Join us at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building for the city’s most cerebral happy hour.

While registration for this event has ended, we may have a limited number of tickets available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.

This edition of the Library After Hours is a loud, proud love letter to some of the great works of literature and art that have been censored throughout history. Featuring readings of banned books, rare 16mm films on the history of censorship, and a one-night-only collections display of once-banned materials.

Special access includes:

• Special collections display featuring rare books, artwork, photographs, maps, and more that track the long history of censorship across the globe.


• Readings by Substack superstars of censored works written by women. Featuring: Maya Popa, Bonnie Morrison, Maya Rodale, Cece Xie, and Jess Graves.


• 16mm films curated from the Reserve Film and Video Collection telling stories of book bans old and new.


• Activities and live performances by Grammy-nominated guitarist Gary Lucas in the Rose Main Reading Room.


• Unique library-related books and gifts in the Library Shop.

Plus: Dance the night away with music by Rimarkable, find your next great banned book with librarian-led book matchmaking, try your hand at games and puzzles, or relax with crafts and coloring. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.

21+ | ID required | #NYPLafterhours
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TICKETS

Tickets for this event are Pay What You Wish, with a suggested cost of admission of $15. What you pay benefits The New York Public Library and helps make this event—and others like it—possible. 

If you miss your chance to get a ticket in advance, we may have a limited number of tickets available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Doors will open at our 42nd St entrance and the Marshall Rose Plaza (located at 40th St and 5th Ave) at 7 PM, with final entry at 9:30 PM. Both of these entrances are accessible. 

All tickets are final sale.

If you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or suspect you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, please stay home.

BOOKS FOR ALL: PROTECT THE FREEDOM TO READ

Stand with The New York Public Library all year long to protect the freedom to read! Discover all the Library has to offer, including our Teen Banned Book Club, unlimited access to book club titles on NYPL’s SimplyE app, our National Teen Writing Contest about the importance of reading freely, plus free programs and events, ways to get involved, and more for all ages. Learn more here. #UniteAgainstBookBans

ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION

This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs (enter at 42nd Street or the Marshall Rose Plaza, located at 40th St and 5th Ave). Assistive listening devices and large-format programs are available on-site. ASL interpretation and real-time (CART) captioning available upon request. Please submit your request at least two weeks in advance by emailing accessibility@nypl.org.

For other accessibility information, please contact accessibility@nypl.org.

CONNECT

Please submit all press inquiries to Sara Beth Joren at least 48 hours before the event: email sarabethjoren@nypl.org or use this Gmail template.

For all other questions and inquiries, please email publicprograms@nypl.org or use this Gmail template.

The New York Public Library's free services and resources are made possible thanks to the support of the Friends of the Library. Join this group of Library lovers and take advantage of special membership benefits, like invitations to members-only virtual events, discounts at the Library Shop, and more. Join now.

The Library After Hours is made possible with the generous support of Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos and Adam Bartos.

Treasures programming is made possible by the Estate of Helen Sisserson.