Happy Shakespeare Day from NYPL

At the Library, we’re big fans of writers. So, naturally, today we’re celebrating Shakespeare Day, otherwise known as April 23. On this day in 1564, William Shakespeare was born (we're pretty sure). By the time of his death, exactly 52 years later, he was a prolific actor, playwright, and poet.

Fast forward to April 2025, and it’s also National Poetry Month! Coincidence? Who knows. 🤔

But it isn’t a coincidence that we have a copy of Shakespeare's First Folio on display in our Treasures Exhibition! Printed in 1623, it is the first published collection of Shakespeare's plays, with only 235 known copies remaining today. Swing by NYPL to see this rare item for yourself, and check out all the other incredible items we have on display