COURIER LIFE, DEC. 10–16, 2021 31
OUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THE BOROUGH OF KINGS
BY BEN VERDE
The Brooklyn Public Library unveiled
two new facilities at its main
branch while celebrating 125 years of
book-lending in the borough.
Borough leaders gathered at Grand
Army Plaza on Nov. 29 to issue the storied
book lender a proclamation, celebrate
125 years of service to Kings
County, and offi cially unveil two new
facilities at the central branch: the
Civic Commons and the TechMobile.
“As we celebrate the 125th anniversary
of this institution this year, it is
also worthwhile to refl ect on what the
next 125 years will look like, and how
the library can deepen its commitment
to equity,” said Borough President and
Mayor-elect Eric Adams, whose offi
ce issued the library a proclamation.
“The two new facilities we are unveiling
today, the Civic Commons and the
TechMobile, point the way forward.”
The Civic Commons, built as part
of a renovation of the Art Deco main
branch building with $2 million in
funding from Borough Hall, acts as a
dedicated hub for organizations that
promote civic involvement. It includes
a room for public meetings, a computer
lab, an IDNYC and passport offi ce, and
a rotating “community partner offi ce,”
according to the library.
A spokesperson for the library said
the commons were tantamount to their
goals of helping Brooklynites be active
members of their communities.
“Equity and democracy have long
been at the heart of Brooklyn Public
Library’s mission,” said Fritzi Bodenheimer.
“The Civic Commons embodies
our goal to provide every Brooklynite
the resources and spaces they
need to participate in public life.”
The TechMobile acts as something
of a mobile computer lab, bringing
technology services including wireless
internet access, laptops to loan,
desktop computers, and printing services
to communities in need — part
of the library’s efforts to bridge the
“digital divide” that creates obstacles
for under-resourced neighborhoods.
“These new facilities will help us
tackle some of our city’s most pressing
issues, such as the diffi culty immigrant
New Yorkers face in accessing City services,
and the shameful digital divide
that holds people of all ages back from
realizing their full potential,” said Adams.
“I look forward to working with
the Library’s leadership to continue
providing services that Brooklynites
and New Yorkers rely on.”
An open book
Brooklyn Public Library celebrates 125th b-day with two new facilities
The new Civic Commons at the central branch. Photo by Gregg Richards/Brooklyn Public Library