History
Prior to Adams Street Library's opening in 2021, Brooklynites in the DUMBO, Vinegar Hill and Farragut communities did not have a local library to call their own. BPL was determined to change that by opening a brand-new branch tailored to meet the needs of the neighborhood's children, teens and adults. The plans for the new branch grew out of discussions between BPL and Councilman Stephen Levin in 2015 during the ULURP process for the nearby Brooklyn Heights Library.
Beginning in January 2019, BPL—with support from Hester Street and Grain Collective—met with dozens of stakeholders to share information about the new library and gather input on its design and programming. In June 2019, BPL invited stakeholders and the public to preview design concepts of the new library, from the New York-based architects WorkAC, at the Made in NYC Media Center by IFP. See the presentation here (.pdf).
From 2019 through 2021, with assistance from Brooklyn Bridge Park, BPL was able to offer some of its services at “The Annex” on John Street, across the street from where its new library was being built.
Timeline for the new Adams Street Library
- January 2019: Community engagement with Hester Street and Grain Collective began
- Early 2020: Construction started
- October 2021: The new Adams Street Library opened to the public
