Brower Library Opens At Brooklyn Children's Museum

CROWN HEIGHTS, NY — Facing costly repairs and the whims of a landlord, Brooklyn's smallest library moved a block and a half over to join the Brooklyn Children's Museum.

Brower Park Library officially opened its doors on the ground floor of the museum Thursday at the intersection of Brooklyn and St Marks avenues.

The move came as the library faced $5.6 million in repairs including a new HVAC and boiler and roof — all made more difficult by the fact that the space was a lease, subjecting the library to the whims of a private landlord, library representatives said.

To stay put and buy the existing property would've added $3 million to that price tag, library representatives said. The move to the museum, in comparison, cost $6 million.

“The Brooklyn Children’s Museum has long been a center of gravity for our neighborhood and an oasis for its families. Now, it will bring one of Brooklyn’s other proudest institutions, the Public Library, within its walls,” said New York City Council Member Chi Ossè.

The new library is a similar size to the old, and contains a reading room, outdoor reading terrace, community space to fit 50, a children's room with reading nooks and tables and a small stage for "impromptu storytelling and play."

A 12-foot window in the library overlooks the museum's exhibit space.

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But the inside of the library will also feature some artwork.

Murals by local artist Jasu Hu, whose work has been features in the New York Times and Washington Post, line the library's rooms and a story time rug in the children's reading room.

Programming will immediately kick off at Brower, with upcoming story times, computer classes and music production workshops.

"Growing up, I spent countless hours in our district's public libraries — I know how vital BPL's branches are in helping inspire a lifelong love of learning, literacy and creativity," said New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie.

The partnership will also spread beyond Brower — the children's museum will loan artifacts and objects to 10 libraries across the borough, like curling irons, dolls and sea sponges. Librarians will incorporate the items into programming and their catalog.

"Libraries create a world of wonder and inspiration for children of all ages, similar to our cultural institutions," said Assembly Member Brian A. Cunningham.