New York Public Library

As a VENUE: Host your event…

Hosting your event at the New York Public Library provides unique access to our most exquisite spaces, while helping sustain one of the world’s premier non-profit institutions. All event fees support the Library’s indispensable collections, services, and programs. Fifteen distinctive spaces are available:

• Stephen A. Schwarzman Building: The Library’s landmark Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is a quintessential New York City icon. Located in the heart of Manhattan, this magnificent Beaux-Arts building caters to intimate gatherings and lavish extravaganzas, lending a sense of grandeur and distinction to any occasion.
  • Astor Hall: 750 guests reception, 275 guests seated dinner
  • Celeste Bartos Forum: 500 guests reception / auditorium, 425 guests seated dinner, 350 guests dinner & dancing
  • The Edna Barnes Salomon Room: 325 guests reception, 300 guests seated dinner
  • McGraw Rotunda: 300 guests reception
  • The Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III Trustees Room: 110 guests reception / auditorium, 90  guests seated dinner
  • Celeste Auditorium: 150 guests theare-style.
• Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library Rooftop Event Center: Host your upcoming event at our new rooftop event center and outdoor terrace nestled in the heart of Midtown. Perfect for your corporate, non-profit and social occasion: * Flexible Floor Plans: Over 3,500 SF & an outdoor terrace. Movable walls & flexible configurations. * Built-In Audio Visual: Built-in screens, projectors, PA system, Free Wi-Fi.
  • Capacity: Standing, Cocktail reception – 250 guests; Seated, Banquet-style – 130 guests
• The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts: Celebrated for its extensive archival collections makes its facilities available for rent. Located in the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the Library is easily accessible via Lincoln Center Plaza or West 65th Street. Convenient to all forms of public transportation, cars and trucks, with nearby parking facilities, it is surrounded by restaurants, hotels, shopping, and other cultural attractions. The Library’s spaces can accommodate a variety of events: * Business Conferences * Film Screenings * Dance / Music Performances * Luncheons * Cocktail Receptions * Dinners, and * Outdoor Terrace Event.
  • The Bruno Walter Auditorium: The Bruno Walter Auditorium, located at the Amsterdam Ave. and 65th St. entrance, is an ideal location for screenings, readings, panel presentations, and live performances. It can accommodate audiences of up to 202, in an intimate and inviting space, and is fully ADA-compliant.
    • Capacity: 202 guests
  • Amsterdam Lobby: With a conveniently located street entrance, the Amsterdam Lobby is the perfect setting for a cocktail reception for up to 100 guests. Our two-tiered lobby allows for a variety of catering arrangements. The dimensions of the Amsterdam Ave. lobby: 8,000. sq.ft.
    • Capacity: Reception – up to 100 guests
  • Plaza Level Lobby: Looking out onto Lincoln Center, the Plaza Level Lobby is a great location for meetings, luncheons, and receptions. It can host up to 200 guests in an easily accessible location. The dimensions of the Lincoln Center Plaza level lobby: 17,650 sq.ft. Located on the upper floor of the Plaza Lobby, the Miriam and Harold Steinberg Reading Room can seat 40 for business meetings or lectures.
    • Capacity: Reception – 200 guests; Meeting – 40 guests
  • Seminar Room: The Seminar Room, located on the third floor, can accommodate up to 22 people around its rectangular conference table. The room is equipped with a full video/data projection system.
    • Capacity: 22 guests
• Schomburg Center Event Spaces: The Schomburg Center complex, a 75,000 square foot, three-building facility, is located at Harlem’s historic crossroads—135th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard (formerly Lenox Avenue). The Schomburg Center offers four magnificent spaces for intimate gatherings, as well as lavish extravaganzas:
  • Langston Hughes Auditorium: The Langston Hughes Auditorium is a professional theatre with state of the art audio visual capabilities that can take your event to the next level.
    • Capacity: 321 guests
  • Langston Hughes Lobby: Langston Hughes Lobby is an elegant, glass-enclosed atrium overlooking the Schomburg Center’s outdoor courtyard.
    • Capacity: 250 guests
    • 1,150 square feet
  • American Negro Theatre: The American Negro Theatre is a multipurpose space that can be utilized for a variety of events, such as meetings, forums, and receptions. For meetings and forums, the stage reaches 195.5 square feet. For larger events, the space can reach 703.5 square feet.
    • Capacity: up to 125 guests
  • Schomburg Courtyard: The Schomburg Center’s outdoor courtyard, bordered by the spectacular atrium windows of the Langston Hughes Lobby and the interior walls of the landmark building, is an ideal locale for open-air gatherings.
    • Capacity: 120 guests

Neighborhood Branches: For information, please contact each of the many library locations directly.

Support the New York Public Library… by simply booking your next special occasion here:

https://www.nypl.org/space-rental

As a Shop: Discover unique merchandise…

All Proceeds Support the Library. Merchandise is catalogued within these collections: * Just In * NYPL * Jewelry * Accessories * Work + Home * Books * Kids * Gift, and * Holiday.

Support the New York Public Library… by simply purchasing your speciality merchandise here:

https://shop.nypl.org/

Be a DONOR: Show that you care…

Membership:

You are at the core of our work to provide books, classes, and more, for free. Become a Friend of the Library or renew today to enjoy discounts, complimentary tickets to events, and more! You may give any amount of your choice. Monthly gift amounts are encouraged. Gift memerships are available.

Membership at specified levels are offered: * Friends of the Library * Schomburg Society * Friends of the Library for the Performing Arts * Young Lions * Conservators * President’s Council * Planned Giving: Bigelow Society, and * Lawyers for the Library.

Donations:

• Planned Giving: If you are interested in making an impact on  the future of  Library through a gift in your will, living trust, retirement account, or a charitable gift annuity, and provide free and open access to education, knowledge, information, and opportunity for future generations of New Yorkers and patrons from around the world: * Make A Gift in My Will * Make a Life Income Gift * Make a Gift by Beneficiary Designation * Bigelow Legacy Society, and  * Langston Hughes Legacy Society.
• Benefit Events: Show your support for the Library by attending some of New York’s most exclusive events, including the Library Lions Gala, Library Lunch, Young Lions Fiction Awards, and more.
• Honor and Memorial Gifts: A gift made in one’s name is always a meaningful way to mark a special occasion or to remember or honor a beloved family member, respected friend, or colleague. You may want to consider Dedicating a Chair or Table.
• Book Dedication: Print a name and personalized message inside a New York Public Library circulating book.
• Chair Dedication: Personalize a chair plaque in our iconic Rose Main Reading Room or newly renovated Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library.
• Donor-Advised Funds: Select the Library for a fully tax-deductible grant from your Donor Advised Fund and support millions of New Yorkers.
• Start Your Own Campaign: Dedicate your birthday, celebrate your wedding, honor a loved one, or create your own campaign in support of the Library.
• Tax-Deductible Gift: Government funding pays only a portion of the Library‘s operating expenses. We depend on support from generous individuals like you to help fund our collections, job search resources, access to the internet, literacy classes, children’s story hours, and so much more. Your gift helps keep these vital services FREE for all New Yorkers. Donations is specified amounts are designated or you may customize your gift. Recurring gifts are encouraged.
• Major Gifts: For high net worth individuals seeking to make a lasting difference, a major gift represents a powerful philanthropic investment in the future of The New York Public Library. Major gifts have the potential to be truly transformative—advancing opportunities, expanding access, and helping to sustain our institution for generations to come. We invite you to explore how your generosity can shape the future and create a legacy of impact by contacting our Development office
• Corporate Support: Corporate support is vital to The New York Public Library’s efforts to provide vast information resources, entertaining and educational programming, and staff expertise to any and all who seek them – completely free of charge. There are a number of ways for corporations to support the Library, whether you become a Corporate Partner, sponsor a public program or exhibition, or host your next corporate event at the Library.
• Foundation Support: Foundations provide essential general operating support that allows the Library to maintain core areas of service to the public, from providing books and other materials in neighborhood branches and research collections, to developing important digital technology, to presenting free public programs. General operating support allows the Library’s superb staff of curators, librarians, program staff, and educators to provide free resources, advice, and information to anyone and everyone who seeks it out.
• Company Match: Your company may match your donation to The New York Public Library, enabling you to double—or even triple—your impact!

Support the New York Public Library… by simply contributing here:

https://www.nypl.org/give