Skip to main content
You agree to our use of third-party technology to collect, store, share and use data about your use of our site, and our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Manage your cookie preferences here.

Reading Room

Newspapers, magazines, books, and literary events

With a storied history in the park, the Reading Room provides the free use of books, newspapers, and magazines in the park during warm weather months. You'll also find a robust schedule of literary events, including Books on Broadway, Author, BookClub, Poetry, StoryTime, and much more!

Special thanks to
PenguinRandomHouseLibraryMarketingandMitchells

Author

May 28 - August 27
Wednesdays, 12:30pm-1:45pm

Admired and bestselling authors offer advice and discuss their latest books.

Hosted by Ilana Levine, actress and podcaster, Little Known Facts with Ilana Levine

Non-Fiction

July 9 - September 3
Wednesdays, 7pm-8pm

Lectures and conversations with historians, authors, and thinkers.

Produced in partnership with New-York Historical Society

May 28
Writers Read

June 4
Spring into Summer
Lian Dolan,
Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding
Sarah Penner, The Amalfi Curse
Ally Walker, The Light Runner

June 11
Summer Reads
Lorna Graham,
Where You Once Belonged
Nicola Kraus, The Best We Could Hope For
Paul Vidich, The Poet's Game

June 18
Mystery & Thrillers
Kimberly Belle,
The Expat Affair
James Frey, Next to Heaven

June 25
Memoir
Ruther Ackerman,
The Mother Code: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Myths That Shape Us
Mike Drucker, Good Game, No Rematch: A Life Made of Video Games
David Litt, It's Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground

More events to be announced

July 9: 

Zaakir Tameez, Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation 

July 16: 

Steven Hahn, Illiberal America: A History 

July 23: 

Gerri Willis, Lincoln’s Lady Spymaster: The Untold Story of the Abolitionist Southern Belle Who Helped Win the Civil War

July 30: 

Thomas A. Tweed, Religion in the Lands that Became America: A New History

August 6: 

Laurie Gwen Shapiro, The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Marriage that Made an American Icon 

August 13: 

Martha S. Jones, The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir

August 20: 

Marcus Rediker, Freedom Ship: The Uncharted History of Escaping Slavery by Sea

August 27: 

Victor Luckerson, Built from the Fire: The Epic Story of Tulsa's Greenwood District, America's Black Wall Street

September 3: 

Lindsay Chervinsky, Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic

Poetry

June 3 - September 16
Tuesdays, 6pm-7:30pm

Award-winning poetry by established and emerging poets.

Hosted by Jason Schneiderman, acclaimed poet

Poetry Discussion Circle

June 17, July 15, August 19, September 16
Select Tuesdays, 3:30pm-4:30pm

Explorations of poetry facilitated by NYPL staff.

Produced in partnership with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, NYPL

June 3

Poetry Reading with Sebastian Matthews, Nathan McClain, Richard Michelson, and Michelle Whittaker

June 10

Tribute to Emily Dickinson with Paul Legault and Donna Masini

June 17

Poetry Reading with Molly Peacock, Phillis Levin, Dante Micheaux, and Amy Lemmon

June 24

Poetry Reading with Sally Keith, Joseph Legaspi, James Shea, and Nida Sophasarun

July 1 

Poetry Reading with Nicole Callihan, Ryan Black, Derek Pollard, and Amy Small-McKinney

July 8 

Tribute to John Keats with John Deming and Jameson Fitzpatrick

July 15

Poetry Reading with Dorsía Smith Silva, Isabelle Baafi, Rick Chess, and Kyle Liang *Hosted by John Deming

July 22

Tribute to Yusef Kumunyakaa with Gregory Pardlo and Samiya Bashir

July 29

Poetry Reading with Bakar Wilson, Kim Dower, Abi Polokoff, and Christian Teresi

August 5

Tribute to William Butler Yeats with Lynn Melnick and Timothy Donnelly

August 12 

Poetry Reading with Didi Jackson, Rachel Trousdale, Marion Wrenn, and Francisco Delgado

August 19

Tribute to Jane Austen

August 26

Poetry Reading with Eve Grubin, Lesley Wheeler, Hayden Saunier, and Elizabeth T. Gray, Jr.

September 2

Poetry Reading with erica lewis, Joan Kwon Glass, Nicole Cooley, April Ossmann *Hosted by John Deming

September 9

Poetry Reading featuring Kevin Young

September 16

Poetry Reading with Rosanna Warren, Rajiv Mohabir, Keetje, and Meg Kearney *Hosted by John Deming

Reel Talks

June 9 – August 18
Mondays, 12:30pm–1:30pm

Talks on movies, the culture of cinema, and filmmaking.

Hosted by Scott Adlerberg, film connoisseur

June 9:

J. Hoberman, Duck Soup

June 16: 

Philip Gefter, Cocktails with George and Martha: Movies, Marriage, and the Making of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

June 23: 

Carrie Courogen, Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood's Hidden Genius

June 30:

Tobias Carroll, Framed and Bound podcast 

July 7: 

Shawn Levy, CLINT: The Man and the Movies

July 14: 

Chris Alexander, Art! Trash! Terror!: Adventures in Strange Cinema

July 21: 

Odie Henderson, Black Caesars and Foxy Cleopatras: A History of Blaxploitation Cinema

July 28: 

Alissa Wilkinson, We Tell Ourselves Stories: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine

August 4: 

David M. Stewart, There's No Going Back: The Life and Work of Jonathan Demme 

August 11: 

Dave Karger, 50 Oscar Nights: Iconic Stars & Filmmakers on Their Career-Defining Wins

August 18: 

Samm Deighan, Revolution in 35mm: Political Violence and Resistance in Cinema from the Arthouse to the Grindhouse, 1960-1990

Books on Broadway

May 20, 27, June 3, July 1
Select Tuesdays, 12:30pm–1:30pm

Backstage look at books starring on Broadway, featuring cast and crew who make it happen.

Hosted by Ilana Levine, actress and podcaster, Little Known Facts with Ilana Levine

BookClub

June 10, 24, July 8, 22, August 5, 19
Select Tuesdays, 12:30pm–1:30pm  

Romance, graphic novels, and classics—a little something for everyone.

Produced in partnership with Penguin Random House

*Sign-up at the Reading Room in advance and pick up a free book while supply lasts.

May 20
John Proctor is the Villain

Kimberly Belflower (Playwright) 
Gabriel Ebert (Carter Smith) Tony Award® Nominee 
Fina Strazza (Beth Powell) Tony Award® Nominee 

May 27
Jeffrey Seller, Theater Kid: A Broadway Memoir
Award-winning theatrical producer of Rent and Hamilton shares all.

June 3
Jenny Anderson, The In-Between: Intimate and Candid Moments of Broadway Stars
A personal ode to the theatre community with more than 100 photographs taken behind the scenes. 

July 1 
The Great Gatsby
Linedy Genao
(Myrtle Wilson) 
Austin Colby (Tom Buchanan) 

June 10
Graphic Novel BookClub
Archie Meets Batman '66
by Jeff Parker and Michael Moreci

June 24
Graphic Novel BookClub
Archie: Varsity Edition Vol. 1
by Mark Waid and Fiona Staples

July 8
Romance BookClub

The Heart of the Deal by Lindsay MacMillan

July 22
Romance BookClub
Love, Camera, Action
by Noel Stark

August 5
Classics BookClub
The War of the Worlds
by H.G. Wells

August 19
Classics BookClub
Cassandra at the Wedding
by Dorothy Baker

Writers Workshop

July 10 – August 14
Thursdays, 6:30pm–8pm

Workshops geared to improve your writing skills.

Produced in partnership with Gotham Writers

Writers Workshop Teens

September 20
Saturday, noon–1:30pm

Essay-writing tips for high schoolers and young adults

Produced in partnership with Writopia Lab

StoryTime

June 24 – August 26
Tuesdays, 10:30am–11:30am

Meowsic, stories, and fun with Cali Co Cat and friends. Ages 2 - 8.

Kids

July 12 – August 24
Saturdays and Sundays, 11am–12:30pm

Imaginations run wild during summer weekends in the Reading Room with music, dance, fitness, and more, followed by arts and crafts.

Beekeeping

April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18
Select Fridays, noon–1pm  

Learn about urban honeybees and the vital role they play in the environment.

Produced in partnership with New York City Beekeepers Association

Puzzle Meetups

June 14 – July 5
Saturdays, noon-3pm

Work with fellow jigsaw puzzle lovers on new pieces.

Hosted by Puzzle People of NYC

summer in the Bryant Park Reading Room
Special thanks to
PenguinRandomHouseLibraryMarketingandMitchells