New limited-edition commemorative card available beginning June 25 at Brooklyn Public Library locations systemwide; patrons can also explore JAŸ-Z's Booklist at Marcy Library
BROOKLYN, NY — Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) today announced the release of the JAŸ-Z 30 Limited Edition Library Card, a special commemorative card created in collaboration with Roc Nation honoring the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt, the debut album of Brooklyn-born artist Shawn "JAŸ-Z" Carter.
Beginning June 25, the JAŸ-Z 30 Limited Edition Library Card will be available at Brooklyn Public Library locations systemwide on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
Over the past three decades, JAŸ-Z's music has helped shape conversations about New York City, entrepreneurship, creative expression, and contemporary culture. As audiences gather this summer for his concerts at Yankee Stadium, Brooklyn Public Library marks the occasion by recognizing JAŸ-Z’s enduring impact on hip-hop and popular culture.
The JAŸ-Z 30 Limited Edition Library Card celebrates the enduring legacy of Reasonable Doubt, JAŸ-Z's acclaimed debut album, representing a key moment in a career that has helped shape the sound and cultural landscape of the past three decades.
JAŸ-Z’s Bookshelf at Marcy Library
In addition, visitors to Marcy Library will be able to browse and check out books on JAŸ-Z's Booklist on a dedicated display shelf featuring titles donated by Roc Nation. The collection highlights books that have influenced JAŸ-Z throughout his life and career and offers readers an opportunity to engage with works that helped shape his thinking and creative development.
The Book of HOV Library Cards (2023)
The JAŸ-Z 30 Limited Edition Library Card follows the 2023 release of The Book of HOV library card collection, created in conjunction with The Book of HOV exhibition presented by Brooklyn Public Library and Roc Nation. The series featured 13 limited-edition cards highlighting artwork from JAŸ-Z's studio albums, from Reasonable Doubt through 4:44.
The Book of HOV exhibition drew more than 600,000 visitors during its nearly five-month run at Brooklyn Public Library's Central Library, making it one of the most attended public exhibitions in the institution's history. The exhibition's final day welcomed nearly 11,000 visitors—the highest single-day attendance recorded at the library—and contributed to a 74 percent increase in attendance at Central Library during its run.
The exhibition also introduced thousands of new users to library services. More than 36,000 The Book of HOV library card accounts were created, contributing to a 66 percent increase in new accounts systemwide and a more than 300 percent increase at Central Library. Among the original card designs, The Black Album was the most requested, followed by The Blueprint.
Like the exhibition, the library card series reflects Brooklyn Public Library's ongoing work to showcase and document the cultural contributions of artists and writers whose work has shaped the history and creative life of Brooklyn, New York City, and beyond.
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.