BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY

CENTRAL LIBRARY:CENTRAL LIBRARY IS THE LARGEST PUBLIC LIBRARY IN BROOKLYN. AT 352,000 SQUARE FEET, IT ACCOUNTS FOR ONE-THIRD OF THE LIBRARY'S TOTAL PHYSICAL PLANT. IN MARCH, CENTRAL LIBRARY HOSTED NIGHT IN THE LIBRARY: THE SKY ABOVE BROOKLYN: THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE SUBLIME, AN ALL-NIGHT SERIES OF EVENTS, TALKS, AND PERFORMANCES FOCUSED ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND CRITICAL THINKING. GUESTS INCLUDED ASTRA TAYLOR, RED MOTEN, SARAH LEWIS, AND MANY OTHERS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ONCE AGAIN, CENTRAL HOSTED THE BROOKLYN ROBOTICS LEAGUE (BRL) FINALS IN JANUARY 2025. BRL HOSTED 15 TEAMS PARTICIPATING IN BPL'S TOURNAMENTALL WITH SIZABLE CROWD SUPPORT FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS CHEERING THEM ON. THE KINGS BAY BRANCH TEAM TOOK THE CROWN THIS YEAR FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, WITH WASHINGTON IRVING LIBRARY TAKING SECOND PLACE AND CORTELYOU LIBRARY COMING IN THIRD. IN FY2025, THE CENTRAL LIBRARY CIRCULATED 858,814 ITEMS AND HOSTED 27,287 PROGRAMS, WHICH HAD PATRON ATTENDANCE OF OVER 155,000. IN ADDITION, OUR CENTRAL LIBRARY BRANCH WAS VISITED BY OVER 966,000 PATRONS DURING FY2025.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS:BPL OFFERS PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND AGES. IN ADDITION TO THE BRANCH PROGRAMS DESCRIBED ABOVE, BPL HOSTS TEEN TECH TIME AND HOMEWORK HELP SESSIONS, CITIZENSHIP AND HSE TEST PREPARATION, CAREER AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES, FREE CULTURAL EVENTS, AND MUCH MORE. A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF OUR SPECIAL PROGRAMS:BOOKMATCHPROVIDES PATRONS WITH READING LISTS SPECIALLY CURATED BY BPL LIBRARIANS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)BKLYN INCUBATOR SUPPORTS AND FUNDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW INITIATIVES BY LIBRARIANS AND STAFF, WITH TRAINING AND MENTORING ON PROGRAM DESIGN, PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT. POWERUP IN 2003, THE POWERUP BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION WAS LAUNCHED TO SUPPORT AND GROW BROOKLYN'S ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AND SMALL BUSINESSES. SINCE 2003, WE HAVE NURTURED 11,046 INDIVIDUALS WITH OVER 1,440 BUSINESS PLANS AND AWARDED MORE THAN $641,000 IN CASH AND IN-KIND GIFTS TO BROOKLYN ENTREPRENEURS. OUR SUCCESS STORIES INCLUDE MORE THAN 100 COMPANIES WITH A PASSION FOR FOOD AND DRINK, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, MEDIA AND FASHION, EDUCATION, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY EVERYTHING THAT MAKES BROOKLYN GREAT.BARD AT BPL PROVIDES A FULLY ACCREDITED, FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO TRADITIONAL LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION TO NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DETERRED, DISCOURAGED, OR EXCLUDED FROM HIGHER EDUCATION.TEEN TAKEOVERS BRANCH COUNCILTEEN TAKEOVERS BRANCH COUNCIL IS AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WHERE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PLAN, ORGANIZE, PROMOTE, AND HOST AFTER-HOURS PUBLIC PROGRAMS FOR OTHER TEENS. INTERNS LEARN ABOUT EVENT PLANNING, CREATING A BUDGET, AND PROGRAM PROMOTION.UNIVERSITY OPEN AIR IS A SERIES OF OUTDOOR COURSES IN PROSPECT PARK TAUGHT BY PROFESSORS AND RESEARCHERS TRAINED OUTSIDE THE U.S. WHO MAY FACE OBSTACLES TEACHING IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS.TEEN TECHIES TEACHES DIGITAL SKILLS TO STUDENTS 14 TO 18 AND PREPARES THEM TO SERVE ON BPL'S VOLUNTEER TEAM, WHERE THEY HELP PATRONS MAKE USE OF THE LIBRARY'S MANY FREE TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES.