515 Malcolm X Boulevard (135th St and Malcolm X Blvd)
New York, NY 10037
917-275-6975
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10 AM–6 PM
Regular Hours
Day Hours
Monday 10 AM–6 PM
Tuesday 10 AM–6 PM
Wednesday 10 AM–6 PM
Thursday 10 AM–6 PM
Friday 10 AM–6 PM
Saturday 10 AM–6 PM
Sunday CLOSED
Division hours may vary.
2024 Holiday Closings
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Visit the Schomburg Center

The front doors of the Schomburg Center. The words “Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture'' is written as a metal awning above the front doors.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, one of The New York Public Library’s renowned research libraries, is a world-leading cultural institution devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences.

To learn about the Center's research divisions, schedule an appointment, or find out about other services, see our resources for researchers. Please note: Division hours may vary.

Explore our in-person exhibitions: Visibility & Resistance: New Acquisitions of Contemporary Afro-Mexican Photography (through 12/2/24), JIMMY! God’s Black Revolutionary Mouth (through 2/28/25), and Letters from Home: The Black ABCs Reimagined (through 5/22/25). Plus, see our outdoor banner exhibition FLY BALL: Vintage Sports Snapshots of Black Athletes by Morgan & Marvin Smith at St. Nicholas (134th and 139th Streets) and Jackie Robinson (Bradhurst and 145th) parks. It runs through fall 2024. 

Online applications are open for the Schomburg Center Junior Scholars Program, a free Saturday in-person program  that runs during the academic year. Youth from grades 6 through 12 are eligible to participate. The deadline to apply has been extended to Wednesday, September 18. Learn more. 

Schomburg Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 5:45 PM. They sell books, clothing, jewelry, and more created by Black and Brown artists for all ages.

Although there are no guided tours at this time, we are working diligently to restore this key service to visitors in fall 2024. Please continue to check this page and the Schomburg Tours page for updates and more information.

Please note: Due to new Library policy, e-bikes, e-scooters, and electronic transportation devices are not permitted inside any NYPL location. This does not apply to mobility aids.

Just Launched! Discover an All-New Curriculum Series Based on our Archives

Against a blue background, there are four covers of the curriculum featuring the titles: Race, Racism, and White Supremacy, Abolition as a Black-led Movement, The Black Panther Party in Harlem, and Aesthetics of Black Power.

Explore a multi-part curriculum series that introduces middle- and high-school students to Black history, experience, and culture through our archives and collections. Access four all-new curriculum guides featuring primary source documents and ready-to-use discussion questions—plus, stay tuned for even more guides and resources! Learn more. 

All-New Programs | Fall 2024

Against an orange background, the words Schomburg Center are listed on the top portion in white lettering. The Schomburg Center logo is in white and next to the “r” in Center. The words Fall 2024 are listed on the lower portion of the page in white lettering.

See our Fall 2024 schedule. Learn more. 

Jean Blackwell Hutson | 60th Anniversary of Curating Africana Collection in Ghana

Left: A black and white head shot of Jean Blackwell Hutson. Right: In black colored lettering, In Her Own Words & Photos, 1964: When Future Schomburg Center Chief Librarian Jean Blackwell Hutson Curated the Africana Collection in Ghana. Words are on a light tan background. Underneath is the slightly blurred image of a map of Accra, Ghana

Photo: Photographs and Prints Division

This year marks the 60th anniversary of future Schomburg Center Chief Librarian Jean Blackwell Hutson’s year long leave of absence from NYPL’s 135th Street Library, the forerunner to the Schomburg Center. She accepted a position to curate the Africana collection at the University of Ghana in Accra. Explore her time in Ghana through her collection. Learn more. 

In the Spotlight

  • New! Free Digital Guide on Bloomberg Connects

    Download Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app, to explore the Schomburg Center on your mobile device.

    Exterior of the Schomburg Center.

  • Explore Past Schomburg Center Exhibitions and Multimedia Projects

    If you missed past in person exhibitions such as Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration, you can see it online. Also, explore online exhibitions such as Watercolors Amongst Friends and view past multimedia projects produced by students in our Junior Scholars Program.

    People are looking at a wall which has artwork.

  • Space Rentals

    Hosting an event? Consider our Langton Hughes Auditorium, Langston Hughes Lobby, American Negro Theatre, or Schomburg Courtyard. Learn more about these spaces.

    Circle-shaped tables covered with blue tablecloths and chairs are arranged in the Langston Hughes Lobby. Along the left side is a rectuangular shaped table that has glasses on top. It is covered with a blue table cloth.

  • Get Updates from the Schomburg Center

    Sign up for our bi-monthly e-newsletter, Schomburg Connection. Get updates and information on our upcoming programs, exhibitions, research guides, blogs, and more!

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Featured at the Schomburg Center

  • Visit the Schomburg Shop

    The Schomburg Shop is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 AM to 6 PM for in-person shopping. Or, you can shop online.

    Interior view of the Schomburg Shop. There are books on short and tall shelves. In the lower left corner, a partial view of clothing rank featuring items with Center's logo.

  • From Our Blog

    Read blog posts from the librarians, staff, and fellows at the Schomburg Center.

    : A black and white illustration of a female of color wearing a white cocktail dress with a black flower at her hip and a hoop earring posed against the railing of a balcony. The words “Opportunity: Journal of Negro Life is at the top of the image. The words “July 1926” are on the left side.

  • Public Programs

    The Schomburg Center advances knowledge of the global Black experience through dynamic programs and exhibitions.

    Three people standing onstage at the Schomburg Center. They are standing up and waiving their hands in the air, appearing to applaud.

  • Digital Schomburg

    Access exhibitions, podcasts, videos, books, images, and more about the global Black experience 24/7.

    Collage of photographs and artworks from the Schomburg Center's Digital Collections.

  • Support the Schomburg Center

    Schomburg Society members receive discounts, invitations to exclusive events, and more!

    Photograph of the Schomburg Center's exterior facade

  • In the News

    Read news stories featuring interviews with Schomburg Center curators, librarians, and staff.

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About the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Interior view of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. As a research division of The New York Public Library, the Schomburg Center features diverse programming and collections spanning over 11 million items that illuminate the richness of global Black history, arts, and culture.

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