The New York City Reading Series Census is an ongoing project to catalogue the contemporary literary scene. Any reading series curator in the New York area can take the survey here.

The series finale was February 1, 2017. This survey remains as a historical record of the series.

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What is the name of the series, and what is the significance or meaning of the series name?
The HiFi Reading Series is named after the HiFi Bar, where it is held once a month.

Who founded the series, and who runs it now?
Ryan Britt and Lena Valencia founded and currently run the series.

What genres or mediums does the series include?
Fiction, poetry, memoir, journalism, essay, and everything in between.

What is the format of the series?
Ryan and Lena select an established author or entity (such as a literary magazine or podcast), and they, in turn, select two to three emerging writers to read alongside them.

Where does the series take place?
The HiFi Bar in Manhattan.

When and how often is the series performed (and is it seasonal)?
Once a month, usually on the first Wednesdays. We take one month off over the summer.

How long has the series been active?
Since March 2014.

Where can people find information about series on the web?
Hifireadingseries.tumblr.com, or facebook.com/hifireadingseries

Do you take submissions, solicit material, or a combination?
Currently we only solicit material.

Did you set out with specific goals when the series was launched and have they changed over time?
We have for the most part stayed true to our original vision of introducing audiences to writers they likely haven’t heard.

What distinguishes the series from others?
Because the guest-curators that we select are the ones selecting the evening’s readers, we end up getting a diverse range of voices, often in genres or circles that we would not have been exposed to otherwise.