Anyone can be a photographer; all you need is a camera. That’s where the Library comes in. Join BPL and photographer Anjelica Jardiel for ANYONE/ANYWHERE, a program that loans out camera equipment and offers photography workshops to Brooklynites of all skill levels. At the culminating gallery show, you’ll exhibit your work alongside fellow participants—and take home the photograph of your choice to keep.
Borrow a camera from Brooklyn Public Library! ANYONE/ANYWHERE is a BKLYN Incubator program that loans out camera equipment and offers expert-led photography workshops to Brooklynites of all skill levels. BPL patrons with an adult library card can borrow a camera kit. Camera kits come with a list of online resources, including instructions on how to use the camera. Please note: cameras will be available soon; check back for more information.
We’re offering six workshops from April to September (one per month), including workshops for kids and families. Each workshop will focus on a particular theme to inspire your vision. From the basics of point and shoot to creating cyanotype photographs to lighting and framing images, instructors can help you at any stage!
The theme of the culminating gallery show in October is The Bright Side. Go to our submission form to learn more and find out how you can submit your photos for inclusion in the exhibit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not at all! While workshops offer free, expert guidance and information about photography, they are not required. Drop in for as many or as few as you can.
Nope! The gallery show is open to anyone with an interest in photography—whether or not they have attended a workshop.
Yes, you can use any camera device to participate in both the workshops and the gallery show.
We encourage you to bring as many people as you like. The gallery show is a fun, free community event—everyone is invited!
Brooklyn Public Library adult cardholders with a full-access BPL card are allowed to borrow a camera. When you borrow a camera, BPL will review your library card account, ID and proof of address to make sure your information is up to date.
BPL has five DSLR camera kits (Canon EOS Rebel T7 model) that are available for borrowing.
Eligible BPL cardholders may borrow one camera at a time, depending on availability. The borrowing period for cameras is three weeks. BPL cameras are not eligible for renewal.
Camera kits can only be checked out from Williamsburgh Library. You must return your camera to Williamsburgh Library by its three-week due date. Cameras should be returned to the reference desk and should not be placed in the book drop. Please call Williamsburgh Library to ensure that it is open prior to pick-up or drop-off.
The camera kit instruction manual is available here in English, Spanish, and French.
If you lose the camera or any of the camera kit parts, fines will be assessed to replace the missing items. We will provide a checklist in the camera bag so you can make sure you don't leave anything behind. Patrons who keep their camera beyond the due date will be charged a flat $650 replacement fee. This fee will be removed from the patron's account upon the camera's return; in the interim, the patron will be blocked from borrowing/renewing other library materials.
If any part of your camera kit breaks, please send an email to cameras@bklynlibrary.org, or visit Williamsburgh Library and speak to a librarian. We will determine whether the camera needs to be sent in for servicing. Fines may be assessed to replace damaged items.
Camera kits will be added to BPL's expanding Library of Things, which offers patrons hands-on access to a variety of equipment and tools, including vinyl records, board games, musical instruments and more.
We sure are! Check out the list of upcoming in-person photography workshops below!
ANYONE/ANYWHERE is a BKLYN Incubator project. BKLYN Incubator was founded in 2015 with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and continues to operate with funding from the Charles H. Revson Foundation.