NYC libraries open November with free horror nights and veteran resources
Public library branches across the city are scheduling diverse events ranging from glass harmonica performances to drag zumba classes this month.
By Marco Kapoor ·
The New York Public Library is offering a pay-what-you-want entry fee for its upcoming Library After Hours event on Friday, November 13. The event takes place at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building in Bryant Park and is restricted to adults aged 21 and older. The theme focuses on horror, superstition, and mystery.
Musician Friedrich Heinrich Kern will perform on a glass harmonica during the evening. The library will also display rare collections material for one night only. The exhibit explores the evolving identity of witches. Storytelling sessions will accompany the musical performance.
The Queens Library is launching three main themes for the month: honoring veterans, Native American history, and Diwali celebrations. The St. Albans branch is starting a new collection of resources for veterans. The Auburndale branch hosts an Ojibwe dream catcher workshop. The Flushing branch marks Diwali with dance performances and a sari-draping workshop. All three events occur in the first week of November.
In Brooklyn, the Adams Street Library is opening an exhibition titled Dumbo Before the Bridges. The show features old photos and artifacts. Staff found these items during a reconstruction project in 2019. The collection depicts the waterfront neighborhood before bridges connected it to Manhattan.
The Jackson Heights branch of the Queens Library hosts a drag zumba class on November 5. The event combines dance-based exercise with a performance by drag artist KokoMomo. Szwichtenberg, an actor, leads a workshop called Kill the Stage Fright at the Library for Arts and Culture in Brooklyn on November 3. The session is scheduled for Election Day.
Youth programming includes the 2026 Period Convention at the Brooklyn Heights Library. Teens there will learn about menstrual equity and access to affordable products. Other activities include a manga and comic art workshop and a gameboard design class. In Queens, children can excavate owl pellets to study owl diets. Brooklyn hosts a kids clothing swap and an all-ages archery event.
Additional offerings include family gardening in Harlem and Lenape art in the Bronx. Staten Island’s Todt Hill location provides free after-school programming with homework help, snacks, and activities.
