FALL 2020 OFF THE SHELF A LOOK INSIDE BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY FEATURE A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT to the largest archive of Brooklyn’s history in the world, and at New This summer, tens of thousands of Black Lots Library, we are striving to make Lives Matter protesters gathered on previously erased history visible once the steps of Central Library to demand Greenberg Philip by Photo again . We’re registering new voters, racial justice in our city and across the curating booklists about how our voting nation . As painful as it is to confront rights were won, and preparing to the racism that continues to shape safely open the Civic Commons, a new our country and its many institutions, hub for civic engagement at Central including our own, it has also renewed Library . As award-winning librarian our sense of purpose as a public library . Adeeba Afshan Rana describes, we There is perhaps no institution better are “building a community where poised to help people understand everyone thrives…striving for equity our shared past and move toward a and liberation together ”. genuinely democratic future . If libraries are centers of ideas, they To that end, hundreds of our librarians are also centers of ideals . In this and library staff joined virtual disorienting and difficult year, so many conversations about how BPL can of our American ideals—such as equality cultivate a culture of racial justice within under the law—have been undermined . THE CENTER FOR our institution and every neighborhood But while public libraries persist, we will we serve, and formed a Diversity never stop striving for them . Council to translate ideas into action . As you will see in this issue of Off the BROOKLYN HISTORY Shelf, despite the ongoing pandemic, Brooklyn Public Library continues to On October 2, BPL’s President and resources and expertise, and broadening take action . At the Center for Brooklyn Linda E. Johnson CEO, Linda E. Johnson, and Brooklyn reach and impact throughout Brooklyn and History, we are democratizing access President & CEO Historical Society’s (BHS) former beyond . “By joining with BPL to form the President, Deborah Schwartz, announced Center for Brooklyn History, the archives that the institutions have been combined, and programming that scholars, students creating BPL’s Center for Brooklyn and researchers expect from BHS will be History (CBH), which will be home to In This Issue extended across every neighborhood in the most expansive collection of Brooklyn the borough, creating greatly increased Center for Brooklyn History. 01 history in the world. opportunities to educate visitors about Civic Commons . 02 Brooklyn’s important history and its The new Center is housed at the Diversity Council . 03 relevance to each of them,” said Schwartz . landmarked Pierrepont Street building that Staff Spotlight . .. 04 Johnson added, “Programs and exhibitions was home to BHS for nearly 140 years and Bookmatch . 05 will bring it to life throughout our 59 Cover image: BPL librarian Donette extends the collection and programming Brooklynology . 06 Riker leads a children’s storytime as branches and empower Brooklynites to throughout the Library’s 59-branch system . Lit Prize . 09 part of Macon Library’s weekly Open contribute to their own historical record, Streets program. The Center will democratize access to Brainy Babies . 10 so that future students, scholars and Inside cover: RaiseUp! sculpture by Brooklyn’s history and be dedicated to Donor Spotlight . 12 Hank Willis Thomas at the Southern curious citizens will know the diversity and Poverty Law Center’s Civil Rights expanding and diversifying representation BPL Presents . 13 dynamism of our city across time ”. memorial and center. of the history of the borough by unifying OFF THE SHELF 1 All photos, unless indicated, by Gregg Richards FALL 2020 FEATURE Across New York, across the nation, BPL can take to make lasting cultural and even around the world, there change . This September, the Library Photo by Jack Cavicchi has been growing momentum to established a Diversity Council to CIVIC COMMONS acknowledge and address racism continue this work . Staff from across the A BEAUTIFUL NEW SPACE within societies, institutions and institution will work together to gather TO WELCOME BACK PATRONS ourselves. relevant data, set goals, organize action teams, measure results and ultimately Throughout the spring, thousands of In March 2020, Central Library’s Civic hold BPL accountable . Among other protesters gathered on the steps of Commons was undergoing finishing initiatives, the Council will reevaluate Central Library to protest racist practices touches before its grand opening our policies and practices regarding and to proclaim that Black Lives Matter . celebration when the COVID-19 recruitment, hiring and promotion View of what will be the While supporting these demonstrations, pandemic shut down New York City— to ensure that our organization is Civic Commons’ computer center. BPL also looked inward . including all of Brooklyn Public Library. representative at every level, including leadership . It will also develop our Located on the first floor with a brand For example, we put out a bunch of From May through July, BPL held a diversity, equity and inclusion training so new entrance on Flatbush Avenue, the free books and activity kits for Summer series of four organization-wide virtual that all of our employees receive training Civic Commons is the first public space Reading, and it was nice to get those into conversations focused on institutional on implicit bias, microaggressions and developed through Central Library’s the hands of kids who were excited to self-examination and cultural change, active bystandership . renovation project, and the first expansion take part in that program.” titled Real Talk: Race, Truth and Transformation . The goal was to of public space at Central Library since Though this work is just beginning, we When BPL is able to fully reopen, the Civic establish an ongoing, honest, cross- the early 1970s . Designed by Toshiko are determined to sustain its momentum . Commons will host civic events such as racial conversation, disrupt White Mori Architect to be a hub for community Equity has long been at the heart of local community meetings, informational complacency at BPL and generate services, it houses a 40-desktop computer BPL’s mission, and in order to practice workshops and voter registration drives ideas for long-term culture change . lab, a Passport Services Center and IDNYC what we profess to value, we must strive thanks to partnerships with Brooklyn office, as well as an office where partner for racial justice in every facet of our Borough President Adams, Brooklyn Voters Professional facilitators guided agencies can provide free information on work and in every branch across the Alliance, Immigrant Justice Corps, the NY discussions for the 400-500 employees social services, benefits enrollment, legal borough . State Comptroller’s Office, the DOH Office who attended each session . The assistance and government initiatives . of Health Insurance Programs, Hester conversation ranged from hiring See BPL’s official statement BPL began reopening select library Street, Brooklyn Pride Center and others . practices to police presence in libraries regarding Black Lives Matter at bklynlibrary.org/ branches for grab-and-go service in July, to culturally-responsive collection “ I hope we can take some of the lessons black-lives-matter and the Civic Commons’ bright, open development and focused on actions learned from this time and see the Civic space turned out to be ideal for welcoming Commons as a space that is adaptive and back patrons to Central Library when they useful for whatever the community needs, return books and pick up holds . whether it’s voter registration, health “We were really lucky that the Civic information or conversations around anti- Commons was completed when it was,” racism,” Schonhart says . says Christine Schonhart, the director of In the meantime, according to Jennifer Central Library . “We can greet patrons right Thompson, the assistant director of Central DIVERSITY when they come in off Flatbush—there’s Library, Brooklynites are just happy to walk no confusion about where to go or who to by Central Library and see open doors . speak to! Since we have more room, we can be creative about some enhanced, “ Our patrons are thrilled and grateful to be contactless services . able to pick up holds again, and frequently COUNCIL thank us for being back ”. 2 OFF THE SHELF FALL 2020 OFF THE SHELF FALL 2020 3 STAFF SPOTLIGHT BKLYN Each year in June, BPL recognizes two exceptional BOOKMATCH BPL employees for their dedication, creativity and VOTING commitment to excellence. Staff are nominated by their RIGHTS colleagues, making this recognition especially EDITION meaningful to recipients. Adeeba Afshan Rana Elizabeth (Liz) Gomez The Dr. Lucille C. Thomas Award for The Feder Leonard Family Award for Excellence in Librarianship is awarded to Excellence in Service to the Library’s a librarian who provides exemplary service Public, inaugurated in 2019, was With a momentous presidential election pending, voting and its significance to the to the public and upholds the highest established by the Feder Leonard Family preservation of democracy has never been timelier. This booklist, created by BPL ideals of the profession . The award is Fund to recognize non-librarian staff who librarian Emma Carbone, features books about the importance of voting and the fight for named for the late Dr . Thomas, a longtime have done outstanding work in advancing women’s suffrage and, later, the Voting Rights Act . All selections are available as eBooks . BPL Trustee and the first African American and strengthening BPL’s services to Visit vote.org to find everything you need to vote in your state including confirming to serve as president of both the New York the people of Brooklyn . Elizabeth (Liz) registration, requesting an absentee ballot, and looking up polling locations and early Library Association and the New York City Gomez, an office assistant at New voting sites .