Grand Opening Today at the Park Slope Library

Today the Park Slope Library Branch reopened on the corner of 6th Avenue and Ninth Street. As Council Member Brad Lander told the crowd, “What a difference three years makes!” Indeed, in the almost three years since the branch closed down, the library was totally revamped. It now features new reading spaces, a renovated multipurpose community room, iPads for children (the only branch to make those available), two self check machines (self check will be in all BPL branches by the end of 2013), new printers, a totally ADA-compliant design, a full restoration of the historical interior, and 20,000 new books. David Burney, the Commissioner of the NYC Department of Design and Construction explained that the building was erected in 1905, one of the 20 early branches built in Brooklyn. Since then, few improvements were made to the branch, which left the DDC with amazing woodwork, fireplaces and historical details to work with. DDC used its in-house architecture firm to restore the space and add additional woodwork. They also added a glass mezzanine that still remains faithful to the original design. Tonight, Park Slope writer Pete Hamill will hold a reading at the library at 6:30 pm. And next Wednesday, Sept. 19, the new Library Friend’s Group will hold its first meeting. Click through for lots of pictures of the interior!











That’s Marty Markowitz below if you can’t tell!

Bonus: Before and after pictures of the opalescent glass lay light ceiling over the Park Slope Library’s mezzanine stacks. Courtesy of the NYC Department of Design and Construction.