The New York Public Library Honors Immigrant Heritage Week with Fourth Annual World Literature Festival Beginning April 15

The World Literature Festival will launch a citywide celebration of the rich diversity of language and culture in New York with a wide variety of programming, including author talks and panels, book recommendations, and more during NYC’s Immigrant Heritage Week. 

April 10, 2024—The New York Public Library, in honor of NYC Immigrant Heritage Week (April 14–20), will kick off its fourth annual World Literature Festival on Monday, April 15. 

NYPL's World Literature Festival offers a wide-ranging package of free author talks and events for all ages, book recommendations, bilingual storytimes, and more that shine a spotlight on some of the many languages spoken in New York City and the wide range of ways in which the Library caters to our diverse communities. Festivities begin on April 15 and continue throughout the month.     

Central to the festival are the Library’s World Languages collections, including books, e-books, audiobooks, and more available in over 20 languages at NYPL's 92 locations in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Patrons interested in reading stories from around the world can find book recommendations in selected languages curated by NYPL’s expert librarians and posted throughout the month at nypl.org/worldliteraturefestival. Books are available to download using the Library’s e-reader app, SimplyE, or available for checkout at local branches.

In Conversation, a series of author talks in some of the many languages of New York City will be presented in the languages chosen by the authors. Other In Conversation programs across Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx include:

Panel Events will invite prominent speakers and authors across branches to discuss the intersectionality and transformative power of culture through art, food, language, and activism. Kicking off the series will be Written Work: Poetry, Labor, and the Global City on Monday, April 15 at 6:30 PM at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library & Online. Poets Camonghne Felix, Dorothea Lasky, Emanuel Xavier, and moderator Helena de Groot will do readings and lead a discussion about poetry, language, and labor. Pioneering home recording artist Linda Smith will close the event with a special musical performance. This event will take place in person and online. This World Literature Festival event is co-presented with Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Other events include:

On Saturday, April 20, join Riverside Library for an 'On Display' Performance and a special panel, Power of Performing Arts: Theatre and Dance as Language.

In On Display, a performance by Heidi Latsky Dance, viewers are invited to encounter performers of all bodies and abilities as they create a "human sculpture court." Between two performances, dancer Heidi Latsky, playwright Shayok Misha Chowdhury, and community-theater artist Arnaldo Lopez will be in conversation investigating the connections between language and performance.

LIVE from NYPL, the Library’s premier cultural series, brings together acclaimed writers, scholars, and artists for conversations. Its World Literature Festival programs include:

For more information about the Library’s World Literature Festival events and activities, visit www.nypl.org/worldliteraturefestival. For year-round multilingual resources, patrons can visit https://www.nypl.org/spotlight/multilingual.

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 millions of 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/support. 

Media Contacts

MEDIA CONTACT:
Leah Drayton, leahdrayton@nypl.org