Brooklyn Heights Library Finds Temporary Home

For families and children in the Brooklyn area, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that there will be a new-and-improved library opening in Brooklyn, and the bad news is that it is going to take 3½ years.

The Brooklyn Heights Library has closed its original location while redevelopment is being pursued. For now, it has set up camp at an interim branch, located at Our Lady of Lebanon Church, 109 Remsen St. This is just four blocks away from the original location at 280 Cadman Plaza West.

This space will give readers access to a curated collection chosen by library staff; 30 laptops; two First Five Years desktop computers; an adaptable program room for movies, presentations, and performances; and the same highly experienced library staff.

Additionally, full library services will continue at the interim space. This means, Babies & Books, preschool story time, after-school programs, Teen Tech Time, live performances, adult literacy services, technology class, and more will still be offered.

The Business & Career library has also been relocated to Central Library at 10 Grand Army Plaza until it’s permanent space is available in 2017.

The reason for this two-year-in-the-making project was the incredible amount of money needed to repair the Brooklyn Heights Library, in addition to all of the other BPL branches.

“The Brooklyn Heights branch faces over $9M in unfunded capital needs, including an estimated $3.5M to $4.5M to replace the HVAC system. This capital need is part of an estimated $300M in capital needs at all 60 of BPL’s libraries throughout the borough,” according to its website.

The reconstructed library, at 26,620 square feet, will be the largest branch in Brooklyn, and it will also be much more modernized and easier on the eyes.

Above of the library, more than 100 new condominiums will be built, which is said to generate $40 million that will be used for repairs at the other Brooklyn libraries.

While we wait for the exciting opening of the new-and-improved Brooklyn Heights Library, the interim library will be open Monday and Friday from 10am-6pm, Tuesday-Thursday from 10am-8pm, and Saturday from 10am-5pm.

Main image: The interim Brooklyn Heights Library will serve the neighborhood until the opening of the new, permanent branch in approximately three years.
Gregg Richards

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