Images Here. (Photo Credit: Gregg Richards)
Brooklyn, NY—Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) and Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM) celebrated the opening of Brower Park Library at BCM with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today. The unique partnership provides an unparalleled culture and educational experience for families in Crown Heights and throughout the borough, bringing together the resources of two beloved Brooklyn institutions.
“For more than 100 years, both Brooklyn Public Library and Brooklyn Children’s Museum have served the Borough with books, education, and programming. Now we begin a new chapter. We are thrilled to open Brower Park Library on the first floor of the Museum, providing the next generation the opportunity to read, learn and explore the world around them,” said Linda Johnson, President and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library.
Opened in 1963, the Brower Park Library was just a block and a half from the Museum. Brower Park was the smallest public library in Brooklyn, yet it needed costly improvements—including a new roof, HVAC system and boiler. In addition, Brower Park was one of the Library’s few leased branches, owned by and subject to the interests of a private landlord. Instead of pursing a costly and prolonged process of purchasing and repairing the building, the Library’s partnership with Brooklyn Children’s Museum provides patrons a similarly sized, but far more modern and comfortable space which will serve the community for generations.
"When Brooklyn Children's Museum was founded in 1899, it was envisioned as a place where a public library would be an integral part of our campus. We are delighted to partner with the Brooklyn Public Library as we transform this century-old dream into a vibrant reality. Together, we are committed to preserving an invaluable resource for education and information within our community for generations to come. We are grateful to the City of New York for generously providing the capital funds that have made this unique collaboration possible. We would also like to express our appreciation to the countless community members who have actively contributed to the meticulous planning of this space,” said Stephanie Hill Wilchfort, President and CEO, Brooklyn Children’s Museum.
Architecture Firm Tsao & McKown designed the new library, noting the importance of creating spaces for the community to learn and grow together. “Design matters most to us if it has a heart for civic engagement to create meaning and purpose,” said Calvin Tsao.
Occupying the ground floor of Museum, visitors will enter the main reading room from Brooklyn Avenue. Adjacent is a community room which can host 50 people for meetings and programs. It includes a movable partition, ample storage, modern AV equipment, and a sink for arts and crafts.
Beyond the main reading room, patrons enter the children’s room through a colorful threshold. This dynamic space features multiple ceiling heights, lowered book stacks, nooks for reading and researching, group tables, and a theater proscenium for impromptu storytelling and play. The backdrop of the theater proscenium is a 12-foot window overlooking museum exhibit space.
Additionally, the library includes a small meeting room and an outdoor reading terrace.
The Library also features a colorful set of three murals by New York-based artist Jasu Hu. Titled “There is a Land,” Hu offers a three-part story about the ways that books and literature transport us and inspire imagination. In the adult reading room, an upturned book becomes a mountain nestled in a forest. In the children’s reading room, two murals show children delighting in nature, friendship, and books. In the third mural, children float on a raft of books. A story time rug depicting the scene will be added later this year.
Upcoming programs include story times, both in the Library and at nearby Brower Park, computer classes, crafts workshops and a hip hop music production course just for teens.
Further, through a program titled Collections Connections, made possible with the support of the Charles H. Revson Foundation, community galleries are being displayed in 10 libraries throughout the borough, allowing patrons to see objects and artifacts from the Museum’s collections exploring animals and nature, transportation, cultures around the world and more. Each gallery contains a booklet with object information and librarians will incorporate the objects into programs and share books with similar themes. Some of the objects include head wraps and curling irons, dolls, sea sponges, petrified wood, and more. Additional branches will be added throughout 2023.
“The Brooklyn Children’s Museum has long been a center of gravity for our neighborhood and an oasis for its families. Now, it will bring one of Brooklyn’s other proudest institutions, the Public Library, within its walls,” said New York City Council Member Chi Ossè, Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs and Libraries, whose district contains the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. “The long-awaited realization of this dream will be to the benefit of children and families in Crown Heights and far beyond. The Museum was always central to my own upbringing in this neighborhood. I’m so thrilled for it to continue to play that role for successive generations, always improving and now in tandem with the Library, for generations to come.”
"Growing up, I spent countless hours in our district's public libraries-- I know how vital BPL's branches are in helping inspire a lifelong love of learning, literacy and creativity," said New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie. "That's why I'm so excited about the reopening of the Brower Park Library at the Brooklyn Children's Museum, which brings two of Central Brooklyn's cultural and educational treasures together under one roof. I am so grateful to the leadership of BPL and BCM for making this partnership a reality for our community."
"Libraries create a world of wonder and inspiration for children of all ages, similar to our cultural institutions. The completion of the new, state-of-the-art Brower Park Library within the Brooklyn Children's Museum marries the joy of reading and literacy with a youthful curiosity that ignites our youngest minds to dream beyond these walls," said Assembly Member Brian A. Cunningham. "I am honored to congratulate the leadership of the Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Children's Museum, and The City of New York for investing in this one-of-a-kind community hub."
Funding for the $6 million project was provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the Mayor’s Office, the Office of the Borough President, and the City Council, including funds from former Council Member Robert Cornegy, a grant from former Assembly Member Diana Richardson, and a gift from the Blumberg Family in memory of Rhoda Blumberg.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. As a leader in developing modern 21st century libraries, we provide resources to support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.7 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We provide nearly 60,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.
About Brooklyn Children's Museum
Inspired by the energy and diversity of our borough, Brooklyn Children’s Museum creates experiences that ignite curiosity, celebrate identity and cultivate joyful learning. Founded in 1899 as the world’s first children’s museum, Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM) is New York City’s largest cultural institution designed especially for families. Proudly based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, BCM serves 300,000 children and caregivers annually with exhibits and programs grounded in visual arts, music and performance, natural science, and world cultures. For more information, visit: www.brooklynkids.org