Brooklyn Public Library patrons used to taking out books and going online on facility computers as long as they have a valid library card might soon be able to reserve an entire room for meetings and events thanks to City Councilman Brad Lander pilot program.
Under the plan, which Lander helped fund under the participatory budgeting process, both the Park Slope and Kensington branches of the library in his district will offer their meeting rooms and some equipment to use for everything from meetings to rehearsals, film screenings and other programs. The Central Library at Grand Army Plaza also provides the service.
“Reserving library space should be as easy as reserving library books,” said Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda Johnson. “We’re making it simple for patrons, entrepreneurs and community organizations to access professional spaces for their meetings and events—first in Central Library’s Information Commons, and now in two heavily-trafficked branches.”
Lander provided funds through the participatory budgeting process to enhance the lower level community space at Kensington Library with AV and lighting equipment.The meeting room available for reservation at Park Slope was renovated and furnished by the Friends of Park Slope Library. The Friends organized a team of volunteers to paint the room and install photographs and historic prints from BPL’s Brooklyn Collection on its walls.
“Our neighborhood public libraries are more in-demand than ever. As civic spaces to read, learn, imagine, create, debate, meet, and perform, they are fundamental to our local democracy. Thanks to strong community stewards like the friends group at the Park Slope Branch and the participatory budgeting delegates who worked hard to outfit the Kensington Branch as a space for meetings, rehearsals, and performances, we’ve got some truly fantastic spaces available for anyone to use,” said Lander.
“And now, with the launch of the Brooklyn Public Library’s new online room reservation pilot, these spaces are more accessible than ever. I can’t wait to see the creative ways that Park Slope and Kensington neighbors make use of them,” the lawmaker added.
The online room reservation program is a pilot that if successful may be expanded to other branches in the future. Patrons can reserve the spaces at Park Slope, Kensington and Central libraries by logging in with their library cards at bklynlibrary.org/rooms.
