Award Recognizes Leadership and Commitment to Revitalizing New York City
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Brooklyn, NY—Nicole Bryan, the head librarian at Macon Library, has been named an Empire Whole Health Hero.
The award—presented by Empire BlueCross BlueShield, in partnership with Crain’s New York Business—recognizes individuals who demonstrate leadership and commitment to the safety and wellness of New Yorkers by making a difference, specifically relating to the revitalization and reopening of New York City. Bryan was the only librarian included among this year’s class of heroes.
“Nicole is a leader at Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) and in the community,” said Nick Higgins, BPL’s Chief Librarian. “Her care and consideration of people’s needs in all she does inspires all of us to do the best we can each and every day.”
Bryan became the manager of Macon Library in January of 2020, just two months before the pandemic began, and hit the ground running even amid those extraordinarily uncertain times. Early on in May 2020, long before many other shops, community centers or businesses moved outside, Bryan arranged to block off the street in front of the branch to set up an outdoor library with carts of books for browsing and programs for families.
The outdoor Library was the first of many innovative programs Bryan created online and outdoors. Later, she collaborated with community partners to put on a block skating party (not so secretly to help get people to fill out the census) organizing skate rentals, a dj, and skating performers out in front of the branch.
“In her role as branch manager at the Macon Library, Nicole is transformative visionary! She is able to combine traditional library services with innovative approaches to services to meet the needs of the residents of the Bedford Stuyvesant community she and her staff serve,” said LaMeane Isaac, Regional Librarian. “She motivates and empowers her team to connect with individuals, agencies and organizations to provide dynamic library services to the community and she is well deserving of this award.”
Bryan joined the BPL team in 2015 and has demonstrated extraordinary initiative in every role.
Even in these difficult times, she has remained a good neighbor and a good partner, attending almost every community board meeting, creating lasting relationships with the block associations and Friends of Macon Library (a volunteer group), along the way setting an example for librarians, business owners and community leaders.
For more than 100 years, Macon Library has served the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood, an area rich with African American History. The branch is home to BPL’s African American Heritage Center, serving as a resource hub and programming center for the community.
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.