The Rosamond Gifford Lecture Series has enriched the Central New York community by presenting some of the best literary talent of our time to entertain, delight and inform our audience.

A turtle and a hare read a book - the theme for the summer is Tails and Tales

Summer Learning

So many great in-person programs are back this summer! Check our our Summer Learning Events page, or take a look at our Event Calendar to see what we have currently scheduled, and check back often as more programs are being confirmed!

A child reads to a dog during the Tails to Tell program at Mundy Branch

Read to A Therapy Dog

*Currently Unavailable due to COVID-19*

Reading to a therapy dog is a fun and rewarding opportunity for school-age children to read one-on-one to a real, live and gentle dog. Children read aloud, one-on-one, to certified, trained dogs at the library with the dog’s handler present.

Calendar Of Events

See the full Central & city libraries calendar, or search the city libraries as well as many of the suburban libraries events.

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Rosamond Gifford Lecture Series

Ticket Information

Individual tickets may be purchased at the OnCenter Box Office, 315-435-2121
or they may be purchased in person at: The Oncenter War Memorial, 760 S. State Street, Syracuse, NY 13202.

Contact the FOCL office if you have questions regarding season tickets. 315-435-1832.

2021-2022 Speakers

Susan Orlean

September 14, 2021

Author of: The Library Book

Jason Reynolds

October 26, 2021

Author of: Look Both Ways

Yaa Gyasi

November 9, 2021

Author of: Transcendent Kingdom

Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr.

March 9, 2022

Author of: Begin Again

Fran Lebowitz

April 19, 2022

Author of: Metropolitan Life

Ocean Vuong

May 17, 2022

Author of: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

Ticket Information

Individual tickets may be purchased at the OnCenter Box Office, 315-435-2121 or they may be purchased in person at: The Oncenter War Memorial, 760 S. State Street, Syracuse, NY 13202

Contact the FOCL office if you have questions regarding season tickets. 315-435-1832

Lectures are held in the John H. Mulroy Civic Center, 441 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, New York

All lectures begin at 7:30 PM

For information on how to become a sponsor of the Rosamond Gifford Lecture Series, please contact our FOCL office at 315-435-1832.

Proceeds of the Rosamond Gifford Lecture Series will be used by Friends of the Central Library for new book and material acquisitions as well as children's programming at the Central Library and city branches.

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