See video here.
Brooklyn, NY- Jurors at Kings County Court now have an extra reason to look forward to their civic duty, thanks to a partnership between Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) and the Office of the Kings County Commissioner of Jurors, Hon. Nancy T. Sunshine. Through a BPL Welcome Card, BPL is providing all jurors with easy, instant access to e-books, audiobooks, and other digital resources they can enjoy while waiting in the jurors’ room.
In collaboration with the Office of the Kings County Clerk, BPL’s librarians have also crafted a unique 12-title booklist, inspired by the twelve seats of the jury. Books on the list, which include recent finalists for the Library’s Book Prize, will be available instantly without holds or waiting lists.
“As your Commissioner of Jurors for Kings County, I am so very pleased to partner with the Brooklyn Public Library to bring these exciting resources to you as you serve as a juror in Kings County. Your role in the pursuit of justice is one of the most important and fundamental in ensuring the Constitutional Rights of all. Thank you for your Good Service,” said the Honorable Nancy T. Sunshine, County Clerk / Commissioner of Jurors / Clerk of Supreme Court.
To make accessing these resources even easier, BPL has produced a short video that guides jurors on how to get started with a welcome card and tap into the Library’s digital collection directly from their phones or tablets.
“If you are eligible to serve on a jury in New York, you are eligible for a Brooklyn Public Library card. And, with just a few clicks, you’ll have access to books and information, discover new worlds and meet the most interesting characters,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “Jury duty is one of our most important civic responsibilities and by partnering with the Kings County Court, we can make serving even more engaging.”
Brooklyn Public Library's welcome card is free for jurors and anyone who lives, works, pays property taxes or goes to school in New York state. Welcome card holders can upgrade to a full service library a card at any of the borough’s 62 branches including the Brooklyn Heights Library which is just a few blocks from the courthouse at 286 Cadman Plaza West.
With a full-service library card, users can also borrow physical materials like books, vinyl records, board games, telescopes, musical instruments and free passes to New York City’s museums and historic sites. The card also provides access to hundreds of databases to help everyone learning new skills from using AI to researching genealogy to starting a new business.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. Providing innovative library service for over 125 years, we support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.6 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We are a global leader in the fight for the freedom to read through our Books Unbanned initiative, offering teens across the US access to the library’s online catalog. We provide nearly 65,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.