Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) announced the first-week success of The Book of Hov, an exhibit created by Roc Nation to celebrate the life and work of Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter. During the exhibit’s opening week, nearly 4,000 people signed up for Brooklyn Public Library cards at Central and Marcy libraries, where limited-edition Jay-Z cards are currently being offered.
In addition to the increase in library card sign-ups, The Book of Hov’s opening week witnessed a surge in visitors to Central Library, with more than 39,000 people attending between Friday, July 14 and Thursday, July 20- almost five times the average number of visitors. During opening weekend, the number of checked-out items at Central and Marcy Libraries increased by nearly 10 percent from the previous weekend.
“The community’s enormous response to this exhibition is a testament to JAY-Z’s incredible impact,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “We are thrilled to welcome hundreds of new patrons who are inspired by his life and career and, through the exhibit, are discovering all that the library has to offer- from storytimes and robotics programs to entrepreneurship workshops and a vinyl record collection. Brooklyn Public Library has something for every New Yorker, at every stage of life."
In conjunction with The Book of Hov, Brooklyn Public Library and Roc Nation created 13 limited-edition library cards, each featuring art from an iconic JAY-Z album—from Reasonable Doubt to 4:44. Currently available only at the Central and Marcy locations, they will be offered at library branches across Brooklyn beginning this weekend.
For more information about "The Book of Hov" exhibition, please visit TheBookofHov.com.
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 65,000 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.