The New York Public Library (NYPL) on Monday announced a landmark $50 million gift from philanthropists Lynne and Richard Pasculano that will permanently endow the Library’s adult education programs, which support English language learning, workforce development, digital tech literacy, and more. The endowment will help maintain and grow the Library’s adult education programs, prioritizing branches that serve under-resourced communities where these programs stand to make the greatest impact. This gift builds upon previous commitments from the Pasculano family totalling $18.5 million to support adult learning at the Library, including establishing the flagship Pasculano Learning Center at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library.
In recognition of this gift, the Library has officially renamed its Vice President of Branch Libraries and Patron Services to “The Pasculano Vice President of Branch Libraries and Patron Services.”
This comes at a time when Library programs and services are in increasing demand. The Library is the largest non-municipal provider of English language instruction. In 2025, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) attendance has already surpassed 200,000, exceeding last year’s figures. TechConnect offers thousands of digital literacy courses each year that empower New Yorkers to learn everything from basic computer skills to app development. Career Services helps anyone aiming to advance their career through various workforce development offerings, including support for those starting businesses, resume refinement, and interview preparation.
“This extraordinary gift will open so many doors of opportunity for New Yorkers and greatly advance the Library’s mission to foster lifelong learning,” said NYPL President and CEO Anthony W. Marx. “We are immensely grateful to our longtime donors Lynne and Richard Pasculano for their support, vision, and generosity. The New York Public Library was built on a foundation of philanthropy, and Lynne and Richard’s incredible legacy at the Library marks an important milestone in that story.”
About The New York Public Library
For over 125 years, The New York Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With over 90 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars. The New York Public Library receives approximately 16 million visits through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/give.
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