By Ryan Pullido
Eagle News Service

(Eagle News) — The New York Public Library (NYPL), which serves the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, is kicking off the summer with a bang by launching the “Summer at the Library” project.

The centerpiece of the festivities is the 500,000 free book giveaway that started on June 9. The books are aimed at kids and teens and the giveaway is designed to bring families back into the library.

Families with NYPL library cards can pick a book by visiting any NYPL branch or outdoor NYPL program. Households can also sign up for an NYPL library card to be eligible to participate in the programs that NYPL offers. 

“New York City students and families have been through so much over the last two years. It’s critical that, during this period of recovery and renewal, our ecosystem of learning do all it can to support and engage them,”  said Brian Bannon, NYPL’s Merryl and James Tisch Director of Branch Libraries and Education. “Public libraries are uniquely positioned to do this while students are out of the classroom over the summer months, providing quality, free programs to engage their minds while also getting them excited about books, reading, learning and their communities. After so much time apart, it’s time to safely come together this summer.”

As part of the summertime project, the library will host free outdoor events and programs for people of all ages.

With all of these new programs, it seems that the New York Public Library is the new place to be this summer.