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A Visit to the Newly Renovated Macon Library
By The Changeling | June 18, 2008
Last week I was given the chance to get a sneak peek at the soon-to-be reopened Macon Library. The Macon Library has been closed for two years while a major renovation was taking place. Even though the area was serviced by the bookmobile during the renovation, the reopening is a long-awaited event for the library’s patrons. The grand reopening event will be tomorrow, June 19th at 2:00 p.m. (the P.S. 5 choir will be performing at the pre-ribbon cutting event at 12:30-1:00 p.m.).
We were still in the middle of the heatwave when I visited the library. I love the warm, sunny weather, but I was really drenched in sweat by the time I arrived, but once I stepped into the beautiful, air-conditioned branch, I immediately forgot about the weather outside. The place is wonderful! The original fireplaces, oak paneling and benches are just gorgeous. I wish that I had some before pictures of the space, but I was told that the renovation included a complete facelift (historic ceiling and lighting restoration, electrical upgrades, new furniture, new paint, and new self-checkout stations).
Hooray for self-checkout!
My tour guide during my visit was Malika Granville and she told me the story of the library while I snapped pictures of the space.
The view from upstairs
The space is filled with historical photographs of the library and the community.
Throughout the library there are quilts created by Edward Bostick. The quilts were beautiful! Bostick grew up in South Carolina and is a part of a family of skilled quilters. He currently works in the Developmental Skills Department at Borough of Manhattan Community College. Click the link above to find out how his renewed interest in quilting happened rather recently. Some of the quilts have images of famous African-Americans on them. Can you name the famous people depicted on the quilts above?
The teen collection is housed on the upper level.
They have a dumbwaiter, and they use it to move books between the upper and lower levels.
There will be a few computer terminals here.
Here are some interesting facts about the Macon Library:
It was opened over 100 years ago on July 15, 1907!
It’s a Carnegie library. There are 18 in the Brooklyn Public Library system and the Macon branch was the 11th Carnegie library opened in the system.
The building is a Classical Revival style building.
The adult reading area seats 30, the children’s reading area seats 80 and there is an auditorium on the lower level that seats 100.
The Macon Library is the “home library” to John Steptoe, award-winning author and illustrator; Donna Hill, romance author; and Joan Maynard, founder of the Society for the Preservation of Weeksville and Bedford-Stuyvesant History.
The library has a specialized collection called Preserving Footsteps: A Circulating History of Bedford-Stuyvesant. This collection was put together by the Brooklyn Collection and the Society for the Preservation of Weeksville and Bedford-Stuyvesant History.
This is not the first major reno of the Macon Library; there was one in 1948-49 and 1973-77. In addition to the major facelift mentioned above, the 2008 renovation included the addition of the African-American Heritage Center and a First Five Years Space.
Malika in the African-American Heritage Center
African-Amercan Heritage Center (AAHC)
This is a resource center with cultural and academic programming and a collection of reference and archival materials. The center also has access to historic photos from BPL’s Brooklyn Collection. There are computers set up so that you can explore your family history. The computers will allow you to easily access websites that provide information about genealogy.
Teeny, tiny chairs in the First Five Years Space
First Five Years Space
This part of the library is for infants and preschoolers. They have age-specialized furniture (the tiniest chairs I’ve ever seen!), learning tools, computers and books.
Check out the library for all sorts of programming–author readings, panel discussions, writing workshops, youth programming and more, and be sure to join them at the ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow, June 19th at 2:00 p.m.
Thanks to Malika Granville, Donna Flemming and Jason Carey for sharing this information with me and giving me a tour of our beautiful new library!
Macon Library
GRAND REOPENING ON THURSDAY, JUNE 19TH AT 2:00 P.M.
316 Lewis Avenue (between Halsey and Macon)
Brooklyn, NY 11233
Ph. 718.573.5606
Macon Library Reopening
African Atlantic Genealogical Society
June 18th, 2008 at 9:30 am
How wonderful….just looking at the pictures give me a sense of peace and knowledge. I grew up going to the oldest library in Brooklyn at Stone Avenue (now Mother Gaston Blvd.) As a shy child without many friends, it was a haven. To this day, I’m an avid reader.
June 18th, 2008 at 11:28 am
So gorgeous! I love libraries and I’m looking forward to taking my son to the Macon Library. We have totally exhausted the resources of the little branch in Cobble Hill!
June 18th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Beautiful!
June 18th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I am so excited about this. It looks beautiful! Can you imagine anything better than dipping into this space on a 90 degree day and reading your summer-book of choice?
June 18th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
i can smell the new! looks wonderful. love to see good things going on at the library.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Just looking at the gorgeous space filled with books makes my heart race. Does that make me weird?
June 19th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
No, LookingforHome, it makes you normal.
June 19th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
That means were both weird, LookingforHome. My heart races as well, and the book smell (mmmmmmm).
June 20th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
EXCITED!!! Hope they have story hour like Brownstone Books for my little one…