Brooklyn libraries reopen for browsing
BY BEN BRACHFELD
Brooklyn’s bibliophiles are
rejoicing this week after the
Brooklyn Public Library system
partially reopened its doors
to the public for the fi rst time
since the onset of the COVID-19
pandemic.
Thirteen of the system’s 60
branches, including the newlyrenovated
Central Branch at
Grand Army Plaza, reopened to
the public on Monday, meaning
visitors can once again browse
the library’s collections, use its
computers, and consult with
librarians, in addition to the
pick-up and drop-off services
BPL has offered since last year.
The 13 branches open for
“expanded services” include
Brownsville, Canarsie, Central
Branch, Clinton Hill, Coney Island,
Crown Heights, Flatbush,
Fort Hamilton, Greenpoint,
Kings Highway, Midwood, Mill
Basin, and Red Hook. Other
branches are open for the more
limited pick-ups and drop-offs,
while some remain closed.
BPL spokesperson Fritzi
Bodenheimer said that the library
is hoping to have all its
branches reopened by July, and
that the branches initially chosen
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for expanded services were
picked so as to cover a large
swath of the borough.
The library is also launching
new outdoor programming
at select locations across the
borough. That includes a new
“laptop loan” initiative allowing
guests to use the library’s
laptops outside the buildings.
The library will also bring
some of its collections and services
onto the street so guests
can browse, read, and check out
books, and access services like
library card signup without going
into a building.
BPL last year launched
Bklyn Reach, which expands
branches’ Wi-Fi signal up to 300
feet outside the branch building
in any direction.
“We were thinking all during
the pandemic, if we can’t
have people come into the library,
or come in the way
they’re used to it, we thought,
how can we bring our services
out,” Bodenheimer said.
Library honchos haven’t
offi cially decided whether the
outdoor programming will be
made permanent or if it will
only be around for this summer.
“But certainly as long as
the weather is good, I think
we can go for it,” Bodenheimer
told Brooklyn Paper.
The library has pivoted to
outdoor and virtual programming
since closing branches
in March 2020 at the beginning
of the pandemic, like movie
screenings and storytime. It’s
also at times moved some operations
outside the building,
putting on pilot programs like
outdoor tech support, and reading
rooms last year at the Flatbush
and Red Hook branches.
Bodenheimer said that the library
has hosted 9,000 online
programs attended by over a
million people during the pandemic.
Visitors will still have to
wear masks and maintain six
feet of social distance, and are
being asked to limit their time
inside branches to an hour
“just to allow as many people
as possible to access our resources,”
Bodenheimer said.
Bodenheimer said that
while she’s proud of the work
BPL did during the pandemic,
it was no match for the in-person
services that are now returning.
“People are just so happy
to be able to browse a book,”
Bodenheimer said. “There’s
something about the joy of just
being able to browse on a shelf
that just can’t be replicated
online. It’s just great, we’re so
happy to see our patrons.”
The Brooklyn Public Library’s Crown Heights branch. Photo by Ben Brachfeld
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S f i d 3
Local doctor treats herniated and bulging discs,
sciatica, and serious lower back pain
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/Brooklynspinecenter.com