INTRODUCTION
In its 130-year history Brooklyn Public Library has never wavered from its founding mission, though our programs and operations have always been responsive to the times we live in. These times are complicated and often disorienting, and we remain guided by our core values. Across the country and around the world, the ways people access information are shifting rapidly, while shared understandings of truth and long-standing democratic principles, including intellectual freedom, are increasingly under strain. At times like these, the role of the public library comes into sharper focus.
Brooklyn Public Library has long been one of our borough’s most trusted civic institutions: a place where knowledge is free, where all are welcome, and where communities come together to learn, create, and engage. That role is particularly essential right now. At a time when civic discourse can feel fractured and inequality continues to eclipse opportunity, the Library remains a place of openness, curiosity, and connection.
We are also in the midst of an extraordinary period of renewal. After decades of maintaining aging infrastructure, we have been reimagining what a public library can be for the 21st century. New and renovated branches across Brooklyn are already redefining the library as a vibrant civic commons, and we’re building on what we’ve done in many neighborhoods, including Brooklyn Heights, Sunset Park, DUMBO, East Flatbush, and Greenpoint. In the years ahead, East New York, Brownsville, Canarsie, Bensonhurst, and beyond will see new libraries designed to reflect community needs and expand what is possible within our walls.
Yet our impact extends far beyond our buildings. Every day, our staff help bring the Library’s mission to life: supporting children learning to read, guiding job seekers through complex digital systems, welcoming newly arrived families, and creating space for dialogue across differences. This work is grounded in a simple but powerful belief — that access to knowledge, culture, and opportunity should never depend on who you are or where you come from.
BPL 2030 reflects that belief. It is both a continuation of our core mission and a forward-looking commitment to meet this moment with clarity and purpose. It builds on our strengths while preparing us to serve Brooklyn in new and more inclusive ways.
I am deeply grateful to our staff, our partners, and the people of Brooklyn for the trust you place in this institution. Together, we will ensure that Brooklyn Public Library not only endures, but leads — opening doors, broadening perspectives, and helping to build a more informed, connected, and equitable future.
Linda E. Johnson, President & CEO
OVERVIEW
BPL 2030 is the result of a focused planning process designed to assess Brooklyn Public Library’s current strengths, identify emerging needs, and set clear priorities for the years ahead.
BPL convened four staff listening sessions and three community conversations, bringing together more than 280 participants from across the organization and 29 partner organizations. These discussions revealed both alignment and tension. Participants emphasized rising demand for digital literacy, stronger language access, and clearer support for navigating complex systems such as social services and immigration. Community members highlighted the Library’s importance as a neighborhood gathering space, while staff underscored the need for focus, training, and sustainable capacity. Together, these insights point to a clear mandate: to expand access while strengthening the Library’s ability to deliver.
BPL 2030 translates that mandate into five strategic pillars: Reading & Literacy; Intellectual Freedom & Civic Participation; Digital Equity & Innovation; Access & Belonging; and Buildings & Communities. Each pillar is organized around a focused set of goals that build on existing strengths while directing new investments where they are most needed.
Looking ahead, BPL will expand initiatives that celebrate reading and connect residents to civic life; grow digital skills-building programs, including those addressing the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence; invest in high-quality technology across its branches; and develop tools that make it easier for patrons to discover and use Library resources. At the same time, the Library will deepen its commitment to language access and embed accessibility across spaces, programs, and services.
This work builds on a strong foundation: national leadership on intellectual freedom through Books Unbanned and the Freedom to Read Advocacy Institute; expanded teen leadership and volunteer programs; and a historic capital campaign that has already delivered transformative libraries in Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, Sunset Park, and Brower Park, with many more to come.
Taken together, BPL 2030 sets a clear direction for the years ahead — one that aligns the Library’s values with focused, practical investments in people, programs, and places. It is a framework for sustaining what Brooklyn relies on most in its public library: trusted access to information, meaningful opportunities for learning and connection, and a civic space where all residents can participate fully in the civic life of the city.
Middle school maker space, Brooklyn Heights Library
Graduation ceremony for pre-High School Equivalency students
The Freedom to Read Rally & BPL’s annual Older Adults Fair, Central Library
Family activities, Leonard Library
Carla Hargrove reading from Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God
Summer reading kickoff, Sheepshead Bay Library
The Robotics League Competition & Tribute concert to Randy Weston, Central Library
02. INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM & CIVIC PARTICIPATION
03. DIGITAL EQUITY & INNOVATION
World Language Fair, Cortelyou Library
01. READING & LITERACY
Reading and literacy are at the core of Brooklyn Public Library’s mission, shaping how people learn, how they make sense of the world, and how they imagine new possibilities for themselves and their families. As one of the most trusted and welcoming public institutions in the borough, BPL plays a singular role in Brooklyn’s educational and informational ecosystem: a place where lifelong learning unfolds in community, curiosity is encouraged, and every resident can find both inspiration and support.
Across Brooklyn, the Library celebrates books and reading as sources of joy, connection, and shared culture. Through playful early literacy programs, teen-led reading communities, and dynamic public events with internationally recognized authors and scholars, BPL brings literature, history, and ideas to life for audiences of all ages. These experiences affirm reading not only as a skill, but as a lived, social practice that builds imagination, compassion, and belonging.
At the same time, BPL supports the individual learning needs of every patron. The Library is strengthening its instructional approach to literacy by expanding evidence-based, phonics-aligned programs, deepening English language learning resources, and ensuring that children, teens, and adults can build strong foundational reading skills at every stage of life. As literacy increasingly includes navigating digital platforms, government systems, and a rapidly changing information landscape shaped by misinformation and emerging technologies, BPL is also expanding its capacity to provide trusted, one-on-one information support — helping patrons find, evaluate, and use information with confidence.
Looking ahead, this pillar advances a holistic vision of reading and literacy — one that elevates the joy of reading, strengthens essential skills, and responds to the realities of how people learn and access information today. Together, these efforts will ensure that all Brooklynites can read, learn, communicate, and participate fully in the world around them.
Book giveaway, East Flatbush Library
- 01/01 CELEBRATE READING ACROSS BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITIES
Through storytimes, author events, exhibitions, and other celebratory programs, BPL will make reading joyful, visible, and deeply connected to the lives of Brooklynites.
Reading shapes how people understand themselves and the world, supports success in school and work, and fosters the imagination and empathy that strengthen communities. BPL’s commitment to reading is therefore a commitment to our shared future, ensuring that every resident, from the youngest learner to the most seasoned reader, can develop the confidence, imagination, and critical skills needed to participate fully in society.
At the heart of BPL’s approach is the belief that reading should be engaging, even joyful. For our youngest patrons, books come alive through programs that combine reading with other playful and creative activities such as crafts. As children grow into teens, patrons are invited to shape their own events and programs around particular themes or topics. Teen-led councils, fan clubs, and genre-specific gatherings foster not only literacy but voice, belonging, and agency.
For adults, BPL hosts hundreds of book discussion programs, author talks, and writing courses every year, including those in our BPL Presents lineup, one of the most dynamic arts and culture program series in the city. These programs invite readers to engage with important authors, scholars, and artists working globally today. BPL’s annual Book Prize, literary salons, and large-scale celebrations such as Night in the Library make literature and scholarship a vibrant force in public life.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• New adult reading campaigns in addition to those already in place for children and teens
• New and enhanced branch library programs that celebrate reading and literature as well as local and aspiring authors- 01/02 ALIGN LITERACY PROGRAMS WITH STATEWIDE EDUCATION STANDARDS AND THE SCIENCE OF READING
Through evidence-based literacy practices, BPL will ensure that Brooklynites of all ages grow into confident, engaged readers.
Alongside this celebratory work, BPL is strengthening the instructional side of literacy — supporting both young and mature learners as they develop the foundational skills needed to read with confidence and pleasure. New statewide mandates, including the “Back to Basics” plan and Board of Regents reforms, require schools to adopt instructional practices grounded in the science of reading. These reforms emphasize phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension — evidence-based components that help learners of all ages succeed.
BPL is aligning its literacy programs with this shift. For early learners and caregivers, the Library will expand access to decodable books that reinforce phonics principles and help children build decoding skills step by step. Decodable and phonics-forward resources will also be curated for young adults and adults who are developing foundational reading skills later in life.
The Library’s Adult Learning Centers are already retraining staff in phonics-based methodologies, and professional development in the science of reading will continue for tutors, volunteers, and library educators to ensure consistent, research-supported instruction. Children’s programs will likewise reflect these standards, complemented by caregiver workshops that demystify early literacy practices and equip families to support reading at home. Partnerships with schools and community organizations will help reinforce what children learn in the classroom, ensuring they encounter the same evidence-based approach in library settings.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• Expanded resources for evidence-based learning, including decodable books suitable for both young and mature readers
• New phonics-based programs for parents and caregivers
• New and revised curricula for adult learners- 01/03 DELIVER TIMELY INFORMATION SUPPORT SERVICES
As services move online and reliable information becomes harder to navigate, BPL is expanding one-on-one guidance for patrons with specialized information needs.
Since the pandemic, demand for one-on-one guidance has surged, as patrons turn to Brooklyn Public Library not just for books but for help navigating the bureaucracy and digital systems that increasingly shape everyday life. From reentry after incarceration to immigration, government benefits, mental health, and nutrition, patrons arrive at our doors with pressing questions that require trusted, knowledgeable support.
BPL has responded by building a suite of specialized navigation services to help patrons one-on-one with questions about public benefits, housing, employment, or their rights as immigrants. As part of this strategic plan, the Library will strengthen and integrate these services, building capacity to meet growing demand while creating clearer internal and external referral pathways that ensure every patron gets the help they need.
Looking ahead, BPL will also reimagine its long-standing Ask-a-Librarian service to meet today’s urgent information needs. Where this service once focused largely on business, career, or research questions, it will be redesigned as a specialized information support program where patrons can schedule time with an information specialist to discuss government forms, digital portals, regulations, and other challenges that increasingly define access to opportunity. To support this work systemwide, staff will also be provided with scripts and guidance for responding consistently to common questions.
Finally, with the decline of traditional news outlets and the rise of AI and social media as primary information sources, BPL recognizes the urgency of strengthening information literacy. The Library will offer training and support to ensure staff are equipped to help patrons evaluate sources, identify misinformation, and confidently navigate an ever-changing information landscape.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• Increased capacity to help patrons with specialized information requests
• New training opportunities for staff on media and information literacy and support
A list of banned books, Central Library
02. INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM & CIVIC PARTICIPATION
Intellectual freedom and civic participation are essential to a healthy democracy. They shape how people access ideas, understand their rights, and engage with one another despite sometimes profound cultural or linguistic differences or even opposing views. At a time when access to information is increasingly contested and public discourse polarized, Brooklyn Public Library plays a vital role as a trusted public institution — one that protects the freedom to read, supports informed civic engagement, and creates space for democratic life to flourish.
Across Brooklyn and beyond, BPL advances intellectual freedom by providing open access to a broad range of perspectives and by actively defending readers’ rights against censorship. Through national advocacy, youth leadership initiatives, public programs, and exhibitions, the Library affirms free expression as a lived democratic practice.
At the local level, the Library connects residents to information about government, civic processes, and opportunities for engagement, while branch libraries function as welcoming spaces for neighbors to gather, learn, and collaborate. These efforts support both formal participation in democratic processes and the informal civic connections that strengthen communities.
Together, the goals in this pillar advance a shared vision of democracy rooted in intellectual freedom, informed participation, and community connection. By championing the freedom to read, expanding civic learning opportunities, and activating branch libraries as hubs of civic life, Brooklyn Public Library reinforces its role as a cornerstone of democratic culture in Brooklyn.
The Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered, an exhibition at the Center for Brooklyn History
- 02/01 CHAMPION INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AS A CORNERSTONE OF DEMOCRACY
Through continued advocacy, public programming, and staff training, BPL will elevate the importance of intellectual freedom and free expression as core democratic values.
Intellectual freedom is a cornerstone of American democracy — the principle that people must be free to access information, explore ideas, and make choices without fear or censorship. As PEN America has written, “stories tell us who we are and who we can become,” and every person has the right to those stories and the self-discovery they enable.
Brooklyn Public Library advances this principle by providing universal access to the widest possible range of knowledge and perspectives in a welcoming, public space. However, as book bans have increased across the country, BPL has also emerged as a national leader in the fight against censorship. In 2022, the Library launched Books Unbanned, building a broad coalition of libraries and partner organizations — including PEN America and the ACLU — to defend the freedom to read and push back against efforts to restrict access to books and ideas.
Complementing this national advocacy, BPL created the Freedom to Read Advocacy Institute to engage teens and young adults in Brooklyn and beyond in free speech advocacy and leadership development. Through workshops and sustained programming, participants learn about the role of public libraries in American democracy, articulate their values, strengthen public speaking and organizing skills, and explore civil rights and intellectual freedom in practice.
Looking ahead, BPL is elevating this work as a core strategic priority. The Library will continue to sustain and expand the Books Unbanned network while developing staff training and Brooklyn-based programming that place intellectual freedom and free expression at the center of everything we do. BPL will also create a systemwide intellectual freedom framework to guide core services — including collections and programs — and deepen staff understanding of best practices that protect and advance these essential democratic values.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• New and increased public service staff trainings on intellectual freedom issues
• Increased programming in Brooklyn and beyond about the fundamental importance of intellectual freedom and free speech for democracy- 02/02 FOSTER CIVIC LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION
Through expanded programming, stronger partnerships and increased outreach, the Library will elevate opportunities for civic learning and participation across Brooklyn.
At a time when threats to free speech are on the rise and public discourse is increasingly shaped by polarized, algorithm-driven media, the Library’s role in fostering civic learning and participation is more important than ever. A healthy democracy depends on people’s ability to access reliable information, encounter diverse perspectives, and engage in public life with confidence and care.
The Library advances this work by curating a wide range of public policy and current affairs programs that not only inform but invite discussion and debate. For example, every year dozens of high-profile author talks and lectures explore topics that range from recent Supreme Court decisions and civil liberties issues to environmental justice and international relations. Materials from the Center for Brooklyn History’s archive are regularly used for exhibitions, programs, and professional development classes for teachers that spotlight the history of protest, civil rights, and civic engagement. At the same time, the Library serves as a vital conduit between City leaders and residents, hosting programs with elected officials and agency representatives that share information about major initiatives and invite public input. A recent collaboration with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, for instance, enabled residents to learn about and provide feedback on the City’s fair housing plan.
In addition, BPL offers a range of more practical programs and resources that help residents participate directly in civic life, including guidance on voter registration and pathways to citizenship or legal residency. Other programs demystify local governance by introducing participants to participatory budgeting, community boards, and additional avenues for civic involvement, with some past programs even guiding participants through the basics of running for public office.
Looking ahead, BPL will deepen this work by leveraging Central Library’s Civic Commons and the Center for Brooklyn History as hubs for democratic engagement, places where patrons can explore ideas, encounter diverse perspectives, and discover practical ways to get involved in their communities or our city’s democratic process.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• New and expanded programs that connect residents to the democratic process and highlight opportunities for getting involved
• Increased marketing and visibility for these programs- 02/03 ACTIVATE BRANCH LIBRARIES AS TRUSTED HUBS FOR COMMUNITY CONNECTION
By elevating neighborhood resources and opportunities for involvement, BPL’s branches will reaffirm their role as our borough’s most important civic commons.
With dedicated rooms for community use and staff deeply connected to local needs, BPL branches regularly function as platforms for civic action and mutual support. Community leaders and organizations use library spaces to hold meetings, organize mutual aid efforts, coordinate food pantry outreach, and advance immigrant rights, making the local library a natural gathering place for collective care and engagement.
Library staff play an active role in strengthening these connections. Branches host community-wide events that raise visibility for local organizations while creating opportunities for residents to meet one another and get involved. Resource fairs, neighborhood meet-and-greets, and information sessions on local services help our patrons better understand the assets in their communities. At the same time, they can learn how to get involved through volunteering, advocacy, or hands-on community improvement projects such as gardening, composting, or neighborhood cleanups.
This commitment to connection extends powerfully to teens. Youth programs at branches emphasize stewardship, collaboration, and leadership. Through teen councils and related internship programs, young people can design and lead their own neighborhood events, building confidence, skills, and a sense of agency while learning what it means to contribute to community life.
Looking ahead, BPL will expand and elevate this work by supporting neighborhood-specific resource and meet-and-greet events designed to connect residents with each other as well as a wide variety of organizations and programs in their neighborhood.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• Increased programs across the system designed to highlight neighborhood organizations, programs, and resources
• Strengthened neighborhood-level partnerships
Digital Discovery Day, Saratoga Library
03. DIGITAL EQUITY & INNOVATION
Technology increasingly shapes how people learn, work, communicate, and access essential services. From artificial intelligence and telehealth to online education and government systems, digital tools now mediate everyday life. Yet for many Brooklynites, barriers to devices, broadband, and digital skills continue to limit opportunity. Addressing these gaps is central to Brooklyn Public Library’s role as an engine of equity and access.
Across the borough, BPL serves as a critical entry point to the digital world. Branch libraries provide free access to computers, printers, broadband, and specialized technologies, alongside staff support that helps patrons use these tools with confidence. For those new to technology, the Library offers foundational digital literacy programs that demystify everyday tasks like email, internet use, and video calling. One-on-one assistance complements these classes, ensuring patrons can build skills at their own pace.
At the same time, BPL supports more advanced learning and experimentation. Teens and adults alike engage with coding, digital media, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies through classes, Teen Tech Centers, internships, and creative labs. Online learning platforms further extend access to professional development and career exploration, making the Library a hub for lifelong digital learning.
Together, these efforts position BPL as both a practical resource and an innovation partner for Brooklyn’s communities. This pillar advances a systemwide commitment to digital equity, expanding access to technology, strengthening digital skills, and ensuring that every neighborhood can participate fully in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
- 03/01 EXPAND DIGITAL LITERACY SUPPORTS TO MEET EVOLVING TECHNOLOGIES AND PATRON NEEDS
By combining foundational skills for people of all ages with advanced pathways for youth, the Library is positioning itself as a critical hub for lifelong digital learning.
The skills required to thrive in today’s digital environment are not static. Just as new technologies emerge, so too do new barriers for those who lack access or training. Brooklyn Public Library’s role is to anticipate these shifts and ensure that our digital literacy programs evolve alongside the needs of our communities.
At the heart of this effort is a comprehensive curriculum refresh across our branches. BPL will strengthen its core technology classes for adults and older adults, covering essential topics such as basic computer use, navigating the internet, email, and digital safety. Recognizing the growing role of artificial intelligence in everyday life, the Library will also introduce new learning modules that help patrons understand AI, practice using AI tools responsibly, and build confidence in assessing the reliability of online information. These skills are not just for future workers in the tech economy — they are for anyone who wants to manage daily life securely and effectively in an increasingly digital world.
Equally important is the individualized support that BPL provides. In every library branch, patrons can receive one-on-one support when they get stuck uploading a resume, scheduling a telehealth appointment, or renewing benefits online. Recent investments have extended this support beyond the library walls, sending digital navigators into senior centers, schools, and community spaces across Brooklyn to meet people where they are.
In the years ahead, BPL will continue to offer opportunities for those in school or looking to advance their careers. Our Teen Tech Centers and tech-focused internships provide structured learning experiences that prepare the next generation not only to participate in the digital economy, but to help shape it. New online professional certification programs in AI, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, and Digital Security will be offered to patrons through the Library’s Business & Career Center, with support from our business librarians and opportunities to collaborate with peers.
Through these investments, BPL will ensure its programs remain responsive, relevant, and rooted in the realities of patrons’ lives, giving Brooklynites the tools they need to adapt, connect, and thrive.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• Updated digital literacy programs for adults and older adults
• Increased programming on digital safety
• New AI literacy programs and modules at different digital skill levels- 03/02 BUILD TECHNOLOGY TOOLS TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND DISCOVERY
Whether a patron is searching for their next favorite novel, tracing their family history, or building a new career skill, the Library’s discovery tools will guide them there.
Brooklyn Public Library’s collections, spanning millions of books, eBooks, audiobooks, databases, and digital programs, are among the borough’s richest public resources. Yet their impact depends on whether patrons can navigate them with confidence and convenience. To advance digital equity, BPL is committed to developing and promoting technologies that remove barriers to access and open new pathways for discovery.
At the center of this effort is the Library’s newly released mobile app, which integrates both physical and digital collections. The app allows patrons to search, place holds, check out materials, and even read or listen in-app. Planned improvements will make the experience even more seamless: streamlined card renewal, enhanced management of holds and checkouts, personalized recommendations based on reading interests, and direct connections to programs such as author talks and book clubs. These features not only help patrons access materials but also foster a sense of belonging to a vibrant community of readers and learners.
Alongside the app, BPL will continue to refine its online catalog to ensure that searching and browsing is intuitive, inclusive, and rewarding. Discovery layers that highlight underrepresented voices, curated lists tied to community events, and tools that help patrons link from a single book to related media or programs will enrich the user experience and expand the reach of the Library’s collections.
Access to digital learning tools remains another priority. The Library will improve the discoverability of online platforms such as LinkedIn Learning, Mango Languages, and Coursera, including Google’s Professional Certificates courses, while working to make these resources easier to use from any device. As patrons increasingly learn from home or on the go, these platforms provide vital support for professional development, cultural exploration, and personal growth.
By prioritizing access and discovery, BPL ensures that its vast resources are not hidden treasures but living tools for education, enrichment, and connection.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• New and enhanced tools that enable patrons to browse across the library’s digital and physical collections
• An increase in patrons who use both digital and physical items- 03/03 ENSURE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY TECHNOLOGY AT BRANCHES THROUGHOUT BROOKLYN
By pairing infrastructure investments with clearer communication and user-centered design, BPL will ensure that every branch is a gateway to the computing tools Brooklyn residents need.
Access to reliable, up-to-date technology is a cornerstone of digital equity. For many Brooklyn residents, the Library is their primary — and sometimes only — point of access to computers, printers, Wi-Fi, and specialized digital tools. To meet this need, Brooklyn Public Library is committed to maintaining and upgrading its technology across all branches so that every patron, in every neighborhood, can count on the Library as a place to connect, create, and learn.
BPL will prioritize investments in the core technology that thousands of patrons rely on each day: broadband internet, desktop and laptop computers, and printers. These tools are essential for job seekers completing applications, students submitting assignments, and families managing their lives online. By ensuring that this infrastructure remains modern, reliable, and user-friendly, the Library reinforces its role as a public lifeline in a digital-first society. Beyond core services, BPL will also expand access to specialized technologies that inspire creativity and innovation. Select branches serve as hubs for robotics kits, sound recording equipment, digital media tools, computer-guided fabrication machines, and other creative technologies that are particularly valuable for teens and young adults exploring STEM pathways. These resources not only level the playing field for Brooklyn’s young people but also spark curiosity and confidence in emerging fields.
To make this ecosystem more transparent and accessible, the Library will strengthen how it communicates about the technology available at each branch. Clear and consistent information — both online and in-branch — will help patrons understand what services and tools are available, from everyday printing and scanning to advanced creative labs.
At the same time, BPL is focused on improving the customer experience of its technology services. Initiatives such as home printing, simplified login processes, and streamlined access to the Center for Brooklyn History’s digital archive will make using Library technology more seamless and intuitive.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• New investments in public access computers and printers, among other more specialized equipment
• Increased satisfaction with core library technologies, including computers, printers, self-check kiosks, and other digital assets and services
A cultural heritage celebration, Fort Greene Park
04. ACCESS & BELONGING
Brooklyn’s extraordinary diversity is one of its greatest strengths, but it also brings varied needs that can make access to public services uneven. Brooklyn Public Library is committed to ensuring that every resident — regardless of language, ability, or background — can fully participate in the life of the Library and feel a sense of welcome and belonging in its spaces.
Across the system, BPL is strengthening language access and accessibility in tangible, everyday ways. Translation and interpretation services, multilingual staff, and clear, welcoming branch environments help ensure that patrons can navigate library services with confidence. At the same time, accessibility standards are being embedded across buildings, programs, and collections through ADA-compliant design, adaptive technologies, improved wayfinding, and tailored support for patrons with diverse abilities.
This work is grounded in the Library’s own workforce. A diverse and culturally competent staff brings lived experience, language skills, and deep community knowledge to every interaction, allowing the Library to respond thoughtfully to local needs and build trust with patrons across Brooklyn.
Equally essential are collections and programs that reflect the borough itself. BPL continues to expand and highlight multilingual, culturally diverse books, learning resources, and archival materials, ensuring they are visible, relevant, and accessible to the communities they serve.
Together, these efforts reinforce BPL’s role as a public institution where access is intentional, inclusion is practiced, and belonging is felt. This pillar advances a coordinated approach to language access, accessibility, workforce development, and collections — creating a Library that truly reflects and serves all of Brooklyn.
Teens planning an after-hours event, Central Library & Printing Black America: Du Bois's Data Portraits in the 21st Century, an exhibition at Central Library
- 04/01 STRENGTHEN CULTURALLY DIVERSE COLLECTIONS AND PROGRAMS
Through culturally diverse collections and programs, BPL will elevate the languages, stories, and traditions that shape our borough.
Brooklyn is a global city within a city, a place where more than 40 percent of residents speak a language other than English at home and where hundreds of cultures coexist and thrive. Brooklyn Public Library’s collections and programs reflect that vibrancy, ensuring that nearly every reader can find books, stories, and authors that speak to their experiences, their languages, and their lives.
Today, BPL offers one of the most linguistically and culturally diverse public library collections in the nation, with more than 250,000 titles in languages other than English, including over 50,000 eBooks and audiobooks. These collections span fiction and nonfiction — from classic literature to cookbooks, and children’s picture books to professional development guides — serving the many communities that call Brooklyn home. Whether a patron is seeking Russian-language novels in Brighton Beach, Arabic nonfiction in Bay Ridge, or Spanish audiobooks in Sunset Park, BPL ensures that language is never a barrier to discovery or belonging.
As part of this strategic plan, BPL will maintain and grow this exceptional world-languages collection, refining our selection to meet evolving community needs and growing our local history archive at the Center for Brooklyn History to include diverse voices and experiences. We will strengthen engagement with readers through book displays, exhibitions, and author talks that celebrate Brooklyn’s cultural diversity while strengthening connections between readers and our resources.
Equally important, BPL will invite communities into the process of shaping our collections. Through targeted outreach and engagement with speakers of Chinese, Russian, Spanish, French, Polish, Arabic, Hebrew and other languages, we will learn how patrons use library materials today and what they want to see more of tomorrow.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• Increased programming and marketing of world language titles and authors
• Increased usage of the world languages collection in both digital and physical formats- 04/02 INCREASE CAPACITY TO WELCOME AND SERVE NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS
By strengthening both language access and English learning pathways, BPL will ensure that non-English-speaking Brooklynites can connect, learn, and fully engage with everything the Library has to offer.
Brooklyn is home to an extraordinary range of languages and cultures, yet many residents face barriers to fully accessing Library services because they are not comfortable communicating in English. In neighborhoods with large populations of non-English speakers, participants in BPL’s strategic planning process consistently emphasized the need for stronger language access and more visible pathways to English learning in order to participate fully in Library programs and services.
To meet this need, BPL will expand its capacity to serve non-English speakers across the system. This includes strengthening language access infrastructure — building on existing translation resources such as the internal Language Access team, branch-based Language Line interpretation services, and multilingual website tools — to ensure that systemwide initiatives, programs, and services are accessible in the languages patrons use most.
At the same time, the Library will continue to expand and better connect its English language learning resources. Patrons will have access to a full spectrum of options, including formal ESOL classes taught by certified instructors, drop-in conversation groups offered in neighborhoods across Brooklyn, self-guided workbooks, and free online learning platforms. Staff will play an active role in helping patrons navigate these options and identify resources that match their goals, schedules, and learning styles.
BPL will also assess branch environments to ensure they are welcoming and navigable for patrons who speak languages other than English, with clear signage, translated materials, and accessible program information. Staffing will be prioritized in high-need neighborhoods, leveraging multilingual staff, volunteers, and targeted supports to meet local demand.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• Increased access through translation and outreach for speakers of other languages
• Increased visibility of library resources in ethnic media and other non-English media channels
• Expanded English language learning resources
Caribbean dance, Crown Heights Library & American Sign Language Class, Central Library
- 04/03 DEVELOP AND INCORPORATE ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS FOR ALL PUBLIC SPACES, COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES
Through strategic investments in spaces, technologies and customer service practices, BPL will ensure that accessibility is not just a principle but a lived reality.
Accessibility is fundamental to the mission of a public library. Our buildings, collections, and programs must be open to everyone — regardless of age, ability, or circumstance. For many Brooklynites, however, barriers such as physical limitations, chronic health conditions, language gaps, or difficulty navigating digital systems can make it challenging to fully participate. Ensuring equitable access is not only a legal obligation under the ADA — it is also a moral and civic responsibility at the heart of BPL’s mission.
BPL has long provided extra support for patrons with complex needs. Brooklyn Supports, run by licensed social workers, connects patrons to housing, mental health care, and social services. Books by Mail delivers books and other materials to those unable to leave their homes. Our Inclusive Services team brings programming into hospitals and other settings where residents cannot easily visit branches, while also hosting a variety of library-based programs designed especially for children and teens with disabilities and their caregivers. These programs are essential lifelines, ensuring the Library meets people where they are.
Looking ahead, BPL will expand its commitment by embedding accessibility standards across all public services and spaces. This includes updating our design standards for new and renovated buildings and large technology purchases with an eye toward adopting adaptive technology, such as screen readers and low-vision interfaces or even hearing loop systems for patrons with cochlear implants. Renovations of branches will prioritize ADA compliance with elevators, lifts, accessible outdoor spaces, and shelving designed for people with mobility challenges, older adults, and children. BPL will evaluate opportunities for improving wayfinding through braille signage, multilingual guides, and clear directional systems.
Staff will be better equipped as well, with simple systems to request interpreters — including ASL — for events and programs. Language access will be strengthened through multilingual staff, collections, signage, and program materials.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• Increased access to spaces, services, and technologies for those with a wide variety of disabilities
• Improved customer service for people with disabilities and their peers, parents, and caregivers
The Pathways to Leadership Graduation Ceremony
- 04/04 GROW AND SUPPORT A DIVERSE, CULTURALLY COMPETENT LIBRARY WORKFORCE
BPL is not only building a stronger, more inclusive workforce but modeling the values of equity and belonging that define our mission.
A library’s greatest strength is its people. Brooklyn Public Library’s staff are the face of the institution in every neighborhood, and their lived experiences, languages, cultural backgrounds, and perspectives are critical when understanding the needs (and hurdles) of their patrons and the communities to which they belong. To truly serve Brooklyn — one of the most diverse places in the world — BPL must ensure its workforce reflects that diversity and is equipped to meet the needs of patrons with cultural competence, empathy, and respect.
BPL has already made major strides toward this goal through innovative workforce development programs that open doors for current employees to advance their careers. The Pathways to Leadership scholarship program, funded through private philanthropy, helps high-performing BPL staff members earn their Master of Library Science degree — a credential required to become a librarian — and prepares them for leadership roles within the system. Similarly, the Librarian Trainee and Tuition Assistance programs support staff in completing undergraduate degrees or professional training, expanding opportunities for growth and advancement across all levels of the organization. These initiatives are particularly impactful for BIPOC employees, who have historically faced barriers to higher education and advancement in the library field.
Beyond formal education, BPL offers opportunities for continuous learning to ensure staff can serve with cultural competence and awareness. Ongoing anti-bias and equity training, professional development workshops, and peer learning sessions help staff better understand the experiences of patrons — and one another — across lines of race, religion, gender, language, and political perspective.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• Increased diversity among librarian and leadership titles
• New staff trainings on race, LGBTQIA+, and disability issues, as well as ongoing bystander and de-escalation training
BPL's Bookmobile in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood
05. BUILDINGS & COMMUNITIES
In Brooklyn, neighborhood libraries are more than buildings — they are anchors of civic life, woven into the rhythms and stories of the communities they serve. In many neighborhoods, however, our services have undoubtedly outgrown their facilities, with aging infrastructure and limited spaces for collaborative work and educational programming.
With historic investments from the city and state, BPL has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only upgrade aging infrastructure but to reimagine what a library can be. The Library’s rebuilding campaign is creating new and renovated branch facilities across the borough — from East New York and Brownsville to Borough Park and Bensonhurst — offering dynamic spaces for learning, collaboration, and connection, while ensuring each library responds to the unique needs and aspirations of its neighborhood.
Every major construction project begins with robust community engagement, inviting residents, local leaders, and partners to share their vision for these vital spaces. The result is libraries that reflect local culture, foster learning, and strengthen civic life. As the interconnected strategic goals of this pillar make clear, sustainability and resilience are central to this transformation: energy-efficient systems and sustainable materials shape every building, while BPL’s systemwide commitments to recycling, composting, and environmental programming help Brooklynites carry sustainable habits into their daily lives.
At the same time, BPL is ensuring that residents retain access to vital services while their branches are under repair or construction, through community-specific interim service plans that draw on our bookmobiles and partnerships with local organizations. Meanwhile, for those unable to visit a branch, the Library brings its resources into the community, offering programs in schools, senior centers, shelters, hospitals, and public spaces across Brooklyn.
Rendering of the forthcoming New Lots Library
- 05/01 DELIVER WORLD-CLASS LIBRARY BUILDINGS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF BROOKLYN’S NEIGHBORHOODS
With an historic investment in buildings across the borough, BPL’s libraries are once again becoming the heart of civic life, open, dynamic, and built for the next century of readers and learners.
Brooklyn Public Library is in the midst of a transformation not seen in more than a century. Since the great wave of library construction in the early 1900s — when Carnegie libraries first anchored neighborhoods across the borough — Brooklyn has never experienced such an ambitious reinvestment in its civic architecture. Today, BPL is carrying forward that legacy for a new era, rebuilding and reimagining libraries as vibrant centers of learning, culture, and community life.
Between 2020 and 2025, BPL opened six new libraries, each designed as a modern civic commons: spaces filled with natural light, meeting rooms, and dedicated spaces for teens as well as adults and young families. Between 2025 and 2030, 11 additional neighborhoods — from Brownsville and East New York to Canarsie and Crown Heights — will see their libraries entirely rebuilt or comprehensively renovated. These new libraries are expansive, adaptable, and deeply rooted in the needs of today’s Brooklyn. Working with some of the most talented architectural firms in the world, BPL has prioritized community input to create buildings that are responsive to the needs (and dreams) of residents, with spaces for a wide range of classes, author talks, community events, and private meetings. Each new building accommodates a wider range of programs and services than ever before, while continuing to fulfill BPL’s core mission of providing free access to books, information, and ideas.
Beyond new construction, the Library is investing in capital improvements systemwide — new roofs and HVAC systems, refreshed interiors and exteriors, upgraded meeting rooms, and outdoor reading gardens — to ensure that every branch remains safe, accessible, and attractive.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• Increased library visibility and usage in East New York, Brownsville, Crown Heights, Canarsie, Bensonhurst, and other neighborhoods slated for new libraries and renovations
• Increased capacity for educational programming, cultural events, and community programs throughout Brooklyn- 05/02 INCORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE STRATEGIES TO MEET NEW YORK CITY’S ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS
Through sustainable design and environmental programs, BPL will reduce its environmental footprint while helping Brooklynites build a more resilient future.
Brooklyn Public Library is deeply committed to environmental stewardship and to building a more sustainable, resilient future for Brooklyn. Across our system, we are investing in green infrastructure, energy efficiency, and climate-conscious design that not only reduces our environmental impact but also strengthens our role as a trusted community resource during times of need.
BPL’s commitment begins with our buildings. Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center — certified LEED Gold — is both a model of sustainable design and a hub for community engagement around environmental issues. The building incorporates solar panels, locally sourced and recycled materials, and low-VOC finishes, while also hosting workshops on energy efficiency, waste reduction, repair, and recycling. Its tool-lending library and DIY programming empower residents to adopt greener practices in their own homes and neighborhoods.
The forthcoming Red Hook Library will build on that success, designed to meet passive house standards with the goal of achieving net-zero energy use. Outfitted with solar panels and backup batteries, the new branch will be capable of providing electricity and refuge for the surrounding community in the event of an electrical outage — an essential investment in resilience for a waterfront neighborhood that experienced severe impacts from Hurricane Sandy.
Systemwide, BPL continues to reduce its carbon footprint by installing solar infrastructure (with five buildings so far outfitted with solar arrays), recycling construction waste, and prioritizing electricity over fossil-fuel energy systems. We are aligning with, and striving to exceed, New York City’s 50 percent energy reduction goal by 2030.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• New investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy systems
• New environmental and sustainability programming for the public at select locations
• Exceed New York City’s 50 percent energy reduction target by 2030- 05/03 BRING KEY LIBRARY SERVICES OUT OF THE BRANCH AND INTO THE COMMUNITY
Through mobile services, partnerships, and neighborhood engagement, BPL will extend its reach and reinforce its role as a borough-wide resource.
Brooklyn Public Library’s mission extends far beyond its walls. We know that not every resident can easily visit a branch — and that access to learning, information, and connection is strongest when the Library meets people where they are. Through a wide-ranging network of outreach programs, BPL brings core services directly into neighborhoods, expanding access for residents of all ages and circumstances.
Across the borough, Library staff deliver programs and services in schools, senior centers, NYCHA developments, community centers, shelters, and other partner locations. At these sites, staff sign up new cardholders, share information about the full range of Library offerings, and provide programs that connect Brooklynites to reading, digital tools, and one another. These partnerships help ensure that Library resources are visible, approachable, and embedded in everyday community life.
The Library’s Satellite Services team operates three Bookmobiles and a TechMobile, bringing books, Wi-Fi, devices, and hands-on learning to parks, commercial corridors, and community gathering spaces. These mobile services expand the Library’s reach year-round and play an especially important role in neighborhoods where access to branch libraries is limited.
Additional outreach initiatives further extend BPL’s presence. In addition to Books by Mail, which delivers materials directly to homebound patrons, Books-to-Go brings them to over 80 different senior centers. TeleStory enables incarcerated parents to read to their children via secure video connections, while Hospital Storytime brings the comfort and joy of reading to children undergoing medical treatment.
As Brooklyn Public Library undertakes significant branch renovations and new construction in the coming years, these offsite and mobile services will also help sustain access to core resources during periods of disruption.
Key Initiatives & Indicators
• Sustain core services through bookmobiles, offsite locations and other assets in communities with long term building closures due to renovations
• Prioritize outreach to key service partners including schools, senior centers, community centers, and supportive housing locations
• Sustain offsite service partnerships for specialized services
Rendering of the forthcoming Canarsie Library
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD, THE WAYS PEOPLE ACCESS INFORMATION ARE SHIFTING RAPIDLY, WHILE SHARED UNDERSTANDINGS OF TRUTH AND LONG-STANDING DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, INCLUDING INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM, ARE INCREASINGLY UNDER STRAIN. AT TIMES LIKE THESE, THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY COMES INTO SHARPER FOCUS.
