Brooklyn—The National Grid Foundation has awarded Brooklyn Public Library a multi-year grant totaling $300,000 to support Summer at the Library and other programs designed to help children and teens thrive during the summer months and beyond.
“National Grid Foundation is a long-time supporter of Brooklyn Public Library and its Summer at the Library and Summer Reading Program,” said Robert Simmons, VP US Social Impact and Community Engagement and Executive Director, National Grid Foundation. “The program benefits so many children and ensures that summer break is fun but also an opportunity to keep learning. Brooklyn Public Library’s innovative program prevents summer learning loss, promotes lifelong reading habits, boosts academic performance, fosters community engagement and encourages parental/involvement. Students love the program, and it shows.”
The grant will support four signature programs at Brooklyn Public Library:
Summer at the Library (formerly Summer Reading) a program to encourage families to read during the summer. During the 2024 summer, the Library offered more than 5000 free programs during the summer, designed to encourage reading and spark imagination. The National Grid Foundation has supported summer programming at the Library for more than 20 years.
Library Lab, a program for children, ages 6 to 10, to explore science, math, technology and engineering through fun hands-on activities. In 2024, the Library offered 72 free lab programs in 16 different branches. The grant will allow the program to expand, with dedicated after-school programming for children in grades 6 through 8.
StoryTeen, an internship program for teens interested in exploring career paths in early childhood education and library work. This is the third year the National Grid Foundation has supported the program in which teens learn about leading story times for young children, creating book lists, and providing other reader advisory services. The funding will help to fund internships through the summer.
Teen Techies (T4), an internship program for teens interested in technology and service to their communities. Teens get intensive technology training and mentorship and then provide tech support throughout the library. Taking place year-round, each participant must complete 100 hours of service. Now in its 20th year, more than 2000 young people have participated in the program.
“When we provide safe spaces where children and teens can learn and explore, sharpen their digital and literacy skills and express their creativity, we empower the next generation of thinkers, makers and artists,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “Thank you to the National Grid Foundation for their generous contribution to our summer reading and teen internship programs and for their ongoing and enthusiastic support of Brooklyn Public Library.”
The theme for this year’s Summer at the Library is Color Everywhere. Children and teens are encouraged to read whatever they like. The library will also provide booklists and recommendations along with a tracker so families can see how much they can read by the end of the summer. In addition to books, librarians are planning performances, crafts, games, story times and more.
About National Grid Foundation
National Grid Foundation was created to enhance the quality of life across its grant-making territory. The Foundation’s ongoing challenge is to create opportunities for solutions to educational and environmental issues. Its objective is based on the principle that giving people the tools to build hope is an essential ingredient in the development of individuals, families, and communities. Since its inception in December of 1998, the Foundation now in its 26th year has granted more than $43 million to local community organizations.
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.