Brooklyn Public Library celebrates 125th anniversary with Grand Army Plaza ceremony
A 125th anniversary ceremony for the Brooklyn Public Library took place on Monday at the new Civic Commons of the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza, and Borough President and Mayor-elect Eric Adams said he was looking forward to the next 125 years.
The Civic Commons, opened earlier this year, is a dedicated hub for organizations and services that facilitate participation in public life, with a new entrance on Flatbush Avenue. It is home to Central Library’s Passport Services Center, IDNYC office, a rotating community partner office and a computer lab. In the future, the space will host civic events such as local committee meetings, informational workshops and voter registration drives.
Issuing a proclamation, BP Adams said, “For more than a century, the Brooklyn Public Library has been a hub of learning, enrichment, and civic participation serving Brooklynites of all backgrounds. As we celebrate the 125th anniversary of this institution this year, it is also worthwhile to reflect on what the next 125 years will look like, and how the library can deepen its commitment to equity.
“The two new facilities we are unveiling today, the Civic Commons and the TechMobile, point the way forward. These new facilities will help us tackle some of our city’s most pressing issues, such as the difficulty immigrant New Yorkers face in accessing city services, and the shameful digital divide that holds people of all ages back from realizing their full potential,” he added.