Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

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.

If you are a postdoctoral scholar, independent researcher, or creative writer who is interested in studying at the Schomburg Center, consider applying to our Scholars-in-Residence Program. The deadline is Sunday, December 1. 

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. 

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 spring 2025. 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.

Drawing its title from André L. Brock’s groundbreaking text Distributed Blackness: African American Cybercultures (2020), Code Switch: Distributing Blackness, Reprogramming Internet Art, presented by The Kitchen, is an exhibition exploring and redefining the history of “Black data,” centering and celebrating contributions by artists of African descent to the rapidly advancing field of new media art and digital practice. Learn more. 

Explore our online exhibition, Where Roses Grow: A Look at Rómulo Lachatañeré's Harlem, featuring images by acclaimed Afro-Cuban photographer Rómulo Lachatañeré. Curated by Djali Brown-Cepeda and Ricardo Castañeda, creators of NuevaYorkinos, this digital exhibition pays homage to the rich history and culture of New York City’s Latino and Caribbean communities, as seen in Harlem between 1947 and 1951. We are home to Lachatañeré’s collection. Produced by Digital Schomburg. Learn more.

See our Fall 2024 schedule. Learn more. 

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.