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News and Links

For National Library Week, Member writer Ellen Feldman gave us the gift of a beautiful ode to libraries . We're pleased to offer a brand-new online orientation for members who want to brush up their skills on our e-books, electronic resources, and other digital activities. Log in to the website here to learn all about it. The Library is closed, but collection development continues. The May New Books List includes something for every reader to look forward to. How many of our Library Bingo activities have you found yourself doing this past month?

Many good things about the 2019-2020 New York City Book Awards winners - and a list of some of the other books our jurors loved this year. Poem in Your Pocket Day (April 30) inspired some of us to share a favorite poem, funny or grand. Our historic Herman Melville materials have been visiting The Rosenbach in Philadelphia. Take a look at their exhibition from afar in this digital gallery . Staffer Kirsten Carleton is using lockdown to get deeply into knitting - in the literary tradition of Miss Marple, Mme Defarge, and Dorothy Parker. Our local Bible buff celebrated Easter with some "Bi-Fi": New Testament Fiction from the Sublime to the Ridiculous . The party is ongoing for Beverly Cleary's 104th birthday! Ramona Quimby never gets old. Meanwhile, William Shakespeare turned 456, and we enjoyed a visit to the witty, wacky world of cartoonist Good Tickle Brain .

One-Question Survey WHERE are you reading these days? In bed? In Biloxi? SHARE YOUR ANSWER HERE. Last month we asked what you were reading at home - and what great answers we got! All kinds of recommendations from classics to comedy here .

Children's Book Week Children's Book Week is May 4-10. Celebrate with storytime online, trivia, and more! In honor of the week, staffer Marialuisa Monda tells us why everyone, kid or adult, should read folk stories.

Add Your Voice to the Library's COVID-19 Community Archive The Library is creating a COVID-19 Community Archive to document members’ lives during this outbreak. The Library invites you to document your personal experiences and submit files to this Community Archive. You can send along a photo and accompanying story, a description of how you’re spending your days, or even snap a photo of a journal entry or an art project you’ve worked on. Learn more and add your contributions

NEW! ONLINE GALLERY TALK - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The Book Beautiful Margaret Armstrong & Her Bindings Video debut and interactive chat on YouTube Wednesday, May 6, 2:00 PM by donation | no registration required Join Exhibitions staff for an intimate look at the world, family, and gorgeous art of early-20th-century book designer Margaret Armstrong. Following this debut, the video will be available on our website. At event time, click here to join in .

ONLINE WORKSHOP - FOR MEMBERS

Gessy Alvarez The Tip of the Iceberg: An Introduction to Flash Fiction Thursdays May 7, May 14, May 21, May 28, 6:00 PM  on the Zoom Meetings platform | $60 for the four sessions | registration required This course will explore the growing popularity of flash fiction and examine how the elements of traditional storytelling like character, conflict, and plot play out in a condensed form with the editor-in-chief of the journal DIGGING THROUGH THE FAT. Learn more and register THE WRITING LIFE EVENTS IN 2020 ARE GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY JENNY LAWRENCE.

STREAMING LECTURE - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Eric K. Washington Boss of the Grips: The Life of James H. Williams and the Red Caps of Grand Central Terminal Video debut and interactive chat on YouTube Th ursday, May 7, 6:30 PM by donation | no registration required A long-overdue biography of the head of Grand Central Terminal’s Red Caps, who flourished in the cultural nexus of Harlem and American railroads. Join us on YouTube at the time above for the premiere of this recorded lecture and interactive chat with the speaker. At event time, click here to join in .

THE YOUNG WRITERS AWARDS - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The Young Writers Awards 2020 Video debut on YouTube Tuesday, May 12, 6:00 PM free of charge | no registration required The annual Young Writers Awards celebrate great writing by young authors in grades 3 through 12. Join us on YouTube for writing advice and inspiration in honor of this year's winners, from author-judges Robert Quackenbush, Carol Weston, Dave Johnson, and Edra Ziesk. At event time, click here to join in .

NEW! WEBINAR - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Virtual Exploration of the Library with New York Adventure Club Wednesday, May 13, 5:30 PM $10 per person | registration required We're pleased to offer a virtual visit to the Library then and now, including discussion of our history, a digital building walk-through, tips from our Book Conservator, and a detailed look at our current exhibition. Learn more and register

NEW DATES! WRITING LIFE POETRY WORKSHOP - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Esther Cohen Write What Life Feels Like Now Thursdays May 14, May 21, June 4, June 18, July 2, July 16, 3:00 PM  separate sessions | on the Zoom Meetings platform | by donation | registration required There are so many words to say how we feel. Let's try together. Esther Cohen is a writer and poet in New York City. She also teaches and is a cultural activist. Most days she posts a poem at esthercohen.com . Learn more and register THE WRITING LIFE EVENTS IN 2020 ARE GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY JENNY LAWRENCE.

NEW! LUNCHTIME DISCUSSION - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The New Work-Home Equation A Q&A with Distracted Author Maggie Jackson on how to Flourish When Office and Life Are One Conversation and interactive chat on YouTube Monday, May 18 , 12:00 noon by donation | registration required Join us for an interactive chat with author and journalist Maggie Jackson on how to tame distractions, keep screens from taking over, and push back on the blur that work and home have become during the lockdown. Want to submit a question ahead of time? Email the Events Office. Maggie Jackson is an award-winning author and journalist known for her penetrating writings on social trends, particularly technology’s impact on humanity. Her books include Distracted: Reclaiming Our Focus in a World of Lost Attention and What's Happening to Home: Balancing Work, Life and Refuge in the Information Age. Learn more and register

NEW! SEMNAR - FOR MEMBERS

Nicho las Birns Knight of the Rueful Countenance: Reading Cervantes' Don Quixote Wednesdays May 20, June 3, June 24, July 15, 11:00 AM  on the Zoom Meetings platform | $60 for the four sessions | registration required Considered the first great novel and the origin of European fictional representation, Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote is a book at once tragic, inspiring, thought-provoking and, above all, funny. Reading it in Edith Grossman's acclaimed recent translation, we will consider this timeless classic in its contexts. Learn more and register

INFORMAL GATHERING - FOR MEMBERS

Digital Teatime Fridays, 3:00-3:30 PM on the Zoom Meetings platform | by donation | drop in Grab your favorite cup and your current read and spend a little time in social sipping and book-friendly chat with your fellow members. Every Friday until further notice. At event time, click here to join in . (Free Zoom Meetings software required.)

PLUS

Here's everything in one place for Your Virtual NYSL .  For a quick list of all currently scheduled events, click here . Here is the list of everything originally announced for the season , including postponed events. From the Children's Library, resources for families at home - for younger kids and their parents and for older kids and their parents.

Quick Links Library Homepage   |  Library Blog   |  Books & People   |  Events Listings   |  New Books List   |  Book Recommendations   |  Frequently Asked Questions   |  Support the Library   Library Hours The Library is currently closed until further notice.   Our Email Newsletters The Library offers a general interest newsletter (monthly), the Events Extra newsletter (once or twice a month), and newsletters for children (most weeks) and young adults (quarterly).  To receive any or all, update your profile .