1. It’s a Cassatt Caturday. This 1908 painting by famed artist Mary Cassatt depicts a little girl holding an adorable kitten - perfect Caturday fodder. It’s also a perfect opportunity to shamelessly promote a brand new (totally free) exhibition at the Library’s landmark 42nd Street building - Daring Methods: The Prints of Mary Cassatt. Here’s a description: “Spanning twenty years of Cassatt’s career as a printmaker, from 1878 to 1898, this exhibition documents her first tentative steps in the medium and culminates with her highly accomplished and technically dazzling color prints.” So come on down today (before 6 p.m.) and check it out on the third floor - there won’t be any paintings as seen here, but the prints from our Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs are pretty amazing (you can some of them here). You have something better to do on this glorious Caturday? See you later!

    It’s a Cassatt Caturday. This 1908 painting by famed artist Mary Cassatt depicts a little girl holding an adorable kitten - perfect Caturday fodder. It’s also a perfect opportunity to shamelessly promote a brand new (totally free) exhibition at the Library’s landmark 42nd Street building - Daring Methods: The Prints of Mary Cassatt. Here’s a description: “Spanning twenty years of Cassatt’s career as a printmaker, from 1878 to 1898, this exhibition documents her first tentative steps in the medium and culminates with her highly accomplished and technically dazzling color prints.” So come on down today (before 6 p.m.) and check it out on the third floor - there won’t be any paintings as seen here, but the prints from our Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs are pretty amazing (you can some of them here). You have something better to do on this glorious Caturday? See you later!

  2. This week’s Caturday is an 1870’s print from our Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection depicting Robinson Crusoe eating with the dog and two cats he rescued from a shipwreck. It’s a little random, but it’s cute, neat and, because it shows food, it’s also appropriate - we have a brand new, free exhibition (that just opened yesterday at our 42nd Street building) called Lunch Hour NYC. It uses our collections to tell amazing stories about the history of the midday meal in New York. The Times dug it. You will, too. So go check it out. While you’re at it, if you’re a foodie, check out the blog (well, blogs) of exhibition co-curator (and NYPL culinary collections librarian) Rebecca Federman. Here’s a little tidbit - she has a cat. Happy Caturday! PS - Yes, we know Robinson Crusoe is eating dinner in this image. Whatever.

    This week’s Caturday is an 1870’s print from our Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection depicting Robinson Crusoe eating with the dog and two cats he rescued from a shipwreck. It’s a little random, but it’s cute, neat and, because it shows food, it’s also appropriate - we have a brand new, free exhibition (that just opened yesterday at our 42nd Street building) called Lunch Hour NYC. It uses our collections to tell amazing stories about the history of the midday meal in New York. The Times dug it. You will, too. So go check it out. While you’re at it, if you’re a foodie, check out the blog (well, blogs) of exhibition co-curator (and NYPL culinary collections librarian) Rebecca Federman. Here’s a little tidbit - she has a cat. Happy Caturday! PS - Yes, we know Robinson Crusoe is eating dinner in this image. Whatever.

  3. He takes pains with historical accuracy, writes beautifully constructed sentences…never settles for the carelessly selected phrase but almost unerringly gets the correct word for the situation…

    — 

    Annie Proulx, Financial Times review of Hari Kunzru’s Gods Without Men. 

    RSVP for next Wednesday’s event, where Hari Kunzru will discuss his latest book with National Book Critics Circle Award nominee Teju Cole!

  4. Brain Pickings says “Typography Sketchbooks is like a visual window into the minds of the worlds most exciting type designers…” We couldn’t agree more, which is why you simply MUST join us Wednesday night when Steven Heller and Lita Tallarico visit the NYPL to discuss the heart of all visual communication.

    Brain Pickings says “Typography Sketchbooks is like a visual window into the minds of the worlds most exciting type designers…” We couldn’t agree more, which is why you simply MUST join us Wednesday night when Steven Heller and Lita Tallarico visit the NYPL to discuss the heart of all visual communication.

  5. It’s December already (seriously, how did that happen). So for this week’s Caturday, we thought we’d share a holiday-ish item from our collections - the cover of a book from the 1880s called “The Three White Kittens” by the McLoughlin Brothers. So happy Caturday!! Speaking of the holidays, NYPL is holding its annual “Holiday Open House” tomorrow for Friends of the Library complete with music, face painting, refreshments, tours of the stacks (first come, first served), etc. If you’re a Friend, come by the flagship Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street at 1 pm. If you’re not, come by anyway, sign up to become a Friend and party! Hope to see you there!

    It’s December already (seriously, how did that happen). So for this week’s Caturday, we thought we’d share a holiday-ish item from our collections - the cover of a book from the 1880s called “The Three White Kittens” by the McLoughlin Brothers. So happy Caturday!! Speaking of the holidays, NYPL is holding its annual “Holiday Open House” tomorrow for Friends of the Library complete with music, face painting, refreshments, tours of the stacks (first come, first served), etc. If you’re a Friend, come by the flagship Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street at 1 pm. If you’re not, come by anyway, sign up to become a Friend and party! Hope to see you there!

  6. To Be Seen AND Heard

    Mid-Manhattan Library presents Storylights, an exhibition featuring the work of artist Katherine Jackson,  celebrating the centennial of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. The new work includes large scale abstract images - edge-lit or back lit etched glass sculptures - inspired by architectural elements of the iconic branch.

    Tonight there will be a public reception from 6-9pm in Mid-Manhattan Library’s first-floor reading room, featuring a free solo performance by renowned jazz guitarist Paul Meyers. Let your eyes and ears be inspired!


  7. Hollywood Dishonors the Bard →

    Former NYPL Cullman Center fellow and Shakespeare expert James Shapiro shares his thoughts - via the New York Times - on “Anonymous,” a film that asserts Edward de Vere was the true author of Shakespeare’s plays. Join us November 16, when he and Alphabetter Juice author Roy Blount Jr. discuss the topic of language. 

  8. What greater gift than the love of a cat?

    — Good question, Charles Dickens. Good question. Want to see some rare items belonging to him? Come to NYPL’s free exhibit “Celebrating 100 Years” at our 42nd Street building (the one, appropriately, with the big cats outside). We have over 200 items from people like Malcolm X, Emily Bronte, Bob Dylan, and more. Looking for something else to do? The Anthology Film Archives is playing a bunch of cat videos today in NY. Happy Caturday!

  9. Yay for the NBA!

    The 2011 National Book Award finalists have been announced, and we’re proud to shout a hearty congratulations to 2008-2009 Cullman Center Fellows Deborah Baker, author of THE CONVERT, and Lauren Redniss, creator of RADIOACTIVE, for their nominations in the non-fiction category. Both artists researched their books while at the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers, and we’re thrilled to share such wonderful news with everyone. 

    Even better news for all… Deborah Baker will be visiting the Library next Tuesday (10/18) to discuss her award-nominated book THE CONVERT with journalist Elizabeth Rubin. It’s a can’t-don’t-won’t miss event!