Blog posts by Caroline

Make Fall Fun with BPL

Caroline,

Ahhh....autumn in Brooklyn! Ideally the season means crunchy leaves, sugary apple cider donuts, and sunny walks through Prospect Park. I love to plan trips upstate for hiking and pumpkin picking and excitedly swap out my summer dresses and sandals for sweaters and boots. Unfortunately, a New York fall can also look like rain-soaked leaves and chilly weekends where you're better off staying inside instead of searching your closet for waterproof shoes. Luckily, the Library has tons of books and programs to carry us through the wind, chill, and precipitation so we can…

20 Books By Your Favorite Podcast Hosts

Caroline,

Yesterday, I was trying to convince a friend that we had to see a movie because “a lot of people had told me it was really great,” but, when pressed, I admitted “people” was just the host of a podcast I had recently listened to. In fact, I frequently find myself making this confession or prefacing an anecdote, fun fact, or recommendation with, “So I heard on this podcast...”   More often than not, I’m talking about BPL’s flagship podcast Borrowed.  Podcasts are one of my favorite sources of information because they, like books, are educational and accessible, and foster a…

Pi Day: Celebrate Literary and Mathematical Constants  

Jennifer, ; Caroline

Mike's Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner
We all have stories that stick with us long after we finish them. Sometimes they are childhood favorites that we have memorized every word of (for us, it’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Ella Enchanted). Other times, they are single scenes from books that send us racing to the reference desk at our local branch to play “name that title” with a librarian as we provide them with the few disjointed details we can recall (I just remember an old guy named Barney). In our experience, BPL librarians…

BPL Book Bingo! 23 Books for 2023

Virginia, ; Caroline

Each time a new year rolls around, it seems the age-old resolution to “read more books” does too. This year, we challenge you to not only read more books but to read 23 books for 2023! And, we've developed a list to guide your reading and encourage you to step outside your comfort zone.   So, in 2023, we challenge you to read: A book for the new year (check out some of our New Year's booklists for inspiration!)  A book with a bookmark from a previous patron   A book in translation   An audiobook or eBook …

Make Winter Fun with Brooklyn Public Library

Caroline,

Struggling with the post-holiday blues? Brooklyn Public Library offers a variety of free activities that can help you stay busy, engaged and warm this season—here are just a few! Culture Pass There are dozens of arts and cultural activities you can access completely free of charge by making a reservation through Culture Pass! Sign in with your library card credentials at culturepass.nyc and you’ll find free passes for more than 75 different locations around the city. You can use Culture Pass to visit museums, take a brisk stroll through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or Wave…

Department Spotlight: Government & Community Relations

Caroline,

Over the summer, I hosted some family members who were visiting New York City for the first time. They experienced the typical city sights: towering buildings, crowded trains, garbage-covered sidewalks, and endless options for lunch—but with the August 2022 primary elections just a few weeks away, they also observed an impressive number of campaign posters decorating store windows and campaigners handing out fliers on street corners. While they had anticipated the gigantic buildings and subway rats, they were surprised by the bold strangers asking if they were registered to vote. They were…