In NYC, you can major in fun without minoring in debt — and all it takes is a visit to the library.
That’s the (whispered) word from New York’s most bookish institutions, which will offer winter classes in subjects as varied as web coding, Mandarin, oil painting, crochet and even origami.
The classes come after a record year for New York Public Library learners, which include 1.36 million visitors in Manhattan and over 843,000 in Brooklyn, according to the city.
“I think people would be surprised by how specific the offerings get,” Ariel Lee, 28, the creator behind Library Scout, a platform for discovering free NYC library classes and events, told The Post.
“You can learn Arabic calligraphy, practice ceramics, figure out the manual settings on your camera or join a philosophy discussion… and you don’t have to arrive with a serious goal or a hobby you’re already good at. You can just find something interesting and try it.”
If you feel like a college-worthy class for $0 in tuition, check out these upcoming options:
Ceramics in the Bronx
Mott Haven Library is hosting Ceramics for Adults on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The program also recurs every other Thursday, giving would-be potters a chance to make creativity a regular habit rather than a one-and-done affair.
A Workout in Park Slope
Every Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Park Slope Library, you can break a sweat with cardio, strength and balance exercises led by NYC fitness professionals. Attendees are encouraged to bring a small towel and a water bottle, and please, wear sneakers instead of heels.
Chinese dough sculpture in Flushing
Head to the Mitchell-Linden Library in Flushing on Friday, Oct. 30, at 3:30 p.m. for a dough figurine-making workshop led by the award-winning artist Catherine Lau. The class explores the Chinese art of sculpting figures from dough, and will be taught in both Mandarin and English. Materials are limited, and spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis for the first 20 participants.
Needlepoint in Clinton Hill
Clinton Hill Library is offering “Needlepoint November: An Introductory Workshop” on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Led by artist Margaret Colhoun of the Brooklyn needlepoint atelier Pierrepont, the two-hour class introduces beginners to continental and basketweave stitches. All materials are included, and participants will leave with a canvas underway. The workshop is limited to 10 adults, with sign-ups available at the reference desk on the day of the program.
Birding in Ridgewood
Arlington Library is taking nature lovers out to Ridgewood Reservoir for a fall bird-watching excursion on Saturday, Nov. 7. Meet in the Upper Highland Park parking lot at 10 a.m. before heading to the reservoir at 10:15 a.m. to look for migrating warblers, thrushes, sparrows and other songbirds. Bring water and sunscreen, and leave the neon workout gear at home — neutral colors are recommended to blend in with the surroundings.
‘The Aeneid’ in Midtown
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library’s weekly online “Sunt Lacrimae Rerum” philosophy lecture series meets every Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. and invites adults to explore Virgil’s epic war poem, “The Aeneid” — no term papers or final exams required.
Dramatic literature at Lincoln Center
Read “The Thanksgiving Play” by Larissa Fasthorse, then show up to discuss it — and perhaps read some scenes out loud — at the Library for the Performing Arts, which hosts a monthly Play Club for theater fans and aspiring playwrights to dig into a key script that’s been performed in New York. The next meeting takes place on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Plus: Find even more classes online
New Yorkers can browse free events and exhibitions through the New York Public Library, Queens Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library websites, and by consulting Library Scout, which brings together listings from the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library.
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