On Monday, November 3, 2008, The New York Public Library held its annual Library Lions Benefit at the Library's landmark Humanities and Social Sciences Library.

Each year Library Lions honors several distinguished individuals for outstanding achievements in their respective fields of arts, letters, and scholarship. This year the Library honored playwright Edward Albee, children's author and illustrator Ashley Bryan, screenwriter and essayist Nora Ephron, and novelist Salman Rushdie.  Nobel Laureate and Library Trustee Toni Morrison was the master of ceremonies.

The event's co-chairs are Mr. and Mrs. Oscar de la Renta; H.R.H. Princess Firyal and Mr. Lionel I. Pincus; Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Fuld, Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. John B. Hess; Mr. and Mrs. Felix Rohatyn; Mr. and Mrs. Stephen A. Schwarzman; and The Honorable Merryl H. Tisch and Mr. James S. Tisch.

The evening also featured a disco dance party hosted by the Young Lions, a membership group of New Yorkers in their 20s and 30s who support the work of the Library. The Young Lions dance co-chairs are Mr. Nicholas T. Brown, Ms. Claire Danes, Ms. Amanda Hearst, Mr. Michael Hess, Mr. Hudson Morgan, and Ms. Andrea L. Olshan.