Living Library: Celebrating 60 Years

Presented in collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

For 60 years, The Library for the Performing Arts has provided a hub for artists, scholars, and lovers of dance, music, theater, and the performing arts at-large. In celebration of the Library's 60th anniversary, Summer for the City presents a series of events for all ages, including film screenings, storytimes, reading parties, dance recitals, exclusive tours of the Library's treasures, participatory workshops, play readings, pop-up shops, concerts, silent discos, and more! You’re invited to experience the cultural legacy of New York from an expert's perspective and explore the vast collection of one of the country's greatest arts libraries.

Upcoming Events

July 23 at 11:00 am

Summer for the City
Living Library: Celebrating 60 Years
Kids, Teens, and Families

Children's Storytime: Surprise Reader

Lincoln Center Presents
In collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

July 23 at 11:00 am

LeFrak Lobby, David Geffen Hall

Kick off our celebration of the Library’s 60th anniversary with a special edition of the beloved Storytime tradition, welcoming a surprise guest.

July 23 at 4:00 pm

Summer for the City
Living Library: Celebrating 60 Years

Reading of Unproduced Musical in the Archive

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

July 23 at 4:00 pm

Join us for a reading of an unproduced work, curated by the Library’s Billy Rose Theatre Division, and see theater history brought to life!

July 23 at 6:00 pm

Summer for the City
Social Dance
Living Library: Celebrating 60 Years

Mambo Social Dance With Sekou McMiller

Lincoln Center Presents

July 23 at 6:00 pm

The Dance Floor

Dance artist and historian Sekou McMiller teaches you how to mambo, along with the sounds of live musicians igniting The Dance Floor.

July 23 at 8:00 pm

Summer for the City
Living Library: Celebrating 60 Years
Silent Disco

Library Silent Disco: Decades Party 1965-2025

With DJ Bill Coleman

Lincoln Center Presents
In collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

July 23 at 8:00 pm

The Dance Floor

Celebrate the Library’s 60th anniversary with a Silent Disco party that highlights music from the Library’s archive from each decade of its existence.

July 24 at 11:00 am

Summer for the City
Living Library: Celebrating 60 Years

Dance Theater Workshop Exhibition Guided Tour

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

July 24 at 11:00 am

Take a tour of Room to Move: Dance Theater Workshop, and explore the history of the legendary space that launched the careers of iconic dance artists.

July 24 at 11:00 am

Summer for the City
Living Library: Celebrating 60 Years
Kids, Teens, and Families

Kids Theater Class

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

July 24 at 11:00 am

Children (ages 4–6) are invited to develop creative abilities in a fun environment with pantomime, improvisation and imaginative play.

July 24 at 1:00 pm

Summer for the City
Living Library: Celebrating 60 Years
Kids, Teens, and Families

Kids Theater Class

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

July 24 at 1:00 pm

Children (ages 7+) are invited to learn the fundamentals of improvisation, using exercises that develop strong ensemble and character work.

July 24 at 5:30 pm

Summer for the City
Living Library: Celebrating 60 Years

Reading Rhythms Public Reading Party

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

July 24 at 5:30 pm

Bring your favorite book, play, musical score (or borrow one of ours) at a Reading Rhythms’ reading party hosted by The Library for the Performing Arts.

July 25 at 11:00 am

Summer for the City
Living Library: Celebrating 60 Years
Kids, Teens, and Families

Kids Music Class with Just Accessible Music

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

July 25 at 11:00 am

Just Accessible Music hosts a free workshop for ages 5-7 that teaches the structure of a song, rhythm, and basic instruments through performance.

July 25 at 7:30 pm

Summer for the City
Living Library: Celebrating 60 Years

Silent Movie Screening With Live Music

Lincoln Center Presents
In collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

July 25 at 7:30 pm

David Rubenstein Atrium

The library shares a silent film from its collection, with live music by Ben Model, one of the classic film world's leading silent film accompanists.

July 26 at 11:00 am

Summer for the City
Living Library: Celebrating 60 Years

Dance Theater Workshop Exhibition Guided Access Tour

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

July 26 at 11:00 am

Take a tour of Room to Move: Dance Theater Workshop, and explore the history of the legendary space that launched the careers of iconic dance artists.

July 27 at 12:00 pm

Summer for the City
Living Library: Celebrating 60 Years
Kids, Teens, and Families

Movement Class for Families

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

July 27 at 12:00 pm

Join Brazilian tap dancer Leonardo Sandoval for a family-friendly workshop with live music celebrating the Afro-diasporic roots of tap dance. 

July 27 at 8:00 pm

Summer for the City
Living Library: Celebrating 60 Years

Dance Performance of Hidden Forest by Elaine Summers

Lincoln Center Presents
In collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

July 27 at 8:00 pm

Hearst Plaza

Celebrate Summers during her 100th birth year with a recreation of her 1986 performance, Hidden Forest, which originally premiered at Lincoln Center.
 

 

Explore more

Don't miss Storytimes!

Every Wednesday, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts presents a children's book reading accompanied by live music, dance, or theater. Find Storytimes here » 

Full calendar of events

With hundreds of electrifying performances, global voices, and the city's hottest dance floor, there’s something for everyone! Explore the full calendar here »

Accessibility

Our approach to accessibility mirrors our commitment to transform performing arts spaces to be more inclusive of our audiences’ identities and access needs by design. Learn more »

Plan your visit

For the Summer for the City campus map, accessibility, venues, dining, and more, click here »

How to get tickets

The majority of our events are FREE—with a selection of Choose-What-You-Pay performances. Click here for a ticketing overview »