Programs and Exhibitions
The Brooklyn Collection's display cases are home to rotating exhibitions, curated by the staff, on a myriad of topics relating to Brooklyn's past. We also host a lecture series, typically on the last Wednesday of the month, with a wine and cheese reception.
Upcoming Programs
Researching Hispanic Genealogy in New York -- Wednesday, May 29th at 7pm
Learn about the many resources that people of Hispanic descent can use to explore their heritage in this educational workshop given be the Hispanic Genealogy Society of New York.
All programs are held in the Brooklyn Collection, on the 2nd floor mezzanine level of the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza. A wine and cheese reception precedes the talk at 6:30 P.M. Seating is limited to 40 people. Tickets will be given out 30 minutes before the event.
Current Exhibition
Brooklyn by Lev Dodin
The diversity of Brooklyn is the subject of photographer Lev Dodin’s presentation and exhibition. Shot in Bensonhurst, Dumbo, Brighton Beach, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and Borough Park, to name a few, his photographs captures the ever changing face of Brooklyn, its neighborhood traditions, architecture and culture.
Online Exhibits
Generation Preservation Project
The Generation Preservation Project was created by librarian Philip Bond at BPL's Macon Branch in 2009. Working with photographer Niqui Carter, Bond invited neighborhood families into the library to sit for group portraits. The project celebrates the multiple generations of family in this community by providing the space and opportunity to capture a wonderful moment in time and preserve it for future generations to see. See a digital slideshow and learn more about the project here.
"Jamel Shabazz: Prospect Park -- An Oasis in Brooklyn"
Complementing the exhibitions of Shabazz's work throughout the Central Library building and Brooklyn Collection, this digital slideshow showcases the photographer's images of his longtime muse and stomping ground, Brooklyn's Prospect Park.
Black History Month at Brooklyn Collection
Past Programs
The History of Brooklyn's Waterfront with John Manbeck -- Wednesday, April 24th, 2013
Author and former borough historian John Manbeck discusses the Brooklyn waterfront's rich history and how its use influenced the development of Brooklyn's industries and communities, from ship-building to ferries, factories, and beaches.
"Brooklyn": the photography of Lev Dodin -- Wednesday, March 27th, 2013
The photographer Lev Dodin speaks about his work in documenting the changing face of Brooklyn's communities.
"Faces on the Path" with photographer Jamel Shabazz
-- Wednesday, February 27th, 2013
Join photographer Jamel Shabazz as he talks about his experience coming of age in Brooklyn as a young photographer. Through his images he will share stories about his growth into manhood, and his desire to document the lives of the people who impacted his life.
"Doing the Right Thing: Labor, Democracy and Organized Crime on the Brooklyn Waterfront during the Cold War" -- Wednesday, January 30th, 2013.
Author Forrest Hylton presents a behind-the-scenes look at the machinations, men, and intrigue along the Brooklyn waterfront during the mid-twentieth century.
Author Talk with Henrik Krogius: The Brooklyn Heights Promenade -- Wednesday, November 28th, 2012.
Brooklyn Heights Press editor Henrik Krogius takes us on an intimate look at the history and beauty of the promenade and the role it played in the ambitions of Robert Moses.
In the Footsteps of Willie Sutton -- Wednesday, October 24th, 2012.
In the Footsteps of Willie Sutton is a documentary film by Rich Gold. Using police records, interviews, news articles and more, Gold has produced a fascinating look at one of America's most famous bank robbers of the twentieth century.
Past Exhibitions
Reflections by Jamel Shabazz
A prolific photographer of street culture in New York City, Jamel Shabazz has been documenting this borough since the 1980s. His work is showcased throughout the Central Library, and in the Brooklyn Collection we're displaying a selection of images donated by Mr. Shabazz. His photographs are at once up-close and wide-angle, capturing the personal lives of Brooklynites in the larger context of city life.
For information on other Jamel Shabazz exhibitions at Brooklyn Public Library's Central Branch, click here!
Interns working in the Brooklyn Collection through the Multicultural Internship Program (MIP) set out into the neighborhoods of Greenpoint, Flatbush, East New York, Brooklyn Heights, and Bay Ridge to take contemporary snapshots of historic photographs from the collection.
