1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Meet Mr. Rhinocerous. A current boarder at the Children’s Center at NYPL.

    Meet Mr. Rhinocerous. A current boarder at the Children’s Center at NYPL.

  4. This image from the Library’s Print Collection (found by our own Jeremy Megraw) combines our two favorite themes: cats and reading. It is also appropriate for the celebration this weekend of Read Across America Day. The NEA’s national reading celebration happens every year on or near the birthday of the creator of The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (March 2). So, curl up with a book this weekend, or better yet, take your kids to story time at your local NYPL children’s Room and sound it out! Happy Caturday! Meow.

    This image from the Library’s Print Collection (found by our own Jeremy Megraw) combines our two favorite themes: cats and reading. It is also appropriate for the celebration this weekend of Read Across America Day. The NEA’s national reading celebration happens every year on or near the birthday of the creator of The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (March 2).

    So, curl up with a book this weekend, or better yet, take your kids to story time at your local NYPL children’s Room and sound it out! Happy Caturday! Meow.

  5. Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

    — Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss! We have lots of books by and about Dr. Seuss in our collection (as well as eBooks) - check one out today! 

  6. Guess who visited the Children’s Room at our landmark Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street this morning? That’s right - Elmo! The Library partnered with WABC and Sesame Street Live to present a special play-date with Elmo for a few lucky kids, who won their spots in a contest held by WABC. So today, the Library was Elmo’s world. By the way, if you missed him this time, don’t fret. Elmo will be back in NYC for a series of live shows at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in February.

    Guess who visited the Children’s Room at our landmark Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street this morning? That’s right - Elmo! The Library partnered with WABC and Sesame Street Live to present a special play-date with Elmo for a few lucky kids, who won their spots in a contest held by WABC. So today, the Library was Elmo’s world. By the way, if you missed him this time, don’t fret. Elmo will be back in NYC for a series of live shows at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in February.

  7. Just in case you missed it… NYPL’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing: Children’s Books 2011!

  8. It’s A Jolly Holiday With NYPL

    • Go on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of our world famous stacks.
    • See Charles Dickens’ personal copy of A Christmas Carol.
    • Enjoy seasonal music of all kinds, with carols, dancing, jazz and more. 
    • See everything from 5,000-year-old writings to Virginia Woolf’s walking stick at our Centennial exhibition, Celebrating 100 Years. 
    • Join the geography trivia challenge in the Maps division. 
    • Get 10% off at the Library Shop. 
    • Activities like face painting, crafts, magic shows, storytellers, and even stilt walkers will delight children of all ages!

    Where can you find all these joyous holiday festivities? Why NYPL, of course. Stop by the iconic 42nd Street building on Sunday, December 4th and for $40 you can celebrate with friends of the Library. Want to learn more? Click here.

  9. Kids And Teens: Have Your Fines Waived!!

    Mayor Bloomberg joined NYPL Prez Anthony Marx (at the podium in the photo), Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott, NYPL Trustee Terry McGraw, the heads of the Brooklyn and Queens Library systems and several other elected officials at our Seward Park Library yesterday to announce the citywide New Chapter initiative to give patrons under 18 the opportunity to eliminate all of their prior fines. That’s right - all of ‘em. All kids have to do is return their materials (so grab those overdue Harry Potter books from under your bed and return them, kids, cause you won’t be penalized) or check out a new book and, poof, their fines are waived. The goal - to get kids back in the libraries reading, instead of afraid that they can’t afford the fine. As Marx said, “Our priority was students reading more than collecting the fines, 95 percent of which we weren’t going to collect anyway based on past history. Those folks were not coming to the library because their fines were keeping them away.” Well, come back guys! This program - which was made possible because of a generous donation from McGraw-Hill - lasts till Oct. 31, so spread the word!!

  10. Sweetest Thing Ever: Selling Cookies and Lemonade For Libraries

    Here is something unspeakably amazing to brighten up your Monday morning - little six-year-old Helen Stone spent her Sunday outside her Morningside Heights apartment selling homemade cookies and lemonade to support The New York Public Library. According to her mom Robin Aronson, Helen (who uses the 115th Street, Morningside Heights and St. Agnes libraries with her family) has long wanted to have a lemonade stand, and decided to give her earnings to NYPL so “the library could buy more books for people.” And she did quite well - Aronson happily reported that “many people were very happy to support the library! Our second sale went to a guy who gave us $10 for a cookie and 2 lemonades!” She also said, “I personally can’t quite get over the magic of the library. You can just take books- for free!” How great is that? NYPL Wire just happened to stroll by the stand yesterday and couldn’t resist taking a few pictures. I mean, it’s just SO cute. And the cookies and lemonade were quite delicious, by the way. Check out more pics below, and if you love NYPL, check out ways you can give to the Library!