Annual Report Fiscal Year 2019 Contents Letter from the President & CEO and Chair .............................................................. 2 Events in Review .............................................................................................................. 3 Community Outreach & Impact .................................................................................... 4 Imagination & Innovation ............................................................................................... 8 Celebrations of Art & Culture ..................................................................................... 12 Financial Overview ........................................................................................................ 16 Donors .............................................................................................................................. 19 Mission & Vision Statement It is the mission of Brooklyn Public Library to ensure the preservation and transmission of society’s knowledge, history and culture, and to provide the people of Brooklyn with free and open access to information for education, recreation and reference. It is our vision that Brooklyn Public Library will be a vital center of knowledge for all, accessible 24 hours a day, and will be a leader in traditional and innovative library services which reflect the diverse and dynamic spirit of the people of Brooklyn. THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN AT LEONARD LIBRARY BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT FY ’19 1 Letter from the Events in Review President & CEO Team Up Spring To Read How to Build and Chair Into Strong Readers A For children ages 5 to 9 and participating parents Stories or caregivers. UNIVERSE Children’s Author & Illustrator Festival Saturday, May 4, 2019 / 2 – 4 pm Central Library / 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY OF Meet an all-star line-up of children’s In celebration of STORIES Children’s Book Week, book authors and illustrators! April 29–May 5, 2019 Featuring: • Ricardo Cortes • Stephen Savage • Sharee Miller • Katie Yamasaki After attending Team Up To Read, 100% of families surveyed We close out a decade of transfor- York’s finest museums, historic sites, said their child gained skills to help them succeed in school. SUMMER READING 2019 For the full event schedule, visit bklynlib.org/spring SATURDAYS: Highlawn Library SUNDAYS: JUNE 1 – AUGUST 31 OCTOBER 13, 20 & 27 1664 West 13th Street OCTOBER 14, 21 & 28 mation at Brooklyn Public Library. theaters and more, free of charge. NOVEMBER 3, 10 & 17 3 pm NOVEMBER 4, 11 & 18 Bay Ridge Library New Lots Library Midwood Library 7223 Ridge Boulevard 665 New Lots Avenue 975 East 16th Street 1 pm 2 pm 2 pm Brighton Beach Library Sunset Park Library Central Library 16 Brighton First Road 4201 Fourth Avenue 10 Grand Army Plaza Our borough’s rapid growth over the And we piloted University Open Air 2 pm 2:30 pm 3 pm A Spanish interpreter will be Flatbush Library available at this location. WEDNESDAYS: 22 Linden Boulevard 2 pm Washington Irving Library OCTOBER 10, 17, 24 & 31 360 Irving Avenue NOVEMBER 7 & 14 Flatlands Library 2 pm 2065 Flatbush Avenue Bedford Library bklynlib.org/summer last ten years spurred us to keep in partnership with the Prospect 2 pm 496 Franklin Avenue 3:30 pm 2875_PS (4.19) Team Up To Read is supported by generous funding from the Altman Foundation. Major support provided by New York Life Foundation, the 2019 city-wide sponsor for the Summer Reading Program. Attend 3 or more sessions for a chance to win fun prizes including tickets pace with our patrons and the many Park Alliance, an unprecedented to a Brooklyn Nets game! For more information about Team Up To Read programs, and for full contest rules, visit bklynlib.org/TeamUptoRead LITFILM Pablo Neruda Lead support for Brooklyn Public Library’s The program is supported by Con Edison, #teamuptoread Summer Reading 2019 program is provided Macy’s, Barclays Center and the Brooklyn by the National Grid Foundation. Nets. CBS2/WLNY is the official media 2265_PS(8.18) partner for Summer Reading 2019. and diverse communities we serve. approach to education and social 3157_CP We strengthened our commitment to responsibility in which foreign-born serve all Brooklynites, from new im- scholars teach a subject of their TEEN READERS, T H E 2 018 Summer WE NEED YOUR HELP! migrants to families who have been choosing in their primary language. BROOKLYN Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program Camp 2019 in the city for generations. In every PUBLIC neighborhood our libraries nurture a At BPL, we continually push the LIBRARY deep sense of place and belonging. boundaries of what libraries LITERARY can achieve. From installing a PRIZE BEN TURLEY (L) & BRENT YOUNG (R),,Owners of The Meat Hook Brooklyn Public Library and the FICTION & POETRY NONFICTION Brooklyn Eagles are addressing urgent Don’t Call Us Dead: Poems A More Beautiful and Terrible History: This year we kicked off a permanent bicycle repair station at by Danez Smith The Uses and Misuses of Civil Rights History A series of photographs and conversations with Randy Duchaine social, political and artistic questions by Jeanne Theoharis with the Brooklyn Public Library Literary Electric Arches Prize, presented by the Brooklyn Eagles. by Eve L. Ewing Everything You Love Will Burn: LINDA E. JOHNSON Randy Duchaine’s photographs are a tribute to the Inside the Rebirth of White Nationalism in America by Vegas Tenold diversity of Brooklyn’s uniquely creative culture. “ My photographs depict people Three finalists in each category will be Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi partner ship with Emma’s Torch, our Mill Basin branch to launching chosen by librarian professionals, and Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body The personalities and accomplishments of the in Brooklyn who make or the prize will be awarded to two authors by Roxane Gay borough’s artists, entrepreneurs, impresarios and whose works speak to the ideals of our Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado Go behind the scenes at your favorite JOIN BOOKMATCH TEEN, A TEEN Patriot Number One: American Dreams in Chinatown innovators come to life in his photos. Join Duchaine create unique experiences. Library and our borough. Learn more at cultural institutions, and weave exciting in his seventh year of hosting the series as he by Lauren Hilgers BOOK RECOMMENDATION SERVICE! bklynlib.org/litprize. Sour Heart connections between the arts, nature, continues his conversations with Brooklyn’s creators. by Jenny Zhang a social enterprise that trains a flagship podcast, Borrowed, They represent a sense of So You Want to Talk About Race The Best Buy Teen Tech Center is a brand new, interactive learning Kings Highway Library culture, books, history, technology and Hear them talk about their lives and passions as Develop a readers’ advisory service exclusive Celebrate the winning authors and by Ijeoma Oluo space featuring workstations, tech equipment, collaboration areas 2115 Ocean Ave. portrayed in Randy’s captivating photos. support the Library at the Brooklyn The Answers science—all in the heart of Brooklyn. independence…and can to teens, and make connections to careers in and a recording studio. Teens are encouraged to use the space to Brooklyn, NY 11229 by Catherine Lacey Classic on Friday, November 2! The Bridge: How the Roeblings Connected Special thanks to Third & 3rd Whole Foods Market publishing, writing, and libraries. Participants must produce music, animations, robotic constructions and more—for free! 718.375.3037 Brooklyn to New York Two-week day camp for ages 7 – 12 Tickets can be purchased online at for providing refreshments. proudly say: This is what The King Is Always Above The People by Peter Tomasi and Sara DuVall be in grades 9-12 and will earn a stipend, volunteer Develop your technical and creative skills using: bklynlib.org/classic. by Daniel Alarcón Registration opens February 1 asylum-seekers to gain skills and featuring librarians and Brooklyn ⊲ Adobe Creative Cloud Wednesdays, 6 – 8 pm it means to be an American hours and resume-boosting experience. Readers of The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border Financial aid available ⊲ Digital Media Equipment The Parking Lot Attendant by Francisco Cantú April 3, May 1, June 5 all levels and interests are welcome. The 2018 Brooklyn Public Library ⊲ Laser Cutter by Nafkote Tamirat Plus, check out the BCAPteen The Best Buy Foundation and ERI, the nation’s Literary Prize is generously supported by Park Slope Library in Brooklyn!” ⊲ Recording Studio leading recycler of electronic waste and the The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath world’s largest ITAD and cybersecurity-focused the Peck Stacpoole Foundation. Summer Photojournalism Internship 431 Sixth Avenue Wednesdays, 4:30-6:30 pm ⊲ Sewing Machine hardware destruction company, will provide The Sarah Book by Leslie Jamison grant funding for the Teen Tech Center to by Scott McClanahan Brooklyn, NY 11215 —Randy Duchaine ⊲ bring new opportunities for creative youth Two-week program for ages 14 – 17 weekly from November 7 – December 19, 2018 Video Equipment with Green Screen experiences and expression, and technology long-term employment in the residents, we strengthened our product donations to power education and ⊲ …And much more! discovery. Support for the Best Buy Teen Apply February 1 – March 15. Please RSVP online at bklynlib.org/business. then monthly from January 9 – June 5, 2019 Tech Center is also provided by New York What We Lose State Senator Simcha Felder and the Estate