Cumbo Joins Community Members and Librarians to Celebrate Branch Beautification Project
With Citywide “Invest in Libraries” Campaign, BPL Calls for Increased City Funding for Essential Neighborhood Libraries
Brooklyn Public Library's Clinton Hill branch is among ten finalists for the second annual NYC Neighborhood Library Awards. To recognize the branch's contributions to the neighborhood, City Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo joined Clinton Hill Library patrons, staff and community members for a celebration of the branch’s efforts to beautify the front of the building. Last fall, branch manager Tracey Mantrone and the Friends of Clinton Hill Library teamed up with the Brooklyn Eagles, BPL’s young donors club, for a day of planting and painting at the branch. The May 19 event featured a community planting activity and a children’s craft program.
"Our neighborhood libraries serve as a gateway for millions of readers to travel across the globe and throughout history without ever leaving their seats,” said Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo. “The Clinton Hill branch has been an outstanding resource for area residents by providing critical programs and services that promote literacy, learning and community. I applaud the librarians, staff and patrons whose dedication has made this branch an invaluable part of our lives and a shining example of excellence.”
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 Clinton Hill. 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.
“Brooklynites rely on our 60 branches for helpful, free programs like resume-writing workshops, English-language classes and after-school programs for children of all ages,” said Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda Johnson. “As the staff, volunteers and patrons of BPL’s Clinton Hill branch celebrate its well-deserved Neighborhood Library Award nomination, we urge the City to restore a sufficient level of funding to New York’s libraries.”
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.
###