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Library Transforms into Reading Party Paradise
2 Feb
Summary
- NYPL hosted a Winter Reading Festival for over 1000 attendees.
- The event featured silent reading rooms, DJ music, and writing workshops.
- It celebrated diverse reading habits amidst declining pleasure reading.
On January 31, 2026, the New York Public Library (NYPL) hosted its Winter Reading Festival, attracting over 1,000 New Yorkers. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in midtown Manhattan was reimagined as a reader's paradise for the special event, organized in collaboration with Reading Rhythms.
Reading Rhythms, a New York-based organization founded by Ben Bradbury, Charlotte Jackson, John Lifrieri, and Tom Worcester, is known for its literary social gatherings. This festival marked their 500th lifetime event and aimed to explore new ways of engaging with libraries.
The event offered diverse activities, including silent reading sprints, DJ sets by Adi Oasis, and bookish arts and crafts. A dedicated 'Writing Room' provided journals and prompts, encouraging creative expression and sharing among attendees.
Actor and writer Jesse Eisenberg spoke at the event, emphasizing the life-changing impact libraries have had on his career. The festival aimed to counter a trend of declining pleasure reading, with statistics showing a significant drop in Americans reading for leisure in recent years.
Attendees like Patricia and Phyllis expressed appreciation for the dedicated reading time and the social aspect of the festival, highlighting its success in bringing together diverse book lovers. NYPL Chief Librarian Brian Bannon described the event as a 'reading party' celebrating the many reasons people engage with books.
