NYPL Celebrates Thirty-Five Years of “Library Lunch”

Annual event welcomes comedian Samantha Bee, and writers Hilton Als and Adam Gopnik, in conversation with David Remnick on April 13th


The New York Public Library’s annual Library Lunch, recognizing today’s most compelling and fascinating writers, will be held at the Celeste Bartos Forum in the Library’s landmark Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on Wednesday, April 13th. The event’s luncheon will begin at noon followed by the program at 1pm.

Now celebrating its 35th anniversary, the Library Lunch is a festive, annual occasion to celebrate the spirit of the Library’s mission. This year’s theme, “A New York State of Mind” brings together writer-comedian and television host Samantha Bee, author and theater critic Hilton Als and essayist Adam Gopnik in conversation with New Yorker editor-in-chief David Remnick. Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos, Louise Grunwald, Daisy Prince, David Remnick, Zibby Right, and Alexandra Wentworth serve as this year’s event co-chairs.

The first Library Lunch took place in 1981 with a program titled “Two Countries Separated by a Common Language,” featuring speakers Samuel S. Vaughn and Rosemary Harris, among others, in a conversation moderated by William S. Buckley, Jr. Since that inaugural event, speakers have included prominent authorities from a wide range of fields -- Nora Ephron to Salman Rushdie, Fran Leibowitz to Gary Shteyngart -- and moderators such as Charlie Rose, Diane Sawyer, and A.R. Gurney.

Attended by upwards of 400 guests, the event is a chance for patrons, Trustees, and Friends of the Library to come together in support of the Library’s dedication to readers and writers of all ages, with all proceeds supporting the Library’s mission to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge and strength communities all over New York City.

The New Yorker serves as this year’s literary partner.

For more information or to purchase a ticket, please contact: 212-930-0889 or librarylunch@nypl.org

Media contact: Adenike Olanrewaju, adenikeolanrewaju@nypl.org