Brower Park Library

ABOUT THE BROWER PARK FAMILY LIBRARY

More than a century after the institutions were founded, Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) and Brooklyn
Childrens Museum (BCM) are partnering to bring a family library to Crown Heights.
To be located on the Museums ground floor along Brooklyn Avenue, the branch will ensure the presence of
a public library in the neighborhood for generations to come. The new branch will be a unique cultural resource
for families in Central Brooklyn: visitors will be able to check out books from the Library and borrow items
from the Museums collection, as well as enjoy collaborative programs.

THE NEED FOR A NEW LIBRARY

North Crown Heights is currently served by Brower Park Library, located one-and-a-half blocks from
the Museum.
Opened in 1963, the Brower Park branch is the smallest public library in Brooklyn, yet it contributes
significantly to BPLs $230 million in unfunded capital needs, with necessary improvementsincluding
a new roof, HVAC system and boilertotaling $5.6 million. Brower Park is one of the Librarys few leased
branches, owned by and subject to the interests of a private landlord. Purchasing the property to avoid the
uncertainty of staying in a leased space would cost the City an estimated additional $3 million and the
process would take several years, compounding the amount needed to fix the ailing branch.
The Librarys partnership with Brooklyn Childrens Museum relieves BPL of over $8 million in unnecessary
investments while building a similarly sized, but far more modern and comfortable, branch to serve the
community. Co-locating in a City-owned building will ensure an ongoing library presence for the neighborhood.

A NEW KIND OF LIBRARY

Fifty-seven percent of the materials that are borrowed from Brower Park Library are for children and young
adults. Young people and families are the branchs most frequent users and will be among the chief beneficiaries
of the Librarys partnership with the Museum.
In addition to traditional book lending, the Brower Park branch will also lend objects from Brooklyn Childrens
Museums 30,000-piece collection. This offers an invaluable resource to educators in the community, who will
be able to borrow authentic cultural and natural science objects to enhance their units of study. The Brower Park
Family Library will be one of the only collections lending libraries in the country.
While the branchs collection will be geared primarily toward children and teens, the needs of patrons of all
ages will be considered during the design of the project, and adults will continue to be served at the new branch.

FINANCING AND BUILDING THE LIBRARY

BPL will pay the Museum a rent equivalent to what it currently pays for its leased space. The design and
build-out of the new library will cost $3 million. The BCM successfully raised $3.3 million in public funding
in the most recent NYC budget from Mayor Bill deBlasio and the Department of Cultural Affairs,
Councilman Robert Cornegy, Jr. and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. The Museum will work with
BPL to gather public input and make the new space available by early 2019. BPL will continue to operate its
current leased branch until the new library opens.

bklynlibrary.org 890.FL (ENG)