release Doug Reside, our Digital Curator of Performing Arts at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, has written a wonderful blog about his long anticipation to see a film adaptation of Les Miserables: The Musical. He also has been able to digitize and post on his blog some great photographs of the early cast from the show. And of course you can find all of your Les Miserables needs from soundtracks to films to books throughout branches of The New York Public Library. 

  9. Looking for a fun holiday activity to do this weekend? Enjoy Everyone’s Carol production of ‘A Christmas Carol; A Ghost Story of Christmas’ this weekend! Don’t miss the chance to meet NYPL curator of Charles Dickens: The Key to Character, William Moeck. 

    Looking for a fun holiday activity to do this weekend? Enjoy Everyone’s Carol production of ‘A Christmas Carol; A Ghost Story of Christmas’ this weekend! Don’t miss the chance to meet NYPL curator of Charles Dickens: The Key to Character, William Moeck. 

  10. We are extremely excited to share the first-ever look at the inspiring new lending library that will be constructed for the public inside of our historic building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. The project—designed by world-renowned architect Norman Foster and his award-winning firm Foster + Partners—more than doubles the amount of public space, better preserves the Library’s research materials, and creates a truly integrated central library in the heart of New York City serving all people, from scholars and students to toddlers and teens. We encourage everyone to visit the Library’s dedicated webpage at www.nypl.org/clp to learn more about the plan.

    We are extremely excited to share the first-ever look at the inspiring new lending library that will be constructed for the public inside of our historic building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. The project—designed by world-renowned architect Norman Foster and his award-winning firm Foster + Partners—more than doubles the amount of public space, better preserves the Library’s research materials, and creates a truly integrated central library in the heart of New York City serving all people, from scholars and students to toddlers and teens.

    We encourage everyone to visit the Library’s dedicated webpage at www.nypl.org/clp to learn more about the plan.