Closing Bell: BPL Honored as Library Innovator

The Brooklyn Public Library branch was honored last week as an innovator in operations, and economic and workforce development, as part of The Urban Libraries Council’s 2012 Top Innovators awards. The BPL was awarded for expanding service hours by 21 percent over the past year by streamlining certain library services like an online fines payment and a centralized collection development. Currently, over half of BPL’s branches are open six days per week and more than two-thirds offer Saturday service. The BPL was also recognized for the success of its job centers, called the Workforce1 Expansion Centers, which set up 400 job seekers with employers during the first six months in use. All this is particularly impressive considering the funding and staff cuts at the BPL… it was only just recently Mayor Bloomberg agreed to restore the loss of $25 million in library funding.
Photo by d-day