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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 7pm Wednesday 9am - 7pm Thursday 9am - 7pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 11am - 5pm Sunday 11am - 5pm

New York Society Library

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New York Society Library

Founded in 1754, New York City's oldest library is a thriving community of readers, writers, and families. See nysoclib.org for more details.

We are open to all for reading, reference, and many events. Founded in 1754, we are the city’s oldest library and a thriving community of readers, writers, and families. The Library is open to all for reading, reference, exhibitions, and many events, with circulation and other services by subscription. Our landmark building houses roughly 300,000 volumes, reading rooms, study spaces, a children’s

library, and an exhibition gallery. The Library is a not-for-profit organization supported in part by tax-deductible contributions.

05/21/2026

Just a quick moment with the card catalog. 📚
Did you know that our card catalog is still active?

04/23/2026

DID YOU KNOW? ✨
We have a literary awards program called the New York City Book Awards, and it’s a big deal!
Since 1995, we have celebrated standout books that capture the spirit, complexity, and history of New York City. These voices are shaping how we see the city.📚

The winning authors will be honored at a ceremony at the Library soon. Mark your calendars: Monday, May 11, 2026 🗓️.

Our 2025-2026 Winners (and show them some love in the comments)🏆📖:
The Hornblower Award for a First Book: Alexander Wood, “Building the Metropolis: Architecture, Construction, and Labor in New York City, 1880-1935” (The University of Chicago Press)

Bench Ansfield, “Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City” (W.W. Norton & Company)

“Patrick Dougher, “Concrete Dreamland: Coming of Age in Underground New York” (Little, Brown and Company)

David Campbell and Jarrod Shanahan, “City Time: On Being Sentenced to Rikers Island” (NYU Press)

Elon Green, “The Man Nobody Killed: Life, Death, and Art in Michael Stewart’s New York” (Celadon Books)

04/16/2026

A town shaped by its past.
A mystery unfolding in the present.

Discover a powerful new thriller in which a grieving archivist uncovers a connection between modern-day disappearances and centuries-old witch trials in THE DAUGHTERS by (Author of THE BEQUEST).

Join us for this captivating hybrid lecture, and for your next read! There will be a book sale by our local indie bookstore .

🗓️ Monday, January 20
📍 Hybrid event (in person and online)
🎟️ Open to the public (ticket required). LinkTree has the details.

03/25/2026

Two women. Two extraordinary creative lives. ✨

‘Mai-Mai Sze and Irene Sharaff: In Their Own Words’ brings their stories to life through the words they left behind, revealing the ideas, passions, and artistry that shaped literature, theater, and film.

ON View now at The New York Society Library. Free and open to all: stop by and spend some time with their stories!

📚 And if you enjoy discovering exhibitions like this, there’s always more to explore here.

03/12/2026

What a find! 📚✨

“Island Possessed” by Katherine Dunham (American dancer, choreographer, anthropologist, and social activist, renowned as the Mother of Black dance), straight from our collection. You can find it in Stack 1.

Don’t miss tonight’s event with discussing her recent novel, “Where the False Gods Dwell” (Published by | ), inspired by Dunham and her extraordinary life.

Details in our LinkTree. See you tonight!

02/25/2026

The Library is proud to support the 26th annual Project Cicero book drive 📚

Donate new or gently used books (Feb 26–Mar 5), shop our Wish List, volunteer, or give to support the cause.

Help bring the joy of reading to NYC students across all five boroughs.

Want to know more information? Check our Linktree for details and follow Project Cicero for year-round ways to support. 🌈

02/23/2026

‼️ Due to the inclement weather, the Library will be closed on Monday, February 23.

Registrants for the 6:00 PM “What Is Acting?” event will be contacted with more details.

Stay safe and warm, everyone. ❄️

Recycled photograph: “Group of Bears”, a bronze sculpture by American artist Paul Manship (taken in February 2025), marking the entrance to the Ruth and Arthur Smadbeck-Heckscher East Playground. They are just south of the and a 4-minute walk from us!

02/12/2026

The Joan Kaplan Davidson Conservation Studio is one of the favorite treasures from our renovation. This beautiful new space provides an up-to-date laboratory for our book conservator to treat and repair books from our general and special collections, following the highest standards and best practices. 📚

Named in honor of Joan Kaplan Davidson, philanthropist and longtime member of the library, we continue to celebrate a legacy of stewardship, scholarship, and enduring support.

01/29/2026

One of four desks tucked inside the Members’ Room.
A favorite place for cozy reading, thoughtful writing, and quiet focus, plus a couch and armchairs perfect for settling in. ✨

As a gentle reminder, keyboards aren’t permitted here: this space is intentionally for calm, cozy studying and uninterrupted reading. 📚

01/26/2026

Closure update: The library will remain closed on Monday, January 26, due to the inclement weather.

Please continue to check our website for updates.

Our library is also available virtually. Feel free to look into our online resources (audiobooks and ebooks) and published videos from past events on our YouTube page.

We look forward to seeing you soon! Stay safe, be warm, and thank you. 🙏🏼 📚 ❄️

Address

53 E 79th Street
New York, NY
10075

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 7pm
Wednesday	9am - 7pm
Thursday	9am - 7pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	11am - 5pm
Sunday	11am - 5pm

Telephone

(212) 288-6900

Website

http://www.nysoclib.org/

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