Library services continue despite closings

Both the Red Hook Library and Carroll Gardens Library are closed long-term for renovations. The closest open libraries to Red Hook are in Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights, which is not ideal for locals. In the meantime, there are a few options for those who miss the library. On Tuesdays from 11- 4 pm, there will either be a bookmobile or techmobile in Coffey Park. In addition to the services in Red Hook, there will be a techmobile at Carroll Park on Monday, September 11 from 11 am to 4 pm as well as on September 25, at the same time and location.

The techmobile features computers with internet access. The bookmobile, serves as a small, mobile library. Both Gretchen Alexander and Labreisha Gamble were there when I stopped by at Coffey Park on August 22. I went inside the vehicle and there was plenty of room to read and use the internet.

I did not see anyone using the techmobile in the hour I spent there. That made me wonder how upset people actually are about the libraries closing, so I asked people from the neighborhood for their thoughts.

“I’m not someone who relies on the library but I know there are people who go there almost every day,” said Sarah Gonzalez from Red Hook. “For them, I wish it was open because this is bad for them.”

Others had no concerns about libraries in the neighborhoods being closed for a while, with John, a Carroll Gardens resident, saying “It doesn’t affect

by Brian Abate

me at all. In the old days before everyone had laptops and iPhones, I would be concerned but in 2023, I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

About 20 people were kind enough to give me their opinions, and about half were upset. I also asked if those who were concerned about the closures felt the renovations were necessary.

“I don’t spend much time in the library but it looked fine to me,” said Mike Jones from Red Hook. “They’ll probably make it a lot nicer but is it worth closing it down for who knows how long? I don’t know.”

One of my personal concerns was that both libraries were going to be closed at the same time. At a meeting before Red Hook closed, one woman said it just wouldn’t make sense for her kids to have to travel for an hour to get to the library, and that they had no plans to rely on other branches while the Red Hook one was closed.

I reached out to Fritzi Bodenheimer, press officer for the Brooklyn Public Library and she responded with the following statement:

“For the past several years, Brooklyn Public Library has invested in closing a significant capital needs gap and updating aging infrastructure systemwide. The result of that work is that we are now in a period of aggressive rebuilding and repair, ensuring our libraries can serve the borough for generations to come.

“While work is underway, the bookmo-