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Reading Room is closed for the 2025 season. We'll be back spring 2026!
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!
September 13, 2025
Saturday, 10:30am-2:30pm
Compete on original puzzles by crossword guru Mike Shenk, with scoring based on accuracy and speed. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in three divisions. Register and learn more here.
Non-Fiction
July 9, 2025 – September 3, 2025
Wednesdays, 7pm-8pm
Lectures and conversations with historians, authors, and thinkers. Produced in partnership with The New York Historical
Books on Broadway
2025 schedule
May 20, 27, June 3, July 1, September 11, 16
Tuesdays, 12:30pm-1:30pm
Backstage looks at books starring on Broadway. Hosted by Ilana Levine, actress and podcaster, Little Known Facts with Ilana Levine
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
May 20
John Proctor is the Villain
Kimberly Belflower (Plawright)
Gabriel Ebert (Carter Smith)
Fina Strazza (Beth Powell)
May 27
Jeffrey Seller, Theater Kid: A Broadway Memoir
June 3
Jenny Anderson, The In-Between: Intimate and Candid Moments of Broadway Stars
July 1
The Great Gatsby
Linedy Genao (Myrtle Wilson)
Austin Colby (Tom Buchanan)
September 11
Maybe Happy Ending
James Choi (James & Others)
September 16
Oh, Mary!
Jenn Harris (Mary's Chaperone)
Poetry
June 3, 2025 – September 16, 2025
Tuesdays, 6pm-7:30pm
Award-winning poetry by established and emerging poets, hosted by Jason Schneiderman, acclaimed poet
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 Komunyakaa with Gregory Pardlo and Samiya Bashir
July 29
Poetry Reading with Bakar Wilson, Kim Dower, Abi Pollokoff, 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 hosted by Sarah Rose Kearns, JASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America)
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 Kuipers, and Meg Kearney *Hosted by John Deming
Writers Workshop
July 10, 2025 – August 14, 2025
Thursdays, 6:30pm–8pm
Workshops geared to improve your writing skills, produced in partnership with Gotham Writers.
Teen Writers Workshop
September 20, 2025
Saturday, noon–1:30pm
Essay-writing tips for high schoolers and young adults, produced in partnership with Writopia Lab.
July 10
Screenwriting with Doug Katz
July 17
Flash Fiction & Nonfiction with Arlaina Tibensky
July 24
Creative Writing with Cullen Thomas
July 31
Memoir with Kelly Caldwell
August 7
The Writer's Mind with Emma Stephenson
August 14
Fiction with K Hank Jost
Reel Talks
June 9, 2025 – August 18, 2025
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
Discussion on Movies Set in the World of Books with Tobias Carroll
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
StoryTime
June 24, 2025 – August 26, 2025
Tuesdays, 10:30am–11:30am
Meowsic, stories, and fun with Cali Co Cat and friends, recommended for ages 2 – 8.
Weekend Kids
July 12, 2025 – August 24, 2025
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 with Kelsey Craftz.
Beekeeping
2025 schedule
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, 2025 – July 5, 2025
Saturdays, noon-3pm
Work with fellow jigsaw puzzle lovers on new pieces, hosted by Puzzle People of NYC.
