Photo Courtesy of Computer Creative Network
Recently a reader named Marie alerted me to the plight of the patrons of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Macon Branch. The temporary closing of the branch has left young readers in the area without a place to check out books. Marie came up with a brilliant solution for this unfortunate situation. I’ll let her explain it in her own words.
Not long ago, I passed by the Macon branch of the Brooklyn Public Library system, and noticed it was closed. Not just closed for the day, but closed while it underwent renovations — renovations which should be completed sometime in the “Fall of 2007.” This sounded familiar to me, like I’d heard about this before, long before I moved to the neighborhood this past winter. So I went home, went online, and found mention of this library’s shuttering in an article that appeared in the New York Times. In *2005.*
This struck me as pretty outrageous. I loved going to the public library as a kid–yes, nerdy and shy–and benefited immensely from a church-run volunteer library when I happened to live in a place where no English language kids’ books were available. I firmly believe in the critical importance of access to books — and the more, the better. Anyhow, a few weeks ago I started hitting acquaintances who worked in publishing up for free children’s books of all kinds, from picture books to young adult novels, with vague thoughts of starting a makeshift library.
The response has been gratifying, and now it’s time to find a home for these books. The vision looks something like this: A bookshelf tucked into a corner of a public place that keeps regular business hours–say, a coffee shop. All the donated books would stay there, and kids, parents, babysitters, or whoever, could come and read while they were there, or–if they wanted–take some books home for a while. All lending would work on the honor system, though it would be fun–see above, re. nerd–to use those old-fashioned pockets for index cards where borrowers filled in their name and the dates when they checked out and in. It writes a little history, and for kids, a sense they’re not alone in their tastes and curiosities.
Can you think of any locations that could accommodate this library? Places close to the corner of Lewis Avenue and Macon Street would be best as they would be accessible to the young library patrons who’ve been awaiting the completion of the Macon branch renovations, but I would certainly consider any location in the neighborhood that can house these books as well as the readers they will attract. That’s the basic idea. It would need minimal monitoring and maintenance, and might bring increased traffic and publicity to a small business.
If the Free Children’s Library of Bed-Stuy–just a preliminary idea for a name–works well, it could grow and the model could spread to other neighborhoods. Not to get too political for a Monday morning, but when it comes to literacy, supporting the arts–or providing for children, for that matter–the federal government and even the fatter cats in the private sector here in New York aren’t doing their job. Yes, there are many teachers and social service agencies that already work hard to make up for these shortcomings. This library is really just about–I hope–making those jobs a little bit easier. That and young nerds.
Thank you, Marie for starting a grassroots library for the kids in our neighborhood. Hopefully we can find a permanent home for the Free Children’s Library of Bed-Stuy.
What a wonderful idea! I live near the library and have anxiously awaited its reopening. Please keep me posted on the community library, and I have many books to donate.
I think this is a great idea. I had access to two libraries before I moved and I miss having that. My daughter loves to go to the library and made that long trek with me to the Saratoga branch on foot. This is cool when the weather is nice but what about when school starts and the temps turn cool? In addition to this grassroots solution I think we should bombard the library with complaints. Our children deserve a library too.
I recently donated a large box of children’s books to the Bridge Street Head Start school on Stuyvesant. I’m not sure what their plans for them where (my wife was kind enough to actually lug the box over there), but perhaps they might be interested in combining resources with a nascent community library.
And if there’s any word on the status of the Macon branch, please post. Thanks.
i believe the saratoga branch was closed for the longest while also, plus don’t they have a nice garden area.
the best solution is a coffee shop with a cool selection of books where people can lounge and read them.
there are so many bad influences out there for kids – street life, hanging out in cars, etc.
hope a library can be more of a place to breed good nerds.
They have a public library of sorts in Bryant Park. I sometimes read there during lunch breaks. Maybe we could have something like that in Von King Park or Fulton Park. It would require volunteer attendants though, so maybe that wouldn’t be too self-sustaining. But if anyone wants to relax in the park all day…
There are a bunch books at Food for Thought on Marcus Garvey and Mcdonough. You can sit and read in there. I’m sure he would take more books if you gave them to him
That’s a great idea and I can volunteer some time to help if needed. But we should also keep up pressure on the city to open the branch asap. Would they try something like this in brooklyn heights? I doubt it. Wouldn’t it be powerful to see children (and adults) demanding that it be reopened? I’ll do some research about whom to contact, etc.
While I too am ready for the library to reopen, it’s also reat that they’re rehabbing it! Maybe “bombarding with complaints” isn’t quite the right tone to take…
Not too long ago, the Bedford branch (Franklin & Hancock) was in a similar plight. It was closed seemingly indefinitely. After a whole heap of protests, racial and political insinuations on WHY it was not being pushed to reopen, and even a Times article, it finally was reopened last October I believe. Sometimes protest does work!
I think the library needs to hear that the Macon branch is missed. And what’s more, the community is without a vital source of free literature and learning tools. If we push the right buttons, they will do what is necessary to reopen the branch.
Hello Bedstuy.com Bloggers, community members and supporters of Brooklyn Public Library-
I am Dionne Mack-Harvin, Executive Director of BPL. I recently came across your thread on building a grassroots community library and wanted to give you an update as well as respond to your questions about the renovation of Macon Library.
Libraries, I’m sure you will agree, are a critical part of every community. We provide free access to books and technology, and help preserve a community’s culture and history. We also serve as a safe haven for children and teens, which is why it’s always with great hesitation that BPL closes a library.
Macon, after providing more than 100 years of library service in Bedford-Stuyvesant, was in desperate need of repairs and upgrades. Once we received the funding to conduct a much-needed renovation, we closed the branch in June 2006 to make several enhancements, including:
• A space for our new African American Heritage House collection
• A First Five Years reading area for infants and preschoolers, with a new collection of board books, furniture designed especially for little ones, and
computers with software for preschoolers
• Lighting and ceiling restoration
• Electrical upgrade
• New heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system
• New furniture and paint throughout the library
During Macon’s closure, we have provided bookmobile service at the library from 11AM – 4PM on Mondays and Thursdays. We have also set up a library in partnership with MS 35 at 272 MacDonough St., between Lewis Ave. and Marcus Garvey Blvd., while Macon is closed.
In addition, our full catalog, along with hundreds of eBooks, articles and databases, can be accessed 24 hours, seven days a week from a home computer or another remote location using a BPL library card. Several nearby BPL branches, including Saratoga and Bedford libraries, are also open and ready to meet your needs.
I know that no solution is as good as having your neighborhood library open, but the enhancements made during Macon’s temporary closing will provide you with a more enjoyable library experience and benefit the entire community.
I appreciate your patience and look forward to seeing you when Macon Library reopens in March 2008.
Thank you very much for the update. We appreciate that the BPL has made an effort to provide some library services during this process, and we’re sure that the end product will be worth the wait. Our community eagerly awaits the new Macon branch, and we will definitely turn out for the grand reopening in ’08.