New York Public Library Launches Insta Novels on Instagram Stories

The New York Public Library (NYPL) has repurposed Instagram Stories to publish classic literature, launching a project called Insta Novels. Each page of a book becomes a slide in a story, allowing users to pause, go back, or skip ahead. The initiative debuted with Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," illustrated by designer Magoz. Upcoming titles include "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins (with illustrations by Buck) and Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" (illustrated by César Pelizer). The project was created by the communication agency Mother, whose partner and creative director Corinna Falusi noted that Instagram inadvertently created the perfect library for this new type of online novel, comparing the reading experience to a paperback. NYPL's external relations director Carrie Welch emphasized that the selection of visually strong stories aims to transform how people access classics and engage with Instagram. The library will save each Insta Novel in its Instagram Highlights, creating a permanent digital library.