Nearly a year after its windows were blown out, its wood furniture and paper books soaked through, its equipment and ventilation systems destroyed, and its floors submerged in water and muck, the Gerritsen Beach branch of the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) has finally reopened to the public as a sight for sore eyes.
The newly renovated library is still located at 2808 Gerritsen Avenue, near Bartlett Place, but now features new glass entryway façade, airy atrium, and a host of new amenities and equipment.
Around $1.5 million in repairs—funded in part via grants from the AIG Disaster Relief Fund and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC—were made to the building, which was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy’s winds and floodwaters.
“I am pleased to report that the library is now open and better than ever, featuring a completely new collection, an [Americans with Disabilities Act]-compliant layout, new roof, three meeting rooms, and two self-check machines, among countless other improvements,” said Linda E. Johnson, president and CEO of BPL.
The only remaining Sandy-affected Brooklyn public library is the Coney Island branch, which is slated to reopen later this month.
