Filmmaker, writer and political organizer Astra Taylor delivered the keynote address. She is the founder of the Debt Collective. Nearly 40 speakers gave presentations throughout the evening, including Joe Baker, founder of the Lenape Center; Sarah Elizabeth Lewis, author, art and cultural historian and curator; Eric Klinenberg, best-selling author of Palaces for the People and We Were Wrong About What Happened in America in 2020; and Philip Gourevitch, staff writer at The New Yorker and acclaimed author of “We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families.”  

Participants were also able to visit with therapy dogs from the Good Dog Foundation, listen to a live taping of the ACLU podcast At Liberty featuring author and poet Ian Manuel and practice mending clothes with Jenny Cooper, formerly a head designer at J. Crew and owner of the zero-waste coffee shop, IXV Coffee.

A series of performances, co-curated with National Sawdust, included composer and performer Molly Joyce; violinist, vocalist and poet yuniya edi kwon; and composer, DJ and sound designer Erica “Twelve45” Blunt. DJ Zenon Marko spun tunes in the grand lobby.

Night in the Library is one of a series of free cultural programs hosted by Brooklyn Public Library. Upcoming talks include conversations with renowned food photographer Andre Baranowski, award-winning educator and songwriter Alice Randall in conversation with country music legend Rosanne Cash moderated by Charlamagne tha God and Music and a Movie, a series of live performances inspired by Brooklyn and accompanied by films about the borough. To see a complete list of events, check out our calendar.

Night in the Library was made possible with the generous support of Brooklyn Roasting Company, which helped fuel participants with coffee all night long, and the Wythe Hotel, which hosted our visiting lecturers and performers.

About Brooklyn Public Library

Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. As a leader in developing modern 21st-century libraries, we provide resources to support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.7 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We provide nearly 60,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators — from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.