Library’s Founding Branch Now A Model for A New Generation With Modern Energy Efficiency Features
See images here. (Photo credit: Gregg Richards.)
Brooklyn, NY—Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) President Linda E. Johnson welcomed back patrons back to Bedford Library on Thursday after a closure to enhance and improve the branch, making it a model for energy efficiency.
Opening in December 1897, Bedford Library holds the distinction of being BPL’s founding branch. Starting in the old P.S. 3, Bedford Library moved several times before settling into the location on Franklin Avenue in 1905. Today it offers a wide range of resources and programs including housing one of the Library’s five adult education centers providing free, innovative educational programs for adult learners and speakers of other languages.
“As the first public library in the borough, Bedford Library has provided Brooklynites space to explore their interests, read great books and connect with one another for over 125 years,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “We are thrilled to be back on Franklin Avenue—in a newly modernized and energy efficient building—helping a new generation discover all the Library has to offer from story time to career classes and so much more.”
During the closure, the Department of Design and Construction installed a new HVAC system providing the Library with optimized energy usage. The new system dramatically improves indoor air quality inside the building, which is now 120 years old. It also saves energy, equivalent to charging 3.2 million smartphones or offsetting the carbon emissions of 28 round-trip cross country airplane trips.
The $2.4 million in upgrades completed by DDC at Bedford Library installed an advanced building management system, an energy-efficient heating and cooling system, and an upgraded fire safety system,” said DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley. “This will better serve the library-goers who use this 120-year-old building, keeping them safer and more comfortable as the effects of climate change become more severe. Thank you to BPL for letting us work on this library, the first branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. The historic significance of the building guided our work as we made sure renovations were done properly and with care.”
In addition to the work by the DDC, the Library installed new floors which will reduce noise, prevent slipping, and resist wear. The flooring is made, in part, with recyclable material, and is produced with 100% renewable energy.
BPL also replaced all 77 windows. The new windows provide superior insulation, UV protection and noise reduction. During the process, the historic wood trim was meticulously removed, refinished by hand, and reinstalled to preserve the library’s original architecture. The change from outdated single pane windows also saves energy, equivalent to taking a gasoline-powered car off the road for six months or planting nearly 50 trees.
Other improvements include modernizing the elevator cab and replacing lighting. All of the fluorescent fixtures were removed, and high-efficiency LED lighting was installed, improving illumination and reducing energy use. Inside the branch was painted and outside new shrubs, flowers and fresh grass were planted.
To celebrate the reopening, the branch is planning a welcome back block party on Saturday, May 17. Check the calendar to learn more about story times, teen programs, and all the programs the branch has to offer.
“The re-opening of Bedford Library is a wonderful occasion, and a fresh reminder of how important community spaces are to New Yorkers. Libraries are vital hubs where life-long learning and discovery are nurtured” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión Jr. “The upgrades made to this library branch ensure a brighter, greener future for this community and reinforce the importance of preserving and enhancing New York City’s cultural and educational hubs for generations to come.”
“The Bedford branch of the Brooklyn Public Library is a neighborhood institution that was sorely missed. We are so excited for its doors to open again and for our neighbors to experience the benefits of the brand-new renovations. Thank you to the good folks of the library system who made this possible,” said Council Member Chi Ossè.
"I'm so happy to celebrate the re-opening of the Bedford Library, which has been many years in the making. As Brooklyn's original branch library, this location provides critical resources to my constituents in the Bed-Stuy and Clinton Hill neighborhoods, who have missed it during its closure. The physical upgrades will ensure that it continues to be a community hub for decades to come,” said Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest.
"Our world is better when we have enriching places where we get to exist as members of a community, rather than as customers. The new investments in the Bedford Library are investments in our shared humanity through a space that offers us all opportunities for connection and learning,” said State Senator Jabari Brisport.
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.