The New York Public Library is giving away free books starting Thursday from its list of the best books of 2025, including at a branch on Staten Island.
Every year, librarians and staff at The New York Public Library select noteworthy new books for readers of all ages and recommend them as the “Best Books” of the year.
In an effort to promote this best-books list, the library is giving away free books at three branches — the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in Manhattan, the Bronx Library Center in the Bronx, and the St. George Library Center on Staten Island.
The St. George Library Center is located at 5 Central Ave., St. George — just steps away from Borough Hall and the Staten Island Ferry.
The giveaways start Thursday and are available while supplies last.
If you receive a free book, you won’t need to return it to the library.
The best books lists build on the Library’s century-old tradition of recommending the best-loved titles published for children each year. In recent years, those lists have expanded to include titles for teens and adults, as well as books in Spanish for younger readers.
You can view the best books of 2025 at the Library’s website.
Additionally, the Library is making a selection of 25 e-book titles available to library cardholders with no wait times through Dec. 31. Audiobooks will also be available for select titles.
Accessing e-books is easy, and all you need is your NYPL card and the Libby app on a mobile device.
If you don’t have a NYPL card, you can sign up for one for free online today. Anyone who lives, works, or attends school in New York State can apply for an NYPL card.
After logging into the Libby app, you’ll find the Library’s best books list on the home screen. Select the featured title to borrow it, sign in with your NYPL card barcode and PIN when prompted.
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