New Lots Library will be reconstructed to support the needs of the surrounding community and honor the site's African Burial Ground history.
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Brooklyn, NY (December 7, 2024) – Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) today unveiled the new design for New Lots Library. With input from the community and a commitment to preserving the area's rich cultural heritage, the newly designed library will honor the site’s history as a formerly unacknowledged African Burial Ground, celebrate African American culture, and serve as a hub for knowledge and community engagement.
After extensive research and community outreach between 2019 and 2021, including interviews, surveys, and focus groups, the design was shaped to reflect the diverse needs of East New York residents while acknowledging the area's historical significance. The 25,000-square-foot library will include an additional level to accommodate a range of public spaces and services, enhancing accessibility and the library's ability to serve the community.
“The plans unveiled today represent a new chapter for not only New Lots Library, but for all of East New York. The library will serve as a community space for remembrance and reconciliation, and, of course, provide the neighborhood with books that inspire compassion and curiosity,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “Thank you to MASS Design, Marble Fairbanks and the hundreds of East New Yorkers who helped to inform these extraordinary designs.”
The design of the New Lots Library is a collaboration between MASS Design Group and Marble Fairbanks, architects recognized for their work on libraries, cultural centers, and civic spaces. The design process was heavily influenced by feedback from East New York residents, facilitated by community partners including Grain Collective, ARTs East New York, and Hester Street. It is one of seven projects in the inaugural cohort of the NYC Mass Timber Studio, a pioneering example of mass timber utilization in New York City, embracing this renewable resource as a model for future public buildings.
The facade design of a veil on the building exterior was inspired by the monument, 'Lifting the Veil,' by Sanford Biggers, reflecting the transformation of place from a hidden burial ground to a cultural education center and space for community activism.
The design of the branch, a plaza, and the landscape continues the long-term community work for reconciliation, which includes the 2013 renaming of the block as African Burial Ground Square and the 2019-2022 redesign of the soon-to-be re-opened Sankofa Park.
The renovation of New Lots Library has received funding from a variety of sources, including the City of New York, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, former Council Member Inez Barron, the New York State Education Department, and participatory budgeting funds from the 42nd Council District.
Key Project Features:
Community-Driven Design: The new library’s design is deeply rooted in community feedback and honors the legacy of the African Burial Ground.
Increased Public Space: A 14% increase in public space across four levels, offering dedicated areas for children, adults, and library programs.
Specialized Services: Separate floors for children’s and adult services, as well as a dedicated space for the New Lots Library Adult Learning Center, offering adult education programs like high school equivalency diplomas, literacy, and citizenship preparation.
Outdoor Areas: New third-floor terraces and a landscaped plaza surrounding the library, creating spaces for community interaction and reflection.
Expanded Community Spaces: A flexible meeting room that can be divided to accommodate multiple programs and a new music room and exhibition areas for artistic expression.
Palaver Concept: Drawing inspiration from African traditions of communal dialogue, the library will feature design elements that create spaces for gathering, learning, reconciliation, and cultural celebration. The palaver will be visually represented throughout the library, encouraging conversation and connection.
New Lots Library is expected to close in Fall 2025 for construction. During this time, BPL staff will continue to provide services and programming in the community to ensure uninterrupted access to library resources.
“Cultural institutions like libraries are the lifeblood of the communities that they serve. This incredible design planned for the New Lots Library will be a breath of fresh air and serve as a needed community hub and tribute to the history of African Americans in New York. I’m grateful to the development teams at MASS Design Group and Marble Fairbanks for their inclusion of the community in the design process and their visionary work to incorporate physical elements and motifs paying respect to the ancestors interred at Sankofa Park,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08). “I look forward to the library’s grand opening and the eventual transformation of the New Lots Library into a state-of-the-art architectural wonder befitting the people of this community, the borough of Brooklyn and the City of New York.”
“As a lifelong resident and now Council Member for the 42nd Council District, I have memories of growing up and visiting the New Lots Library with my siblings and friends - picking out books, completing school assignments, and enjoying all the resources it had to offer,” said Council Member Chris Banks, 42nd Council District. “I deeply understand the vital role this institution plays in our community, and I am excited about the new and improved Library coming to New Lots Avenue. In my role as Council Member, I’ve made it a priority to fight against cuts to our libraries, both financially and in terms of resources. This unveiling of the New Lots Library is a long-awaited and much-needed moment, and I’m thrilled to see it finally come to fruition for our community. I would also like to acknowledge that this new library is being built on hallowed grounds, and it is important that we honor and pay respect to the ancestors who came before us, paving the way for progress and community-building happening here in our district."
"The renovation of the New Lots Library not only modernizes the space to better serve our community, but also honors the past, giving voice to those who were once silenced. With deep roots in the heritage of this neighborhood, this transformation is a tribute to our ancestors and a commitment to future generations,” said Senator Roxanne J. Persaud.
"Today’s unveiling of the New Lots Library Redesign marks a precious milestone and turning point for the good of racial reconciliation and community-wide learning excellence for the New Lots, East New York and larger Brooklyn Communities” said New York State Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas. "This historic initiative acknowledges the painful past of the disrespect to the sacred African Burial Ground over which the first library was built. The new design will restore open access to that venerable site and embrace its power to restore hope in the name of the Ancestors there enshrined."
For more details on the project timeline, community engagement, and funding efforts, please visit bklynlib.org/new-lots.
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.