Owl pellets and period equity: What's happening at NYC's public libraries this November. Published Oct 29, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. ET Never miss a story We rely on your support to make local news available to all Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations Halloween is in October, but that doesn't mean the spookiness has to stop in November. The New York Public Library is doing a pay-what-you-want Friday the 13th "Library After Hours" event at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building in Bryant Park. It's 21 and older only, and the theme is horror, superstition and mystery. There will be music, storytelling and what the library is calling a one-night-only display of rare collections material exploring "the evolving identity of witches." The musician Friedrich Heinrich Kern will also be there, performing on the lilting and slightly haunting glass harmonica. The Queens Library, meanwhile, is starting the month with three big themes - honoring Veterans, Native American history and celebrating Diwali. It's launching a collection of resources for vets at its St. Albans branch, hosting an Ojibwe dream catcher workshop at its Auburndale branch, and marking Diwali with dance performances and a sari-draping workshop at its Flushing branch, all in the first week of the month. And then in Brooklyn, the Adams Street Library is opening a new exhibition called "Dumbo Before the Bridges" - a collection of old photos and artifacts found during a massive reconstruction project in 2019. The show gives a sense of what that waterfront neighborhood was like back before it was connected by bridge to Manhattan. The Queens Library's Jackson Heights branch is hosting a drag zumba class on Nov. 5. It combines the dance-based exercise class with a performance from the drag artist KokoMomo. A highlight of her recent work includes a performance as Mr. Krabs, the owner of the Krusty Krab restaurant from "SpongeBob SquarePants," so expect some hilarious creativity. If the idea of trying to dance in public makes you want to hide under a couch instead, the Library for Arts and Culture in Brooklyn is hosting the "Kill the Stage Fright" workshop on Election Day, Nov. 3. Actor Patryk Szwichtenberg will do his best to drag you out of your comfort zone and have you owning the stage. There are also a ton of events for kids and teens, as always. The Brooklyn Heights Library is hosting the "2026 Period Convention," where teens can learn about menstrual equity, and access to safe, affordable menstrual products for all people who need them. There's also a manga and comic art workshop, a gameboard design class, and an opportunity to learn about the diet of owls through pellet excavation in Queens, as well as a kids' clothing swap and an all-ages archery event in Brooklyn. You can also check out family gardening in Harlem, Lenape art and paper craftiness in the Bronx, and free afterschool programming with homework help, snack and activities in Todt Hill on Staten Island. In short, there are plenty of opportunities to stop by a branch, pick up a book (or four) and try something new in November. As the Senior Producer for Morning Edition on WNYC, Alec works hard to get listeners all the latest news and delightful stories from New York City, northern New Jersey and beyond. She loves a good music pun and wakes up very very early. Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations MORE arts-entertainment

The New York Public Library acquires artist Kiki Smith's prints. Spanning four decades, the 250-piece collection gifted to the Library by Seton Smith is the most comprehensive collection of Kiki Smith's prints in the U.S. Seton Smith further pledged all future prints she collects to The New York Public Library. October 22, 2026 - The New York Public Library today announced the acquisition of approximately 250 prints by contemporary artist Kiki Smith whose multidisciplinary work radically transformed attitudes toward the body, gender, and nature. The acquisition comes as an extraordinary gift from artist Seton Smith, Kiki Smith's sister, and includes numerous multi-print sets, portfolios, and artist books. Throughout her career, Kiki has given Seton an impression of each of her prints and, as part of the landmark gift, any future prints the artist creates will also be integrated into the Library's holdings. Highlights of the collection include: * My Blue Lake, 1994, photogravure and lithography * Trinity, Heaven and Earth, 2000, etching * Pool of Tears II, 2000, hand-colored intaglio * Remember, 2014, woodcut with metal leaf The collection, which spans from the 1990s through to the present and showcases the wide variety of print media Smith uses, will join thirty other Kiki Smith prints and twelve artist books already in the Library's Prints and Spencer Collections under the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs. Together, they comprise one of the most concentrated holdings of the artist's printed oeuvre within the United States. As a printmaker, Smith works closely with publishers to help realize her artistic vision, and this collection includes works printed by noteworthy publishers such as Harlan and Weaver, the Leroy Neiman Center for Print Studies, Pace Editions, and Universal Limited Art Editions as well as international publishers like the Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints in Tokyo and Mike Karstens in Münster. Over her four-decade career, Smith has exhibited internationally and was named one of the "TIME 100: The People Who Shape Our World." Early in her career, Smith was interested in how New York Public library understood its bodies socially through looking at anatomy. In the early 1990s, she became interested in the relationship between humans, the natural world, and the environment. "I am very thrilled by my sister Seton Smith's gift to The New York Public Library because I could think of no more wonderful place for my prints to be," said Kiki Smith. "Public libraries are to be cherished." "Seton Smith's extraordinary gift underscores why artists, collectors, and families continue to entrust The New York Public Library with works, collections, and legacies," said Brent Reidy, the Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Research Libraries. "Kiki Smith's groundbreaking work has redefined contemporary printmaking. Through our commitment to long-term preservation and open public access, her transformative work will inspire scholars, artists, and curious minds for generations to come, available freely to anyone with a library card." "This gift transforms our holdings of one of the most significant living artists of our day and signals the Library's commitment to preserving the legacy of singular women printmakers," said Madeleine Viljoen, NYPL's Curator of Prints and the Spencer Collection. "Kiki's treatment of themes related to nature, myth, and storytelling resonates particularly well with the Library's manifold historical collections." Once the collection is fully processed, these items will be made freely available to the public, alongside the many other remarkable works of art housed in the The Wallach Division of Art, Prints, and Photographs. About The New York Public Library For over 125 years, The New York Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With over 90 locations - including research and branch libraries - throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars. The New York Public Library receives approximately 16 million visits through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/give. Media contacts. Connor Goodwin, [email protected]

New stuff alert: Hanna Andersson and Dusen Dusen, together again. Oct. 21, 2026 For this week's "Don't Dillydally," Tafts has rounded up a range of newly released products Tafts is particularly excited about, including Zankov's collaboration with Banana Republic, Hanna Andersson's second collection with Dusen Dusen, and Madewell's collab with the New York Public Library. Banana Republic just released an exclusive collection with New York-based knitwear label Zankov, and I'm salivating over this striped cashmere sweater. The brand brought its signature vibrant prints and colors to a line of luxurious sweaters, scarves, socks, and more. In more stripe-y sweater news... Madewell's collab with the New York Public Library is for the book lovers, with academia-core polo sweaters, vintage-inspired hoodies, and cheeky baby tees. NYC's cultural institutions are booked and busy! The New York City Ballet has partnered with Mark & Graham to release a very giftable holiday collection inspired by Balanchine's The Nutcracker, including these adorable kids' PJs. Hanna Andersson just dropped its second collection with Dusen Dusen, and this one trades stripes for polka dots. Hanna Andersson rewards members can shop today; the general public will get access tomorrow. Clare V. and the Dogist have launched Maison du Chien, a collection of accessories and apparel for dogs and their owners. This color-blocked leather collar is sure to make Fido the most stylish pooch at the dog park. Studs' new Halloween collection is full of spooky-cute motifs like Magic 8 Balls, scorpions, bats, and, of course, a black kitty. Barefoot Dreams' latest collab with Frankies Bikinis has a distinctly "hunker down indoors" vibe. There are robes, shorts, tank tops, and lounge pants, all featuring Barefoot Dreams' signature fuzzy CozyChic fabric. Collina Strada is the latest brand to reimagine classic Keen silhouettes, giving this Targhee EXP boot a makeover with gothic florals and frilly rosettes. Burst has partnered with Magna-Tiles on a playful limited-edition oral-care set for kids that includes a sonic toothbrush, 16 microMAGS tiles, and a travel case. Not a collab I had on my bingo card, but I'm into it. This Glow Recipe set features two new tinted Glass Balm shades inspired by beloved Buldak sauce flavors: Original, a warm brick red, and Carbonara, a cherry-blossom pink. (You get a fun key chain with the set as well.) I'm a mochi fiend, so I was very excited to see that Olly recently introduced vitamin supplements that, instead of a gummy texture, have the soft, pillowy texture of mochi. There are four new formulas: Beauty, Sleep, Energy, and Multi for overall wellness. Its sleep writer Amelia Jerden loves her Cocoon blanket because it's incredibly soft. The brand just launched a new weighted version that comes in three sizes and nine colors. The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by its team of editors, whom you can read about here. Tafts update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.