The Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County consists of two buildings, the Rundel Memorial Library building, opened in 1936, and the Bausch & Lomb Public Library Building, opened in 1997. Located in the heart of Downtown Rochester, NY, at 115 South Avenue, the library offers the residents of the City and County a large collection of books, (both print and electronic) magazines, music, movies and more. In addition to its collection of materials, the Central Library provides quiet study spaces, public meeting rooms, a variety of free programs and opportunities for community engagement.
Patron Services Manager: Cynthia Dana
115 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604
(585) 428-7300
TDD: (585) 428-8023
Bus Lines:
23, 24, 45, 51, 53, 55, 83, 101, 102, 124, 145, & 155
Occasionally Bus Lines 81 & 82
| Monday | 9:00 am – 8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 9:00 am – 8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 11:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Friday | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Saturday | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Open to the public for browsing, borrowing materials, copying, faxing, notary services, reference and research assistance and computer services (90 minute limit). Curbside services also available: request materials through the curbside pickup form, or call (585) 428-8020.
Also closed Saturday, 5/21/22, for the Rochester Criterium bike race.
The Friends & Foundation of the Rochester Public Library offers a wide selection of new and used items for sale in the Library Store. Inventory includes books, CDs and DVDs, educational toys and games, and stationery and gift items. Proceeds from all sales benefit the Rochester Public Library.
Join us for a discussion of The Maidens by Alex Michaelides. All are welcome and no registration is required. Copies of the book are available at the BLB Circulation Desk at the Central Library. For more information call: 428-8360.
Kiva Rochester provides Rochester area businesses 0% interest small business loans that range from $1,000-$15,000 and are crowdfunded $25 at a time. Staff from the City of Rochester will be available at the Central Library on the 1st floor for businesses and entrepreneurs to talk through the process or start their applications.
These Python classes are designed for absolute beginners but will provide a gateway to coding and programming and help you build a strong foundation in computer programming. Introduction to Computer Programming: You’ll install Python & PyCharm and learn the basics of computer programming and the following concepts: Integer, string, variables, lists, functions, conditional statements, loops, errors, debugging code, & more. You can choose to complete a project of …
You will make deep landscapes with surface level excitement. You will begin with simple sketch of a landscape of a place you enjoy. Then choose collage paper to form line and shapes to break up horizontals. Using cool colors in our background and warmer color in the foreground you will build a composition full of depth. Watch the transformation as your artwork changes the look completely! This is a LIVE class in …
Join us for open playtime in our newly renovated Secret Room. This is best for children ages 2 – 5 years of age with a caregiver. For more information, please call the Children’s Center at 428-8150.
Local poet and teacher Kitty Jospe selects a variety of poems to read and discuss each week. Come experience the magic that happens when we slow down to read poetry aloud in a relaxing setting.
Presented by the Center for Community Health & Prevention, University of Rochester Medical Center, in conjunction with the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County. HEALTHY LIVING Did you know that a healthy diet and physical activity can reduce your risk of getting certain cancers and other chronic diseases? Join our free Healthy Living Class to find out how! Topics discussed will include general nutrition, portion sizes, and processed foods. Learn fun exercises you …
Gadget Guru Pedro Nunez helps troubleshoot problems on your personal device.
Join us for a virtual discussion of The Maidens by Alex Michaelides. All are welcome and no registration is required. Copies of the book are available at the BLB Circulation Desk at the Central Library. For the Zoom link, please email: Diane.Premo@libraryweb.org For more information call: 428-8360.
Welcome back to a new season of Tabletop and Community Gaming at the Central Library in 2022. Come join a safe, fun, creative, and welcoming environment full of adventure, mystery, action, and exploration. Veteran Dungeon Master in an open-ended freeform homebrew campaign that welcomes new and veteran players alike. An established and consistent group of players that have played together for months. Currently running Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition and run online using DnD Beyond …
See It First: "Uncharted" (2022; rated PG-13; 116 minutes) Saturday, May 28, 2022 Kate Gleason Auditorium Street-smart Nathan Drake is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor "Sully" Sullivan to recover a fortune amassed by Ferdinand Magellan, and lost 500 years ago by the House of Moncada. Starring Mark Wahlberg and Tom Holland.
Join Matthew Burrell, Manager of Monroe County's Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Certification Program.Matthew brings over 30 years of combined military, government, and civilian procurement experience. You will learn about the Monroe County certification program for qualified M/WBE firms that went into effective on January 1, 2022. This program will provide information, criterial and Q & A for interested business owners seeking M/WBE certification. The program allows for participation as a prime …
Kiva Rochester provides Rochester area businesses 0% interest small business loans that range from $1,000-$15,000 and are crowdfunded $25 at a time. Staff from the City of Rochester will be available at the Central Library on the 1st floor for businesses and entrepreneurs to talk through the process or start their applications.
Kate Meddaugh, Manager of the Carlson Center for Intellectual Property, will be presenting about IP at this meet-up. Cannabis-related businesses will be highly regulated. Join us to learn from experts and get support from other cannabis entrepreneurs so you can effectively and legally operate your business. This group is facilitated by NY HempLab and ROC NORML. This group is open to those who are in the planning or startup stages of a cannabis …
Whether you’re a beginner or a computer master, you’re invited to join the GWC club at the Central Library! Girls (6th-12th grades) who sign up for this 15-week summer course will learn how to code from GWC online tutorials and activities that will help them build animations, games, apps, and more! GWC have tutorials in Scratch, Python, Swift, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. If you have any …
Join us for open playtime in our newly renovated Secret Room. This is best for children ages 2 – 5 years of age with a caregiver. For more information, please call the Children’s Center at 428-8150.
Gadget Guru Pedro Nunez helps troubleshoot problems on your personal device.
Presented by the Center for Community Health & Prevention, University of Rochester Medical Center, in conjunction with the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County. HEALTHY LIVING Did you know that a healthy diet and physical activity can reduce your risk of getting certain cancers and other chornic diseases? Join our free Healthy Living Class to find out how! Topics discussed will include general nutrition, portion sizes, and processed foods. Learn fun exercises you …
King Richard (2021; rated PG-13; 144 minutes) Friday, June 3, 2022, 12:00pm, Kate Gleason Auditorium Armed with a clear vision and a brazen, 78-page plan, Richard Williams is determined to write his two daughters, Venus and Serena, into history. Training on tennis courts in Compton, Calif., Richard shapes the girls' unyielding commitment and keen intuition. Starring Will Smith; Aunjanue Ellis; Saniyya Sidney; Demi Singleton; Tony Goldwyn; Jon Bernthal.
Join our bi-weekly books & more discussion sessions and flourish your love for reading and learning! Discussion topics range from YA classics, non-fiction to manga and graphic novels to poetry around the world. Registration is required. We meet in the B-hive meeting room on the 2nd floor at the Central Library. This event will be live stremmed as well. To attend via Zoom, you must …
Special off-site event! Join us for a tour of the AIDS Remembrance Garden in Highland Park and a discussion on the effect the HIV/AIDS epidemic has had–and contnues to have–on the greater Rochester Community. Meet at the AIDS Remembrance Garden, located southeast of intersection of Highland and South avenues in Highland Park. Parking is available in two lots on South Avenue or along Highland Avenue. Follow the signs to the Remembrance Garden. Presented …
Join us in the Children's Center from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. for different surprises each week! Who knows what we have up our sleeves! For more information, please call the Children’s Center at 428-8150.
In this monthly workshop you’ll work within a creative and supportive writing community to hone your craft and tell your story. Expect a variety of activities that will help you generate new ideas, revise existing projects, and establish effective writing practices for yourself. All levels of experience are welcome. Jen Case teaches writing workshops and leads literary discussions at libraries and senior living communities around Monroe County. She also presents with the group …
Welcome back to a new season of Tabletop and Community Gaming at the Central Library in 2022. Come join a safe, fun, creative, and welcoming environment full of adventure, mystery, action, and exploration. Veteran Dungeon Master in an open-ended freeform homebrew campaign that welcomes new and veteran players alike. An established and consistent group of players that have played together for months. Currently running Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition and run online using DnD Beyond …
Many people like the idea of biking more but don’t feel safe mixing with traffic. Get the confidence you need to enjoy biking more with this free presentation from Reconnect Rochester. The class takes an imaginative look at the many benefits of cycling and its viability as a transportation option here. It'll dismantle many misconceptions, lessen peoples' fears with current statistics, and impart some basic traffic safety/commuting information. This is the …
In June 1972, the Watergate scandal occurred. What started out as a "third rate burglary" turned into one of the biggest political scandals in United States history and brought down a corrupt president. Mark Sample, history professor at Monroe Community College will discuss this event from the origins through to Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974.
Come to the Teen Central on Mondays between 2-5 and learn how to sew, crochet/knit, or just enjoy beading crafts while socializing and connecting with other teens in a safe and inclusive environment! If you have any questions, please email or call Faezeh at: teen.central@libraryweb.org – (585) 428-8451
Create this pretty sunflower with Bumblebees. Artist Frank Wolfs will show you how to use all the linoleum blades to create your own image. This is a LIVE class, all supplies are provided and will be returned to the Art Division.
Join us in the Secret Room on Tuesdays, June 7th and 14th from 10:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. for an all-ages storytime! For more information, please call the Children's Center at 428-8150.
This program provides veteran participants with an overview of business fundamentals, while introducting techniques for evaluating the feasibiity of business concepts. The curriculum provides assistance to those interested in exploring business ownership or other self-employment opportunities by leading participants through the key steps for evaluating business concepts and providing foundational knowledge required to develop a business plan. Participants are introduced to a broad spectrum of entrepreneurial business concepts and resources available to access start-up …
Kiva Rochester provides Rochester area businesses 0% interest small business loans that range from $1,000-$15,000 and are crowdfunded $25 at a time. Staff from the City of Rochester will be available at the Central Library on the 4th floor for businesses and entrepreneurs to talk through the process or start their applications.
Environmental influences with "life experiences". You will create fun, fancy and color filled pastel flowers. Sketching an image from observation or creating an abstract one of your own,this class will explore color blending, space and composition building. You will finish with a unique arrangement of your own! This class will be LIVE in the Art division. All supplies will be provided.
Canning Jams & Jellies 101 with Strawberries Strawberries! June is Strawberry Season- Learn how to capture their wonderful flavors with canning and freezing home preservation recipes and guidelines! Join us online for a food preservation class, taught by Master Food Preserver Michele Conners from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County! Michele will share information about strawberries including the best varieties of strawberries for preserving and methods for canning and preserving strawberries. This workshop promises to …
Whether you’re a beginner or a computer master, you’re invited to join the GWC club at the Central Library! Girls (6th-12th grades) who sign up for this 15 week summer program will learn how to code from our fun online tutorials and activities that will help them build animations, games, apps, and more! GWC have tutorials in Scratch, Python, Swift, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This …
Join us for open playtime in our newly renovated Secret Room. This is best for children ages 2 – 5 years of age with a caregiver. For more information, please call the Children’s Center at 428-8150.
Presented by the Center for Community Health & Prevention, University of Rochester Medical Center, in conjunction with the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County. HEALTHY LIVING Did you know that a healthy diet and physical activity can reduce your risk of getting certain cancers and other chornic diseases? Join our free Healthy Living Class to find out how! Topics discussed will include general nutrition, portion sizes, and processed foods. Learn fun exercises you …
Gadget Guru Pedro Nunez helps troubleshoot problems on your personal device.
Become a member of the Teen Central Teen Advisory Board! Join and meet new people, discuss teen concerns, help develop library programs and services you would like to see in the library, and talk about books — all while earning volunteer credits and having fun. This is your chance to make a difference! If you are interested in joining our Teen Advisory Board, please register here and email Faezeh at: teen.central@libraryweb….
You’re invited to join the Teen Central Summer dance and exercise event! Register in advance to participate in-person (up to 25 participants) or online via Zoom. Events are held in the Kate Gleason Auditorium at the Central Library. If you have any questions, please call or email Faezeh @ teen.central@libraryweb.org. (585) 428-8451.
Join us in the Children's Center from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. for different surprises each week! Who knows what we have up our sleeves! For more information, please call the Children’s Center at 428-8150.
Welcome back to a new season of Tabletop and Community Gaming at the Central Library in 2022. Come join a safe, fun, creative, and welcoming environment full of adventure, mystery, action, and exploration. Veteran Dungeon Master in an open-ended freeform homebrew campaign that welcomes new and veteran players alike. An established and consistent group of players that have played together for months. Currently running Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition and run online using DnD Beyond …
Come to the Teen Central on Mondays betwwen 2-5 and learn how to sew, crochet/knit, or just enjoy beading crafts while socializing with other teens in a safe and inclusive environment! If you have any questions, please email or call Faezeh at: teen.central@libraryweb.org – (585) 428-8451
Join us in the Secret Room on Tuesdays, June 7th and 14th from 10:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. for an all-ages storytime! For more information, please call the Children's Center at 428-8150.
Kiva Rochester provides Rochester area businesses 0% interest small business loans that range from $1,000-$15,000 and are crowdfunded $25 at a time. Staff from the City of Rochester will be available at the Central Library on the 4th floor for businesses and entrepreneurs to talk through the process or start their applications.
Draw this Matisse Goldfish scene with colored pencils. This is a Zoom class and and pencils can be picked up in the Art Division.
The AIDS crisis impacted every facet of American life. It caused social and intellectual upheaval, drove revolutionary advances in medicine, and brought to the fore stigmas and inequities around health and healthcare—issues we continue to struggle with today. Building upon the 2022 Anthony Mascioli Rainbow Dialogues, the Dialogues in Depth series explores the various ways the Rochester community has responded to the challenges presented by HIV/AIDS. This panel discussion will foucs on the …
Whether you’re a beginner or a computer master, you’re invited to join the GWC club at the Central Library! Girls (6th-12th grades) who sign up for this 15 week summer program will learn how to code from our fun online tutorials and activities that will help them build animations, games, apps, and more! GWC have tutorials in Scratch, Python, Swift, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This …
Join us for open playtime in our newly renovated Secret Room. This is best for children ages 2 – 5 years of age with a caregiver. For more information, please call the Children’s Center at 428-8150.
Gadget Guru Pedro Nunez helps troubleshoot problems on your personal device.
Presented by the Center for Community Health & Prevention, University of Rochester Medical Center, in conjunction with the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County. HEALTHY LIVING Did you know that a healthy diet and physical activity can reduce your risk of getting certain cancers and other chornic diseases? Join our free Healthy Living Class to find out how! Topics discussed will include general nutrition, portion sizes, and processed foods. Learn fun exercises you …
Your Ticket to Art Crime: Every work of art has a story, and some of them are deadly. Travel the globe with five mystery authors and their amateur sleuths as they delve into the world of art and artifacts. During this interactive virtual event you’ll meet Connie Berry, author of the Kate Hamilton Mystery Series, Tina DeBellegarde, author of the Batavia-On-Hudson Mystery Series, M.A. Monnin, author of Death in the Aegean, Lane …
Join our bi-weekly books & more discussion sessions and flourish your love for reading and learning! Discussion topics range from YA classics, non-fiction to manga and graphic novels to poetry around the world. Registration is required. We meet in the B-hive meeting room on the 2nd floor at the Central Library. This event will be live stremmed as well. To attend via Zoom, you must …
Join us in the Children's Center from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. for different surprises each week! Who knows what we have up our sleeves! For more information, please call the Children’s Center at 428-8150.
Welcome back to a new season of Tabletop and Community Gaming at the Central Library in 2022. Come join a safe, fun, creative, and welcoming environment full of adventure, mystery, action, and exploration. Veteran Dungeon Master in an open-ended freeform homebrew campaign that welcomes new and veteran players alike. An established and consistent group of players that have played together for months. Currently running Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition and run online using DnD Beyond …
Join us for an exploration into the struggle of transient Blacks negotiating space for recourse and self-assertion within the crossroads of two contrasting political realms. The study enhances the historiography by addressing Rochester, New York, and St. Catharines, Canada West, within the larger fluid frontier context of the Niagara region. It asserts that Black inhabitants of each town possessed transnational identities and strategically positioned themselves near the American-Canadian partition where immigration, movement, and interaction occurred. …
Join us for an hour of conversation, laughter, and continued learning with Author Daniel J. Broyld. Copies of Borderland Blacks will be available for purchase on site. Light refreshments will be served. No registration required. Daniel J. Broyld is an associate professor of African American History at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He earned his PhD in nineteenth-century United States and African Diaspora History at Howard University. His work focuses on the American Canadian borderlands …
Open to All Teens, Grade 6-12 (June 20st through August 31st) Register & submit your entry by emailing your photo to: teen.central@libraryweb.org Ask at the Teen Central if you would like to drop off a print copy of your entry. If you have any questions, please call or email Faezeh at teen.central@libraryweb.org – (585) 428-8451 ************************************************************************ Submission Rules The contest is open to all teens (grades 6-12) living in …
Come to the Teen Central on Mondays betwwen 2-5 and learn how to sew, crochet/knit, or just enjoy beading crafts while socializing with other teens in a safe and inclusive environment! If you have any questions, please email or call Faezeh at: teen.central@libraryweb.org – (585) 428-8451
Enjoy stories and songs with your little one! Meet a children’s librarian at the tunnel tree across from Lamberton Conservatory for stories, songs, and rhymes. Storytimes help promote early learning skills and are a great way to bond with your little one. Best for toddlers, but older and younger siblings are welcome. Rain location is the Children’s Center. Call 428-8150 to confirm weather-related location changes. Registration not required.
Brownbag Book Discussion–Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro Join us for a discussion of Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. All are welcome and no registration is required. Copies of the book are available at the BLB Circulation Desk at the Central Library. For more information call: 428-8360.
Kiva Rochester provides Rochester area businesses 0% interest small business loans that range from $1,000-$15,000 and are crowdfunded $25 at a time. Staff from the City of Rochester will be available at the Central Library on the 4th floor for businesses and entrepreneurs to talk through the process or start their applications.
In this class you will develop a Picasso styled portrait by drawing abstract faces that fill your paper with interest. Pablo Picasso had a significant impact on the development of modern art in the 20th century. Exploring cubism, collage and the use of various techniques you will reduce forms to their geometrical equivalents and then reorganize objects for an individual finish! This class will be LIVE in the Art division. All supplies will be …
War in Ukraine: How Should the United States Respond? Join the Democracy Commitment at MCC, a campus initiative devoted to democracy promotion, for a National Issues Forum deliberative dialogue on the United States' response to the War in Ukraine. Deliberation is an inclusive, non-adversarial way of discussing important public issues and allows citizens to assess public issues in light of the values they hold so …
Whether you’re a beginner or a computer master, you’re invited to join the GWC club at the Central Library! Girls (6th-12th grades) who sign up for this 15 week summer program will learn how to code from our fun online tutorials and activities that will help them build animations, games, apps, and more! GWC have tutorials in Scratch, Python, Swift, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. …
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