The Library After Hours: Friday the 13th Edition

Join us at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building for a night of horror, superstition, and mystery.

Featuring:

• Live music and storytelling in the Rose Main Reading Room. Glass Harmonica with Friedrich Heinrich Kern and Scary Stories with Clay McLeod Chapman, Nneoma Ike-Njoku, and Angela Liu


• One-night-only display of rare collections material exploring the evolving identity of witches


• Create a Horror Story inspired by the Picture Collection


• Classic films from the Library's collections


• Horror book tasting with the NYPL librarians behind the Library's Best New Horror of 2026 List


• Coloring, Puzzles & Games


• Music by DJ René Hidalgo


• Library Card Sign-Up


• Declaring America: 1776 and Beyond, an exhibition unpacking the complex stories of the American Revolution


• Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures

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. Your contribution benefits The New York Public Library and helps us cover the costs of this event. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

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 at 7:30 PM, with final entry at 10:00 PM. The 42nd St entrance is accessible.

All tickets are final sale.

ACCESSIBILITY

This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs (enter at 42nd Street). Assistive listening devices 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 [email protected].

For other accessibility information, please contact [email protected].

CONNECT

Please submit all press inquiries at least 48 hours before the event to: [email protected] or use this Gmail template.

For all other questions and inquiries, please email [email protected] 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 by the continuing generosity of Celeste Bartos, Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos and Adam Bartos, the Margaret and Herman Sokol Public Education Endowment Fund, and the support of Library patrons and friends.