1. A very happy 90th birthday to comic legend Stan Lee! Did you know that NYPL has an interesting connection with the iconic writer of Spider-man, X-Men, Thor, and more? A portion of the movie Spider-man was filmed outside the Library’s iconic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. How icon-orific  spidey-tastic great! This flashback Friday was brought to you by the books, Stan Lee’s How to Draw Comics, Essential Hulk and The Fantastic Four. (That’s Patience standing guard in the above photo) 

    A very happy 90th birthday to comic legend Stan Lee! Did you know that NYPL has an interesting connection with the iconic writer of Spider-man, X-Men, Thor, and more? A portion of the movie Spider-man was filmed outside the Library’s iconic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. How icon-orific  spidey-tastic great!

    This flashback Friday was brought to you by the books, Stan Lee’s How to Draw Comics, Essential Hulk and The Fantastic Four.

    (That’s Patience standing guard in the above photo) 

  2. Publishers Weekly has selected their top 10 favorite books by Charles Dickens.  (We’ll give you a hint and tell you that they selected Our Mutual Friend for the #2 spot). We’re not as brave as our literary colleagues though, and have decided it’s just too difficult to pick favorites. Instead, we’re going to share one of our favorite illustrations of the master writer - a very inclusive image, if we do say so ourselves:  J.R. Brown’s “Dickens Surrounded by his Characters.” This illustration, along with many other interesting items that chronicle Dickens’ life and work, are currently on display at the Library’s exhibition, Charles Dickens: The Key to Character. 

    Publishers Weekly has selected their top 10 favorite books by Charles Dickens.  (We’ll give you a hint and tell you that they selected Our Mutual Friend for the #2 spot). We’re not as brave as our literary colleagues though, and have decided it’s just too difficult to pick favorites.

    Instead, we’re going to share one of our favorite illustrations of the master writer - a very inclusive image, if we do say so ourselves:  J.R. Brown’s “Dickens Surrounded by his Characters.” This illustration, along with many other interesting items that chronicle Dickens’ life and work, are currently on display at the Library’s exhibition, Charles Dickens: The Key to Character. 

  3. Happy Button Day! According to our sources, November 16th is Button Day, which we support whole-heartedly. We can be very fashionable here at the Library, as was evident in our appearance this summer in the Wall Street Journal, and therefore acknowledge the importance of buttons - whether they are functional, decorative, or declarative.  For today’s flashback friday, we’re going to recommend a visit to the Library’s fashion database, where buttons abound in all forms.

    Happy Button Day! According to our sources, November 16th is Button Day, which we support whole-heartedly. We can be very fashionable here at the Library, as was evident in our appearance this summer in the Wall Street Journal, and therefore acknowledge the importance of buttons - whether they are functional, decorative, or declarative. 

    For today’s flashback friday, we’re going to recommend a visit to the Library’s fashion database, where buttons abound in all forms.

  4. 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!

  5. Big thanks to Gothamist for sharing classic photos of the filming of 1984’s blockbuster Ghostbusters. We’re particularly fond of this photo, which includes a cameo by our Library Lion Fortitude.  And that’s not all. Take a look here and learn more about the movies and television shows that have included this beautiful library!

    Big thanks to Gothamist for sharing classic photos of the filming of 1984’s blockbuster Ghostbusters. We’re particularly fond of this photo, which includes a cameo by our Library Lion Fortitude. 

    And that’s not all. Take a look here and learn more about the movies and television shows that have included this beautiful library!

  6. If you’re looking for some groovy entertainment this weekend, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams was published on this day in 1979. Visit us online or stop by your local library to pick up a copy!

    If you’re looking for some groovy entertainment this weekend, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams was published on this day in 1979. Visit us online or stop by your local library to pick up a copy!

  7. It’s Flashback Friday… and it feels fine

    REM may have called it quits this time last year, but for today’s flashback friday we’re taking a fond look back at their three decades in the music business. If you’re an REM fan, listen to this e-version of the collector’s edition of their album And I Feel Fine…..The Best of the IRS Years 82-87. It’s not the end of the world; it’s just the beginning! See what else is here for your ears at NYPL.

  8. Happy Neither Rain nor Snow Day. Not sure what that is? Neither are we, but we’re going to use today to celebrate the US mail. And this fabulous image is from NYPL’s Rare Books Division (more than just books!). 100 years ago yesterday this piece of mail was sent from the Golf Links Aviation Meet in Cedar Rapids, IA to Clarendon Bangs (love the name!) of Savannah, GA - by aeroplane, no less! We wonder what Clarendon might have thought upon its arrival! Happy Flashback Friday! 

    Happy Neither Rain nor Snow Day. Not sure what that is? Neither are we, but we’re going to use today to celebrate the US mail. And this fabulous image is from NYPL’s Rare Books Division (more than just books!). 100 years ago yesterday this piece of mail was sent from the Golf Links Aviation Meet in Cedar Rapids, IA to Clarendon Bangs (love the name!) of Savannah, GA - by aeroplane, no less!

    We wonder what Clarendon might have thought upon its arrival! Happy Flashback Friday! 

  9. Thank you LiteraryChicks for sharing your love of the library and your library cards, both old (circa 1995ish) and new! Welcome back to NYPL :)  Thank you ALSO for giving us a wonderful Flashback Friday photo. A very timely photo, too… stay tuned tomorrow for more information! literarychicks: Say hello to my NYPL card. The last time I had a library card was eons ago- so talk about a blast from the past. I’m not sure exactly how old I was when I decided that I rather go to a bookstore than a library, but what I do remember is that I wanted to keep my books. I loved the smell of new books and I adored the idea that I would be the first one to own them… Now I am a proud owner of hundreds of books. In order to save some space (and money!), it’s back to the library I go. I hope everyone’s having a fantastic Friday. Go enjoy the beautiful weather. - Jane 

    Thank you LiteraryChicks for sharing your love of the library and your library cards, both old (circa 1995ish) and new! Welcome back to NYPL :) 

    Thank you ALSO for giving us a wonderful Flashback Friday photo. A very timely photo, too… stay tuned tomorrow for more information!

    literarychicks:

    Say hello to my NYPL card. The last time I had a library card was eons ago- so talk about a blast from the past. I’m not sure exactly how old I was when I decided that I rather go to a bookstore than a library, but what I do remember is that I wanted to keep my books. I loved the smell of new books and I adored the idea that I would be the first one to own them… Now I am a proud owner of hundreds of books. In order to save some space (and money!), it’s back to the library I go.

    I hope everyone’s having a fantastic Friday. Go enjoy the beautiful weather.

    - Jane 

  10. The Gutenberg Bible turns 556 today... or maybe it doesn't! →

    Currently on display in the Rose Main Reading Room, NYPL is honored to have a beautiful edition of the Gutenberg Bible, the book that changed the world. But how old is it, really?