Join us for the grand opening of The New York Public Library's first-ever permanent exhibition highlighting the Library’s world-renowned research collections on September 24, 2021.
For more than 125 years, The New York Public Library has collected, preserved, and made accessible the world’s knowledge. Now, for the first time, the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures showcases some of the most extraordinary items from the 56 million in NYPL's collections, inspiring and empowering visitors to discover, learn, and create new knowledge—today and in the years ahead.
"One of the goals of the exhibition is to encourage critical thinking, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of history and the world around us, a key part of the mission of The New York Public Library, and any public library" said Declan Kiely, the Library's Director of Special Collections and Exhibitions, who led a team of research staff that curated the exhibition. "We are inviting visitors to explore the past and the present through these objects and from new angles. So it seems appropriate to showcase the exhibition from a completely new angle, as this iconic building has never been seen before."
The treasures in this exhibition tell the stories of people, places, and moments spanning 4,000 years—from the emergence of the written word through to the present day. Visitors will encounter manuscripts, artworks, letters, still and moving images, recordings, and more that bring vividly to life voices of the past. While the Library’s collections have always been available for public use, the Polonsky Exhibition builds on our 125-year legacy by offering a unique opportunity to make new connections and expand our understanding of the world and each other—so that together we can shape a better future.
Free Admission: Timed Tickets Available Now!
For more information visit The New York Public Library.