Tag Archives: Brooklyn Public Library

Plans for Brooklyn Branches Have Merit

“Two proposals to sell and develop local library sites are wending through the Brooklyn Public Library pipeline, and, predictably, opponents have manned the barricades, citing the usual arguments about selling off public land to rapacious developers. But for a change, the plans look promising. There is good and bad development, after all, and sometimes, with foresight and some help from City Hall, a community asset like a public library can anchor positive development.” (NYTimes.com)

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Brooklyn Public Library announces programs to provide immigrants greater access to free citizenship, legal services

“Brooklyn Public Library BPL on Wednesday announced two multi-year initiatives to provide immigrants in the borough greater access to free U.S. citizenship and legal services. The first, a program called Prepare for Citizenship, will provide ESOL learners with formal, 11-week citizenship courses at the Canarsie, Flatbush, Sunset Park and Kensington libraries. Operated in partnership with Catholic Migration Services CMS and through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the classes will prepare students for both the English and Civics portion of the Citizenship test and provide free legal assistance. Interested students should sign up to attend a registration session See bklynlibrary.org and catholicmigration.org.  BPL will simultaneously welcome two new Immigrant Justice Corps IJC Community Fellows to help provide critical legal assistance to low-income immigrants throughout the borough. BPL was one of five organizations across New York City to be awarded IJC Community Fellows this year; they will begin formally offering services later this month.” (via Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

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A Brooklyn Librarian Will Now Make You a Personalized Reading List, and You Don’t Even Have to Put on Pants

“This has been, without a doubt, an excellent summer for New York’s libraries. In Manhattan, the Stephen A. Schwartzman branch set up a beautiful outdoor reading room that was open for the past two weeks before closing on the 22nd. A group of seafaring booklovers announced that they’ll launch a floating library aboard the Lilac Museum Steamship for a month come September. And now, in a less temporary and totally genius move, a group of hardworking librarians across the Brooklyn Public Library system will make you a personalized reading list. You don’t have to leave the house, dress yourself, or talk to another human being to put in a request for one. The future is here, and it is glorious.” (via Village Voice)

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Brooklyn’s central library branch needs $100 million in repairs for a wrecked roof, cracked windows, creaky elevators and faulty air conditioning

“When it comes to Brooklyn’s central library branch, the books tell a story of decay. The 60-branch system’s crown jewel needs a whopping $100 million in repairs and only has enough money on hand to cover $30 million, new records show. Among the most pressing needs: a wrecked roof, cracked windows, creaky elevators, faulty air conditioning and ancient fire alarms. Bad as they are, those problems pale in comparison to the disgraceful bathrooms, which subject patrons to busted toilets and sinks and — worse — inadequate ventilation.” (via NY Daily News)

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Brooklyn bibliophiles rejoice! All 60 public library branches now open after lengthy repairs

“From Coney Island on up to Clinton Hill, all 60 Brooklyn Public Library branches have reopened following a lengthy string of repairs that have stretched for nearly two years. The Clinton Hill branch — the last of about seven libraries to shutter during the past 21 months — reopened April 14 following a $900,000 overhaul that include the installation of a self-checkout station, air conditioning and heating, LEED lighting and a drawable wall in a children’s room. “We’re thrilled to have all 60 branches open, providing vital service to every corner of Brooklyn,” said BPL Executive Vice President for External Affairs David Woloch.” (via NY Daily News)

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Citizens Defending Libraries urges de Blasio administration to help the Brooklyn Public Library pay for $300 million in repairs for leaky roofs and crumbling interiors

“Save the air conditioner, save the branch. A civic group wants the city to bail out the cash-strapped Brooklyn Public Library system, which is mired in $300 million in repair needs — from leaky roofing to crumbling walls. Citizens Defending Libraries will gather outside a Grand Army Plaza board meeting Tuesday to urge the de Blasio administration to pay for costly repairs, including a $3.5 million air conditioning unit at a Brooklyn Heights branch.” (via NY Daily News)

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Brooklyn Public Library researchers fielded 3.5 million inquiries in 2013

“Did an elephant really swim from Brooklyn to Staten Island? That was one of the 3.5 million often funny and poignant questions visitors to 60 Brooklyn Public Library branches had for 100 research librarians in 2013, records show. Despite the advent of online search engines, the number of library queries rose by 10% last year — the highest since at least 2009, according to new BPL data.” (via NY Daily News)

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Book thieves stole 70,144 books from the Brooklyn Public Library in 2012

“Book thieves checked out but never returned 70,144 books from Brooklyn Public Library’s 60 cash-strapped branches in 2012, records show. GED prep guides, nursing and other professional exam cliff notes were high on the list of frequently filched books — but so too were graphic novels, library officials said. “Those are always going missing,” a librarian at the Brooklyn Heights branch told the Daily News Thursday.” (via NY Daily News)

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Brooklyn Public Library hauls in $1.6 million in overdue fines–but $300M in repairs await

“This fine news isn’t enough to help fund much-needed repairs at the cash-strapped Brooklyn Public Library.The library hauled in $1.6 million in fines in 2013, but that’s chump change for a system that needs $300 million dollars in restoration work.The fines were also slightly down from the $1.9 million collected in 2012. That’s in part due to an increase in e-books, which automatically disappear from the digital devices on their due date.Still, library officials said last year’s total was about right.” (via NY Daily News)

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Budgets Challenge Libraries, a ‘Point of Integration’ for Immigrants

“You can always tell what time of year it is by the array of books that greet visitors to the Sheepshead Bay branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. These days, volumes on women’s suffrage, the Constitution and democracy occupy a place of honor in anticipation of Election Day. “We have educational talks to remind the community about the privilege of voting,” said Svetlana Negrimovskaya, the branch supervisor. “We explain to them how so many people went through hardship to get the right to vote.” (via NYTimes.com)

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