Learn about the culture of America's native peoples, discover the rich history and geography of the great continent of Africa, find out how the world's most prominent leaders achieved success, or investigate the world's myriad religions. It's all possible when you visit the History/Biography/Religion (HBR) division on the second floor of BPL.

The HBR division includes:

Thinking about taking a trip? Visit our travel section first, where you'll find general information about various states and foreign countries, as well as specific details about transportation, hotels, historical sites, and hiking trails. The Travel section also includes a collection of travel narratives and guidebooks. Some materials are available for checkout, some may only be used at the library. Ask a staff member for assistance.

Visit our Travel Guides >>

Browse through our expansive collection of biographies, arranged alphabetically according to the subject's last name. Consult collective biographies and indexes to find a biography by subject.

Study the world's religions through our comprehensive collection that includes books on the history of religion, comparative religion, and spirituality. Most items can be checked out, but religion encyclopedias and dictionaries are only for use at the library.

Brush up on your geography with the many street, road, highway, and New York City maps in our collection. Government documents are available, including United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Army Survey maps. Make an appointment in person or by telephone at 1.718.230.2100 to view historical maps (ID required).

Serious historians rely on our impressive collection of genuine documents from the Civil War. Since many items are too fragile to be handled or photocopied, most materials are only for use within the library.