Library Stuff

“Here’s some overdue news: The Brooklyn Public Library hauled in a whopping $1.9 million in fines last year — but it’s just a petty cash for a system needing $250 million in restoration work.The fines represent a 20% jump from the $1.5 million hauled in 2008 — and include a big boost from an online payment option unveiled in 2009, but not widely used until this year, the records show.” (via NY Daily News)

“The young couple burst through the great bronze doors of the main Brooklyn Public Library 15 minutes before closing time one recent Sunday with an unusual request: Was there somewhere they could recite their vows? It was a blustery day, and the two — a military man and his fiancée, according to librarians — wanted a place they could finish their nuptials away from the chill at Grand Army Plaza. Fortunately, the library had not long before opened a $3.25 million addition to its central branch, complete with conference rooms available to anyone with an adult library card. Librarians showed the couple to Room 5, the lack of a reservation notwithstanding.” (via NYTimes.com)

“The Brooklyn Heights library is neither the oldest nor the most dilapidated branch of the Brooklyn Public Library system. But the 52-year-old limestone building is nonetheless ripe for demolition. It sits on land that developers crave, in a fashionable neighborhood where housing is in high demand. And so the library system, desperate for money to pay for $230 million in long-deferred repairs for its 60 branches, has embraced a novel financing model that is increasingly being used around New York City as a way to pay for government services.” (via NYTimes.com)

“Five Brooklyn libraries severely damaged by Sandy are still shuttered nearly a month after the storm – and will cost unprecedented millions to get back up and running. “We were hurt,” said Brooklyn Public Library VP of strategic planning Jeanette Moy. “But we are leveraging every asset we have and every partnership that’s possible to bring services back to the community.” The repairs will cost an estimated $10 million in total, BPL officials said. That includes massive structural repairs and replacing 75,852 books, magazines and DVDs that were ruined by flood waters.”

via NY Daily News

“It’s the library of the future — and it may be the last one built in Brooklyn. The sleek $15 million book emporium opened last week on 18th Ave. in Kensington with glass walls, iPads, self-checkout machines, and computers. The environmentally friendly library was designed with large open spaces the public can use for meetings and programs, a construction intended to cater to visitors who are now more likely to gather with friends to study or do research rather than sit alone reading. But the 18,500 square foot branch built on an empty lot is likely to be the last brand new one BPL ever opens as the system starts to head in a new direction.”

via NY Daily News

NY Daily News – “The new head of the Brooklyn Public Library is looking for a way to cash in on the library’s crumbling real estate. Linda Johnson, who was named president/CEO of the BPL in August after serving as interim director for a year, is pushing for a deal that would let library reap proceeds from selling property or development rights and use the money to make much-needed repairs. “There are certain pieces of real estate we have that are very valuable,” Johnson said. “I’m trying to figure out . . . how to take the valuable real estate and use it to take care of my other assets. And not to leave that neighborhood, but just to do some kind of interesting project with a developer.”

NY Daily News – “Follow the books – out of the Brooklyn Public Library and into borrowers’ homes. That’s what Brooklyn Heights artist Joey O’Loughlin did for her exhibit “Where do the books go?,” now at the main branch of the library at Grand Army Plaza. O’Loughlin scoured 15 borough library branches, seeking interesting people who have special relationships with their libraries.”

NY Daily News – “A wily raccoon snuck into the basement of the Brooklyn Public Library’s central branch late last week, startling maintenance workers. “He was probably just wandering around looking for some books to check out,” joked Brooklyn Public Library spokeswoman Malika Granville, who suggested the critter read the kids book “Raccoon’s Last Race” by Joseph and James Bruchac.

NY Daily News – “Most Brooklyn libraries will be open just five days a week under the new city budget – but none will have to close. The budget passed by the City Council on Tuesday cut the Brooklyn Public Library’s budget by $3.4 million – far less than the $20.6 million threatened by Mayor Bloomberg, but not enough to save six-day service at branches across the borough.”

New York Daily News – “The Broolyn Public Library is turning the page – with a new library chief, the Daily News has learned. Philadelphia native Linda Johnson has been tapped to take over as the library’s interim executive director starting next week and will serve for one year.”