Council Member Mark Treyger Joins Brooklyn Public Library for Reopening of Ulmer Park Branch

Treyger, Borough President Eric Adams Provided Funds for Branch’s First Updates Since Late 1990s: New Roof, HVAC, Lighting, More

Brooklyn, NY—Council Member Mark Treyger joined Brooklyn Public Library today to celebrate the reopening of Ulmer Park Library. The branch closed last year for capital improvements made possible by Council Member Treyger and Borough President Eric Adams, including the installation of a new roof, ceilings, HVAC units, flooring, furniture and LED lighting.

“Brooklyn Public Library joins Council Member Mark Treyger and Borough President Eric Adams in celebrating the reopening of Ulmer Park Library,” said BPL President and CEO Linda E. Johnson. “Ulmer Park was long emblematic of the capital challenges we face in libraries throughout Brooklyn. We appreciate the support of our patrons throughout its renovation, and we are thrilled to welcome them back to a much improved, much more comfortable branch.”

Located in Gravesend, not far from Brooklyn’s southwestern shore, Ulmer Park Library serves one of the borough’s most diverse communities, including many families with young children who regularly attend the branch’s popular First Five Years programs. The neighborhood is home to Chinese and Russian immigrants who visit the library daily to browse its multilingual collection or read newspapers in their native languages. The branch also hosts hundreds, if not thousands, of chess matches each year, ranging from fun and recreational to intensely competitive.

Ulmer Park’s capital challenges were long among the most dire of New York City’s more than 200 public libraries. Tarps and garbage bags were a sadly familiar sight at the branch, the staff’s defense against a chronically leaking roof that has now been entirely replaced. Council Member Treyger and Borough President Adams partnered to secure an allocation of $875,000 to cover the cost of the roof and enable BPL to undertake additional upgrades. With its failing HVAC units, the library was often uncomfortably hot in the summer and unbearably cold in the winter. BPL was able to install new heating and cooling units, which in addition to making the branch more comfortable for staff and patrons will allow Ulmer Park to serve as a community cooling center.

“I’m proud to join Brooklyn Public Library and Borough President Adams in welcoming local residents to enjoy the new and improved Ulmer Park Library,” said Council Member Treyger. “As a former educator, I have always believed that libraries are an extension of the classroom, and we must ensure that both our classrooms and libraries are comfortable, safe, and nurturing environments that allow residents to read and study in the most productive manner possible. It is also important that our neighborhoods have cooling centers that can accommodate the needs of our residents, especially our children and seniors, during the hot summer months. The work completed at the Ulmer Park Library signifies a tremendous quality of life improvement for the Bensonhurst/Gravesend community, and I remain dedicated to helping maintain the quality of our local libraries.”

“Libraries are cornerstones of quality neighborhoods, providing not only an opportunity to enjoy the pleasure of reading but also the comfort of a safe activity space,” said Borough President Adams. “These vital improvements to the Ulmer Park Branch will allow the entire community to benefit from a modern facility, particularly in the summer when many residents depend on the library as a cooling center. I join Council Member Treyger in looking forward to this library serving all generations in Gravesend and across Brooklyn, from the young to the young at heart.”

The renovations at Ulmer Park Library were completed by the NYC Department of Design & Construction, which manages the Library’s major capital projects. Brooklyn Public Library takes the opportunity during large DDC projects to refurbish the interior of its branches.

“We are happy to be reopening the Ulmer Park library, which is now outfitted with state of the art upgrades including LED lighting a fully reconstructed roof and masonry improvements to the building’s facade,” said DDC Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora.  “In keeping with Mayor de Blasio’s vision for a more equitable City, this library serves as a beacon of education and center for personal growth for all New Yorkers - especially the Brooklynites who will use this facility day-to-day.”

The public may visit the branch during its normal operating hours: MWF, 10 am to 6 pm; Tuesday, 10 am to 8 pm; Thursday 1 pm to 8 pm; and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm. The improvements will be immediately apparent to patrons familiar with the branch as it was; in the words of longtime branch manager Ed Flanagan, the difference is “night and day.”

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About Brooklyn Public Library

Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is an independent library system for the 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn. It is the fifth largest library system in the United States with 60 neighborhood libraries located throughout the borough. BPL offers free programs and services for all ages and stages of life, including a large selection of books in more than 30 languages, author talks, literacy programs and public computers. BPL’s eResources, such as eBooks and eVideos, catalog information and free homework help, are available to customers of all ages 24 hours a day at our website: www.bklynlibrary.org.