Introduction

Libraries have served communities as centers of learning, research, and discovery; they are crucial in promoting literacy, education, and intellectual liberty. With its wide range of resources people of all backgrounds and interests gain access to books, digital media, and online databases. They also offer various services such as literacy programs, job search assistance, and technology training, making them a valuable resource for community members who might not otherwise have access to these places.

In Sunset Park, the library is a critical community asset. A branch of the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), the library has undergone major changes and upgrades since its opening in 1905. As demand increases, the library closed for rebuilding and is currently operating from an interim space in the former court house on 4201 Fourth Avenue, sharing the space with Community Board 7 and the NYPD office.

Upon completion of the new structure (projected to be in Winter 2023), the library will move back to its original location, leaving the current interim library location vacant. This presents new possibilities and imaginaries to transform the space into a place for the local community.