Bookworms Reemerge as Libraries Reopen

Positioned adjacent to Grand Army Plaza stands the majestic-looking building of the Central Library of Brooklyn. The library recently reopened on May 10, along with 13 other branches. With the reopening of the Central Library, visitors can now browse through the newly renovated space designed by architect Toshiko Mori. “People are so excited to be back in the building and doing their own thing again,” said Christine Schonhart, Director of the Central Library. “We had a couple of people cry because they were so overwhelmed with emotion.”

According to a study by the Literary Journal, an estimated 94% of libraries immediately closed in response to the rise of COVID-19 cases. The rest cut off their public programs and took precautions until they had to close their doors as well. The pandemic hit the nation hard as businesses continued to shut down. People had no clue when reopening would be possible. As vaccines become more readily available a year later, libraries are now opening their doors to the community once again as New York City transitions into Phase 4 of the reopening.

In the face of the pandemic, the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) stood firm. Rather than let the event deter them, BPL used the opportunity to get creative. “We found a whole new audience, really,” said Schonhart. Akin to libraries across the country, BPL grew their outreach virtually to an international level, no longer limited to their local community. “We’re reaching people beyond Brooklyn, beyond New York City, around the world. People have more flexibility to join now.”

A favorite story of Schonhart’s is how popular a Tibetan storytime by Tenzin Kalsang, a librarian at BPL, became. “People from all over the world were attending her virtual storytime because it was such a unique opportunity for people to hear storytime in the Tibetan language that is not readily available,” said Schonhart. Indeed, the storytime is a hit as one of the videos already garnered over twenty thousand views. Schonhart continued, “She became a minor celebrity here in Brooklyn for that.”

Not only did BPL focus on virtual programs, but they also focused on in-person programs that support their community going through the hard times of the pandemic. One such project is the concept of “Whispering Libraries,” an initiative that curates playlists of music, poetry, oral history and spoken literature in ten selected branches. Snippets are played throughout the borough as volunteer cyclists pedal through the streets with small speakers attached to their cycles. “Imagine walking by one of our branches before the building opens for service, and you hear a poem or a segment of a historical speech,” said László Jakab Orsós, Vice President of Arts and Culture. “We hope that a whispering library will make you smile and inspire you.”

Along with “Whispering Libraries,” BPL also opened outdoor spaces for patrons at 22 of its 60 branches starting in April. The purpose behind the project is to offer a space for visitors to sit and talk, use the WI-FI, or have a quiet time with a book. Originating from the Central Library’s “Celestial Heroes Banquet” in their Outdoor Living Room, the community received the concept well. This prompted the library to spread to other branches as visitors appreciated the availability of a nice quiet space in the outdoors.

After a string of projects, the BPL branches are finally opening up their doors, including the Central Library. Patrons can browse for a timed duration and make appointments to use computers at select locations. BPL plans to extend these services to all of its grab-and-go sites in the upcoming weeks. Of course, all visitors must adhere to safety protocols, including wearing masks, social distancing and respecting time limits to ensure that patrons can properly utilize services. “We had a couple of people come in not wanting to wear a mask. So we offer them a mask,” said Schonhart. With the new CDC announcement, there may be a misconception that masks are no longer required. Businesses make the final decision regarding masks and social distancing. “We as a library have that as our policy,” Schonhart said.

The public has missed the library and even questioned what took them so long to reopen. “We had initially planned on opening up back in November. But, then, there was a spike. There was no vaccine. It was just not the right time,” said Schonhart. As the city progressed through phases of reopening, things started to look up for the BPL’s prospect of reopening. However, the reopening was still a significant task for them. “It’s tough to explain because again, we’ve got 60 buildings working under 1,400 employees across Brooklyn, and they hadn’t been cleared for a vaccine by mid-March. It was hard. But cases were going down. [Vaccination] rates were going up. So that was the right crossline for us to reopen,” Schonhart said.

The New York Public Library and Queens Public Library have also extended their services as of May 10. Expanded services, including limited browsing and computer reservations, are available at select grab-and-go locations of The New York Public Library. The Queens Public Library is providing browsing, public computer usage and in-person reference at 14 sites. In addition, they will be moving 12 additional locations from to-go service to Stage 2 of their Reopening Plan as of May 24.

The public response to the Central Library’s reopening is positive as many patrons are elated to have the community space of a library back in their lives. “I think the renovations are beautiful, and I’m happy they are open,” said Jessica, a Brooklyn resident. “If you live in an apartment, there’s only limited space, so it’s nice to have access to more books.” The Central Library is home to over a million books, making it well stocked for its annual two million visitors. “I feel like sometimes you just have to unplug and read a book and sit back and relax,” said Sheena, a patron of BPL. “I’m happy to have someplace to come back to. I missed this place.”