Brooklyn Heights Public Library Going For Broke: Closing? Relocating? Selling?

By on January 15, 2013 8:11 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn History, Education, News, Real Estate

As part of a systemwide shakeup, the Brooklyn Public Library has announced that branches will be moving, downsizing and/or consolidating, as the system shifts to digital media and services.

Among the targets is Brooklyn Heights’ Cadman Plaza branch, according to a report late Tuesday in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. It is confirmed that the branch’s business library will abandon the borough’s Downtown business district, while the Brooklyn Heights branch will be temporarily relocated (at the least)—while the building they share may be sold to a developer.

Library spokesperson Jason Carey told the Eagle’s Mary Frost:

“The Brooklyn Heights/Business Library branch has become extremely costly to maintain and difficult to operate. In fact, last summer we were forced to close the branch entirely or early on 30 different days (because of its kaput air-conditioning system). All told the branch is in need of $9 million for repairs, funding we do not currently have given our limited capital budget for work throughout the borough.”

Carey says the library is considering “whether it would make sense to work with a developer on a project that would include a new library at this location,” while “any project would involve an interim service location during construction.”

Further, a “library insider” told the Eagle that the city-owned two-story library building would likely be sold by 2017 “to a developer who will put a library on the first floor.” (Photo: BDE)

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  • Gerry

    @ J – I bet that a number of people who blog here feel that homeless have a right to masterbate wherever they want to.

  • Andrew Porter

    After I alerted her to the post, a friend of mine commented, “I am heartbroken to hear of the library’s changes as I go there almost every Saturday. Right now I have about 10 books out in various subjects. I use the interloan religiously & have saved so much money on books. I go to B&N, see a book then look to see if the library has it. I even studied at the BH branch for my nurse practitioner board certification. I got to recognize the regulars who use the library for socialization, newspaper reading, fending off isolation, developing intellectual pursuits, etc. I hope it will stay in the neighborhood & maintain the same leveling of purchasing/selection.”

  • Clover_Hill_Billy

    My wife and I are also regular users of this library. I was really surprised by all of the negative comments posted. I highly recommend using the library’s web site to place books on hold. I usually have many of the best and latest novels waiting for me to pick up within a few days.

  • Brooklyn Girl

    @Clover_Hill_Billy – have you been up to the 2nd floor recently? Go on a week day at about 4:00 to the children’s room, and you will see what has been described.

  • amy

    People have to realize that Public is public. You cant kick out the stinky homeless people because of the way that they smell. In an economy like this, the library is not trying to get sued. If you don’t know the people of Brooklyn heights then you’ll never understand the situation. The library cannot just up and do things without proper instruction and by rules. And just because this is Brooklyn Heights doesnt mean bad things dont go on. Not everywhere is perfect. and maybe if people complained to staff more than online about the nannys something would be done.

  • amy

    and about watching porn at the library, adults can do it. it’s their first amendment right

  • amy

    @willownabe
    The reason the library doesnt have a whole lot of new books is because the funding is low. Also when you get a lot of copies of a new book, the library just spent a lot of money on books that will collect dust a month right after they just bought it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=26301439 Andrew Dickinson

    shame

  • mlcraryville

    For those who see not one more condo development crowding in on our beautiful, human scale neighborhood, but rather the loss of a vital community amenity; for those who prize the open sky versus one more super-high, shade-producing building; for those who believe in libraries for all, then the place to go is http://civic.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=137292 and join up. Evidently the neighborhood orgs. are in full snore over this hot and timely issue.

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