About Brooklyn Public Library

Brooklyn Public Library is among the borough’s most democratic civic institutions, serving patrons in every neighborhood and from every walk of life. Established in 1896, BPL is one of the nation’s largest public library systems and currently has more than 850,000 active cardholders. With a branch library within a half-mile of the majority of Brooklyn’s 2.7 million residents, BPL is a recognized leader in cultural offerings, literacy, out-of-school-time services, workforce development programs, and digital literacy. In a borough of wide economic disparity, where the costs of basic necessities often take priority over spending on cultural enrichment opportunities, BPL provides a democratic space where patrons of all economic standings can avail themselves and their children of cultural and educational programs in a broad range of disciplines. 

The American Library Association’s 2014 Public Library Data Service Statistical Report ranked BPL third in the nation among public libraries for public programs offered and program attendance. In 2016, BPL was awarded an IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for museum and libraries, in large part due to the work of its Outreach Services department and its efforts to serve Brooklyn’s most vulnerable populations.

Fast Facts

  • Most of Brooklyn’s 2.7 million residents live within a half-mile of a BPL branch.
  • Our collection holds more than 2.86 million physical items and 250,000 digital materials.

Last year, BPL:

  • Offered over 72,000 free programs, with over 1.2 million attendees.
  • Circulated materials 12.9 million times, including books and electronic media.
  • Provided 1.6 million computer sessions on 2,600 devices.
  • Logged a total of 95,000 volunteer hours contributed by 2,000 volunteers
  • Welcomed 7.9 million visits to our branches

 

Mission

It is the mission of Brooklyn Public Library to ensure the preservation and transmission of society's knowledge, history and culture, and to provide the people of Brooklyn with free and open access to information for education, recreation and reference.

Vision

Brooklyn Public Library will be a vital center of knowledge for all, accessible 24 hours a day, and will be a leader in traditional and innovative library services which reflect the diverse and dynamic spirit of the people of Brooklyn.

Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism at Brooklyn Public Library

We unequivocally condemn all forms of violence against Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC). Loud and clear, we believe that Black lives matter. Read the rest of our statement and action plan here.

Brooklyn Public Library’s founding dates to an 1892 act of the state legislature “to establish and to maintain a public library and reading room” in the independent city of Brooklyn. Following the consolidation of Greater New York, the library system grew along with the borough it served.

Library construction boomed in Brooklyn in the early 20th century thanks to a $1.6 million investment from industrialist Andrew Carnegie. His legacy is visible today in neighborhoods throughout the borough, as 18 of Brooklyn’s 21 original Carnegie libraries remain in service. These buildings are architectural gems, stately and ornate, many situated in the heart of residential areas. 

Construction began on a grand Central Library in 1912, but the project was shelved for nearly three decades as a result of financial issues brought on by the First World War and the Great Depression. Central Library finally opened on Grand Army Plaza in 1941, becoming the system’s hub and by far its largest facility.

Library service expanded in the middle of the twentieth century with the construction of branches to serve both new and underserved neighborhoods. Many of the new libraries were constructed during the administration of Mayor John Lindsay and are identifiable by their functional, no-frills design and open floorplans.

Today Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems, with 61 locations serving a borough of 2.7 million people. The Library is one of New York City’s pre-eminent civic, cultural and educational institutions, with a collection of four million materials and annual attendance approaching nine million.