Feb. 3, 2025 By Lauren Rapp “Trace/s,” the Brooklyn Public Library’s newest exhibit, was unveiled last week in Downtown Brooklyn, connecting the legacy of slavery in the borough with its living descendants. “Slavery didn’t just happen in Brooklyn; it changed Brooklyn,” states one of the plaques on the exhibit walls. “Enslaved people in Brooklyn…
Feb. 3, 2025 By Lauren Rapp & Meaghan McGoldrick O'Neil This February, Brooklyn is celebrating Black History Month with a dynamic lineup of events that highlight the borough’s deep-rooted connections to Black culture, history and achievements. From the soulful sounds of live performances at local theaters to thought-provoking discussions on the borough’s role in…
Jan. 30, 2025 By Lauren Rapp A ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiled a “first-of-its-kind” cultural hub in Downtown Brooklyn on Tuesday, bringing together a collection of creative institutions under one roof. The L10 Arts and Cultural Center will feature new cinema and archival space for the Brooklyn Academy of Music, gallery and performance space from the…
Dec. 26, 2024 By Anna Bradley-Smith Brooklyn Public Library has unveiled designs for a dramatically reimagined modern library in New Lots that nods to the site’s history as an African burial ground, set to replace the currently standing 1950s concrete library building. Architects MASS Design Group and Marble Fairbanks are behind the designs for the new building, whose…
Dec. 24, 2024 By Kirstyn Brendlen As the Brooklyn Public Library prepares to turn the page on 2024, it’s looking back on the last year in literature and taking stock of which books Brooklynites loved most. Locals checked out millions of books, electronic media, and more this year, according to BPL’s website, even as…
Dec. 17, 2024 By Kirstyn Brendlen August marked the 100th birthday of James Baldwin, one of the most important authors in American history. The Brooklyn Public Library, like many cultural institutions, wanted to mark his centennial somehow. They weren’t quite sure how until Jakab Orsós, BPL’s vice president of arts and culture, got an…
Nov. 20, 2024 By Kirstyn Brendlen Getting called for jury duty — which usually means long hours waiting to find out if you’re even needed and eligible, or multiple days on-call in case something comes up — can inspire dread. But, it’s a civic duty, and a critical part of the right to a…
Sep. 30, 2024 By Gabriele Holtermann The lobby of the Central Library in Brooklyn transformed into a catwalk on Sept. 27 as professional models showcased the creative designs of aspiring fashion designers at the 6th annual BKLYN Fashion Academy show. The BKLYN Fashion Academy is a free, 16-week intensive fashion education program provided by…
Jul. 23, 2024 By Kirstyn Brendlen
Whatever knowledge Brooklynites are looking for is surely housed at the Brooklyn Public Library, which circulates thousands of books of all genres and on all topics. But finding the right book isn’t always easy — which is where BPL’s expert librarians come in.
Jul. 15, 2024 By Gabriele Holtermann Elected officials and bookworms celebrated the return of Sunday service at seven library branches across the city on July 14, following an agreement between Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council last month to restore $58.3 million in funding to the New York, Brooklyn, and Queens public library systems…
Read More