Novel Night

The first Novel Night was held in November 2006 and was a huge success raising over $100,000 for the library! This biennial event is a special occasion for any local resident to attend. Approximately 10-20 private homes are opened up for this event, where guests attend a novel themed dinner party in costume. Afterward, all of the dinner party guests gather together for dessert and dancing.

How Your Ticket Supports the Rye Free Reading Room

Thanks in part to fundraising activities by the Auxiliary Board of the Rye Free Reading Room including its largest fundraiser, Novel Night, the library is able to serve over 175,000 visitors a year, and offer nearly 1,200 programs to over 27,000 attendees.

The Auxiliary Board of the Rye Free Reading Room supports the activities of the library and the library’s mission to serve as a dynamic gathering place and center for lifelong learning for Rye residents of all ages and interests. The 45 active members of the Auxiliary Board work to enhance public relations of the library within the community, assist with library activities, offer community service, initiate new programs and raise funds on the library’s behalf. The Novel Night, Casino Night, Vehicle Fair, and the Community Book Sale fundraisers generate significant funds for the library, which go towards various library programs, provide museum passes, sponsor the Summer Reading Program, STEM programming, early childhood literacy programs, and more.