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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!
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
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
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
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
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