free resources

free resources

Open To All – the Public Domain

Open To All – the Public Domain

On Public Domain Day, January 1, 2023, works published in 1927 entered the public domain. What is “Public Domain” and Why 1927?  The public domain consists of all the creative work to which no exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, or waived. Therefore, anyone can legally use or reference those works without permission. With the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, copyright was extended an additional 20 years, from 75 to 95 years. So, these works that were originally to enter the public domain in 2003 are now entering the public domain in 2023. These materials are open to all and can now be used in class, performances, and projects in any way, shape, … Continued
Get your Reading on!

Get your Reading on!

This winter break, challenge yourself to read more. Perhaps you will find a new favorite from one of the many “best of…” lists for 2022. With over 3,200 suggestions, NPR’s Book Concierge provides recommendations of “top books” for the years 2013-2022. Find “Best of Books” for subjects like science fiction and fantasy, history and politics, poetry, and more from the Guardian. The Smithsonian Scholars Pick of 2022 provides readers with top picks ranging from biographies and memoirs to the study of systemic racism. Choose among more than 70 Best Books for Adults 2022 selected by NYPL librarians. Love a good murder mystery novel? Journey into the dark heart of noir with these Best Noir Fiction of 2022 from Crime Reads. … Continued
Archival treasures

Archival treasures

Archives provide entry to a history of treasures that document people, places, and events. In addition to physical archives, many open-access archives are available, ranging in topics from government and historical documents found at the National Archives, to code making and breaking in the Cryptology ePrint Archives, and historical children’s books available via the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature. Below are just a select few of the many archives available online. Photo from: Internet Archives – Cookery Book Love Food? Let’s get cooking! Cookbooks are windows into history that document daily life and provide snapshots of regional and cultural identify at a particular moment in time. Recently 10,000 vintage recipe books have been digitized and can be found in … Continued
Black Archives and Special Collections

Black Archives and Special Collections

Celebrate Black History Month by remembering and reflecting on the many people and groups who participated in the fight for civil rights. These Black Archives and Special Collections offer a range of materials from primary source documents to newspaper archives and podcasts. The New York Public Radio Archives & Preservation celebrates Black History Month by assembling a collection of their leading preservation work, series, and sonic artifacts focusing on African American history. Listen to opera singer Marian Anderson, who in 1955 was the First African American to sing at the Metropolitan Opera House, addresses some of the prejudice and segregation she experienced. One instance that Anderson recounts is when she received the Key to the City from the Atlantic City’s … Continued
Looking forward to reading…

Looking forward to reading…

As another year comes to an end, there are lots of “best” books lists of 2021 to look back on, that you can look forward to reading! From mystery, thriller, fantasy, and horror to memoir & autobiographies, poetry, and graphic novels, this 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards voted the best in 17 genres/categories. The 2021 Mighty Women Reading List features biographies and memoirs about remarkable women of the past and present. Search science, travel, photography, food, and more with the Best Books of 2021 list from the Smithsonian Magazine. Wonder what writers are reading? The Guardian’s Best Books Picked by Guest Authors provides insight into what authors like to read when they are not working on their next book. Find over … Continued