Barron Joins Community Members and Librarians to Kick Off Neighborhood Oral History Project
With Citywide “Invest in Libraries” Campaign, BPL Calls for Increased City Funding for Essential Neighborhood Libraries
Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Public Library's New Lots branch is among ten finalists for the second annual NYC Neighborhood Library Awards. To celebrate the branch's contributions to the neighborhood, City Council Member Inez Barron joined New Lots Library patrons, staff and community members at the kickoff of the branch's new oral history project, which will collect Brooklynites' unique experiences for preservation in the halls of the Library of Congress.
Through its participation in the citywide Invest in Libraries campaign, a partnership with the New York and Queens library systems, BPL has urged the City to increase funding for essential community libraries like New Lots. The three systems are calling for a $65 million restoration in operating expenses in this year’s budget so that they may provide the programs and services New Yorkers demand and expect from their local branches at least six days a week, along with $1.4 billion in capital funding for critical renovations and maintenance.
“New Lots Library is an invaluable community resource, offering diverse collections, programs for people of all ages, and a learning center that provides free, innovative educational resources for beginning adult readers and writers,” said New York City Council Member Inez Barron. “It is critically important that the City support and fully fund its libraries so that branches like New Lots can expand their hours and offer more of the programs and services that patrons depend on.”
"Brooklynites are turning to their local libraries in record numbers for help finding jobs, starting businesses, earning United States citizenship and improving their digital literacy,” said Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda Johnson. “We are proud of the staff and volunteers at New Lots Library for earning an NYC Neighborhood Library Award nomination, and we urge the City to restore funding to New York’s libraries so that we can continue to provide our patrons with first-rate programs, collections and services.”
The NYC Neighborhood Library Awards will be presented to five of the ten finalists from the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Library systems by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the Charles H. Revson Foundation. The award comes with a $20,000 prize, the largest cash prize awarded directly to branch libraries in the nation. BPL branches won two of the five awards last year, and three branches are in the running this year: New Lots, Windsor Terrace, and Clinton Hill.
About Brooklyn Public Library: Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is an independent library system for the 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn. It is the fifth largest library system in the United States with 60 neighborhood libraries located throughout the borough. BPL offers free programs and services for all ages and stages of life, including a large selection of books in more than 30 languages, author talks, literacy programs and public computers. BPL’s eResources, such as eBooks and eVideos, catalog information and free homework help, are available to customers of all ages 24 hours a day at our website: www.bklynpubliclibrary.org.
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