Brooklyn Public Library (BPL)

Neighborhood libraries:nearly all of Brooklyn's 2.7 million residents live within a mile of a Library branch. The long-awaited re-opening of the renovated east flatbush Library occurred on june 6th, 2023. The marcy Library reopened in december 2022. The Library had been closed for an ada upgrade. In may 2023, bpl reopened the flatbush garden as part of our "branches in bloom" initiative. The space behind flatbush Library has been through a lot over the years and has experienced several attempts at bringing it to life. What the staff and community partners have created is extraordinary and will be a cherished local garden for years.from january 2023, patrons can now put holds on our "board game" collection to be picked up at new utrecht, windsor terrace, and mckinley park. The game returns will also be accepted at those locations. Over february and march, almost a hundred branches across the Brooklyn Public Library, new york Public Library, and queens Public Library systems competed in the second annual culture pass citywide book display contest, creating colorful and dynamic displays around the theme of "the creative city," celebrating new york as a source of inspiration for generations of artists, performers, and writers. With over 5,500 votes cast, our greenpoint Library branch was announced as the winner in april 2023.in fy2023, the neighborhood branch libraries circulated 8,938,444 items and hosted roughly 37,000 programs, which over 499,000 patrons attended. In addition, our branches hosted roughly 3,505,000 patrons during fy2023.

Special programs:bpl offers programs for people of all backgrounds and ages. In addition to the branch programs described above, bpl hosts teen tech time and homework help sessions, citizenship and hse test preparation, career and business development resources, free cultural events, and much more. A representative sample of our special programs: 1)bookmatch - provides patrons with reading lists specially curated by bpl librarians.bklyn incubator supports and funds the development of new initiatives by librarians and staff, with training and mentoring on program design, partnership development, community outreach, and project management. 2)powerup! - in 2003, the powerup! Business plan competition launched to support and grow Brooklyn's entrepreneurial spirit and small businesses. Since 2003, we have nurtured 10,575 individuals with over 1,350 business plans and awarded more than $600,000 in cash and in-kind gifts to Brooklyn entrepreneurs. Our success stories include more than 100 companies with a passion for food and drink, health and wellness, arts and crafts, media and fashion, education, social justice, and cultural diversityeverything that makes Brooklyn great. 3)bard at bpl - provides a fully accredited, full scholarship traditional liberal arts education to nontraditional students who had previously been deterred, discouraged, or excluded from higher education. 4)teen takeovers branch council - teen takeovers branch council is an internship program where high school students plan, organize, promote, and host after-hours Public programs for other teens. Interns learn about event planning, creating a budget, and program promotion. 5)university open air is a series of outdoor courses in prospect park taught by professors and researchers trained outside the u.s. who may face obstacles teaching in their respective fields. 6)bpl outdoors - Brooklyn Public Library turns its branches inside out to provide Library services and programs outdoors. Patrons enjoy traditional Library services plus creative programming in the fresh air. 7)teen techies - teaches digital skills to students 14 to 18 and prepares them to serve on bpl's volunteer team, where they help patrons make use of the Library's many free technology resources.in november 2022, bpl launched our public-facing programming for immigrant service's heritage ambassador initiative. This two-year nea and ny state council on the arts funded program brings in folk artists from across Brooklyn to use the Library's resources and spaces to bring more focus on folk arts and traditions. Throughout december, we hosted several in-person and virtual events on korean folklore, indigenous art, nigerian and trinidadian textiles, steelpan and calypso music, haitian storytelling, and more.in june 2023, the outreach services team launched welcome home. Funded by the mellon foundation, welcome home is a new program in justice initiatives that supports formerly incarcerated patrons. The program will be active in crown heights and new lots region branches. Also, in june 2023, the health outreach team partnered with our bookmobile team, nyu langone health, shape up nyc, city harvest, maimonides medical center, and other community partners for the month's health programming across the borough. The partnership facilitated the nami-nyc & bpl community conversation and resource fair to increase access and awareness of mental health services and programs.

Central library:central Library is the most extensive Public Library in Brooklyn. At 352,000 square feet, it accounts for one-third of the Library's total physical plant. In fy2023, bpl re-introduced a vinyl record collection for checkout in the new & noteworthy division at the central Library. The central Library staff curated the records, all representing new york artists. A listening station with two turntables was built for patrons to listen to records before check-out and learn how to use and care for audio equipment.also, central hosted the Brooklyn robotics league (brl) finals in january 2023. Brl had a record 15 teams participate in bpl's tournamentall with sizable crowd support from friends and family members cheering them on. Washington irving branch team took the crown, with kings bay branch robot builders taking second place and new lots branch warriors coming third. In fy2023, the central Library circulated 928,142 items and hosted 19,210 programs, which over 105,000 patrons attended. In addition, our central Library branch hosted roughly 679,000 patrons during fy2023.