1. Pictured here (courtesy of Mid-Manhattan Library’s exhibition Reading Room, natch), a few lovely examples of children’s areas at our local libraries. From left to right, top to bottom: Highbridge, Riverside, Throg’s Neck and West Farms libraries. 

    And did you know that children can show their support of the library and oppose the budget cuts just as well as their folks? The Library has letters they can sign. These are their libraries too, after all!

  2. Earlier this week kids at the NYPL’s Todt-Hill Westerleigh branch in Staten Island held a rally day to protest the city’s proposed budget cuts for libraries. Some of the libraries young users - such as John and Kayla Marsh - expressed opposition to the cuts by designing paper hands with reasons why they love the library. You can see NY1’s profile on this here.

    Earlier this week kids at the NYPL’s Todt-Hill Westerleigh branch in Staten Island held a rally day to protest the city’s proposed budget cuts for libraries. Some of the libraries young users - such as John and Kayla Marsh - expressed opposition to the cuts by designing paper hands with reasons why they love the library. You can see NY1’s profile on this here.

  3. NYPL’s Morningside Heights Library has a fantastic exhibition on display featuring the artwork of students from PS 75 & 145, who participate in the program Studio in a School. Read all about it in today’s Daily News and stop by Morningside Heights Library tomorrow or later this week to take in the sights! 

    NYPL’s Morningside Heights Library has a fantastic exhibition on display featuring the artwork of students from PS 75 & 145, who participate in the program Studio in a School. Read all about it in today’s Daily News and stop by Morningside Heights Library tomorrow or later this week to take in the sights! 

  4. Throughout January, Citi Pond® at Bryant Park™ — NYC’s first and only free-admission skating rink — offers library cardholders who are 17 and under a reduced skate rental price of $10 per rental (a 30% discount from the usual $14) as part of its “Read To Skate” program. To get the special $10 rental price, skaters must show their New York City library cards (from The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library or Queens Library) to rink staff at the Citi Pond Skating Pavilion, located in Bryant Park, on 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

    Throughout January, Citi Pond® at Bryant Park™ — NYC’s first and only free-admission skating rink — offers library cardholders who are 17 and under a reduced skate rental price of $10 per rental (a 30% discount from the usual $14) as part of its “Read To Skate” program. To get the special $10 rental price, skaters must show their New York City library cards (from The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library or Queens Library) to rink staff at the Citi Pond Skating Pavilion, located in Bryant Park, on 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

  5. Kids scramble for candy during their “Gobble of Thanks” Thanksgiving Party at the Todt Hill-Westerleigh branch in Staten Island.  In all, over 80 local kids visited their local library for treats, a Turkey Scavenger Hunt, a theatrical production featuring character Gustafer Yellowgold, and a piñata! Happy Thanksgiving fun! Stop by the Todt Hill branch and check out more of the great youth programs the branch has coming up!

    Kids scramble for candy during their “Gobble of Thanks” Thanksgiving Party at the Todt Hill-Westerleigh branch in Staten Island. 

    In all, over 80 local kids visited their local library for treats, a Turkey Scavenger Hunt, a theatrical production featuring character Gustafer Yellowgold, and a piñata! Happy Thanksgiving fun!

    Stop by the Todt Hill branch and check out more of the great youth programs the branch has coming up!

  6. Guess who’s coming to the Library’s landmark 42nd Street building on Friday, Aug. 3? That’s right, Sesame Street’s one and only Cookie Monster is joining celeb chef Rocco DiSpirito at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at 10 a.m. for a free cooking demonstration for kids, part of our KidsLIVE series. Rocco will make (and distribute) healthy cookies, teaching children that food can be both healthy AND delicious. Rocco’s Now Eat This! Food Truck (a non-profit venture that sells healthy comfort food to raise money for hungry kids) will be outside the Library selling goodies that day, as well. We are psyched for this event (which is connected to our free Lunch Hour NYC exhibition), as is Cookie Monster, who actually told us, “Oh boy, oh boy! Me so excited!” (he really did - it’s in our press release). Space is limited, so reserve a few slots now!

    Guess who’s coming to the Library’s landmark 42nd Street building on Friday, Aug. 3? That’s right, Sesame Street’s one and only Cookie Monster is joining celeb chef Rocco DiSpirito at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at 10 a.m. for a free cooking demonstration for kids, part of our KidsLIVE series. Rocco will make (and distribute) healthy cookies, teaching children that food can be both healthy AND delicious. Rocco’s Now Eat This! Food Truck (a non-profit venture that sells healthy comfort food to raise money for hungry kids) will be outside the Library selling goodies that day, as well. We are psyched for this event (which is connected to our free Lunch Hour NYC exhibition), as is Cookie Monster, who actually told us, “Oh boy, oh boy! Me so excited!” (he really did - it’s in our press release). Space is limited, so reserve a few slots now!

  7. Want to work with kids in a public library? Here’s the inside scoop, from the NYPL's Betsy Bird. →

  8. Meet the Girl Scout Troop of PS 41 in New Dorp, Staten Island. Yesterday, the girls set up shop outside their beloved local library (New Dorp Library, natch) and encouraged local residents to sign letters of support for NYPL and against the $43 million budget cut proposed by the City. With the girls help, in just one hour more than 100 people submitted their letter to their local Council member.

    Thank you Girls! We know your spirit will inspire others to visit their local library and send their own letter OR even easier, visit www.nypl.org/speakout and voice their support online.

  9. It’s the weekend, and your kids are bugging you for something to do. How about exploring the wonders of science and making your own “tornado in a bottle”? Click here to read the NYPL’s how-to.

    It’s the weekend, and your kids are bugging you for something to do. How about exploring the wonders of science and making your own “tornado in a bottle”?

    Click here to read the NYPL’s how-to.

  10. Stop by the Ottendorfer Library’s children’s room to see the amazing work of local Brooklyn artist Naoko Stoop. Naoko has graciously lent the Ottendorfer Library several of her pieces from her series “Red Knit Cap Girl.” Raised in Tokyo, Japan, Naoko is a self taught artist who captures the colors, energy, and essence of childhood. Her whimsical illustrations take you on the adventures and experiences of the Red Knit Cap Girl and several of her woodland friends. Naoko’s newest picture book, Red Knit Cap Girl, will be on shelves this June, so be sure to reserve your copy today. This beautiful exhibit will be on display in our children’s room through April.

    Stop by the Ottendorfer Library’s children’s room to see the amazing work of local Brooklyn artist Naoko Stoop. Naoko has graciously lent the Ottendorfer Library several of her pieces from her series “Red Knit Cap Girl.”

    Raised in Tokyo, Japan, Naoko is a self taught artist who captures the colors, energy, and essence of childhood. Her whimsical illustrations take you on the adventures and experiences of the Red Knit Cap Girl and several of her woodland friends.

    Naoko’s newest picture book, Red Knit Cap Girl, will be on shelves this June, so be sure to reserve your copy today. This beautiful exhibit will be on display in our children’s room through April.