{"id":347424,"date":"2026-09-15T15:34:59","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T15:34:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/347424\/"},"modified":"2026-09-15T15:34:59","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T15:34:59","slug":"brooklyn-public-library-unveils-largest-dedicated-teen-center-at-central-library-brooklyn-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/347424\/","title":{"rendered":"Brooklyn Public Library unveils largest dedicated teen center at Central Library \u2022 Brooklyn Paper"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the first time, Brooklyn teens have a space at Central Library designed entirely with them in mind.<\/p>\n

The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) unveiled a new teen center and the renovated Eastern Parkway Collection Wing at its Central Library at Grand Army Plaza on Sept. 9. The opening marks the second phase of the Central Library\u2019s $67 million revitalization project, aimed at restoring the landmark building while creating a new, inspiring space for the next generation of library patrons.<\/p>\n

Located on the second floor of the Eastern Parkway wing, the new 4,700-square-foot teen center is the largest dedicated teen space of any of BPL\u2019s 62 branches. Designed by architect Toshiko Mori, the space features the young adult collection, a gaming center, listening and recording pods, and the Robin K. and Jay L. Lewis Teen Tech Center, a technology-rich classroom and makerspace.<\/p>\n

The informal, light-filled, cafe-style space provides plenty of room for teens \u2014 and only teens \u2014 to complete schoolwork, work on creative projects or socialize with friends in a safe place where talking and conversation are encouraged. It is also OK to be a little loud.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Teen Center is reserved for teens ages 13-18. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"The informal, light-filled cafe-style Teen Center provides plenty of room for teens. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

Linda E. Johnson, president and CEO of BPL, noted that the \u201cbeautiful light-filled space, complete with soaring archways,\u201d was more than a renovation; it was an investment in future generations and Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are thrilled to welcome our teen patrons to a new wing \u2014 a safe haven just for them, where they can read, indulge their creative passions, or hang out with friends to decompress after school,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cDesigned by Toshiko Mori Architect, it is sure to be the envy of younger siblings and parents alike. But make no mistake, this space is for teens only, and we are eager to see what they create here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Linda Johnson described the teen center as a safe haven for young people. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

Mori explained that the Teen Center\u2019s design was shaped by the existing architecture and historic bookcases along the perimeter of the space. The curved architectural forms break down the large, high-ceilinged room into a series of more intimate spaces, or \u201cArcades.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is an important statement for BPL to give the teenage community their own space, a large, significant place they can call their own,\u201d Mori said. \u201cThese Arcades function as a display of knowledge and a place of socialization more dynamic than traditional reading rooms. In the new Arts and Music Collections, spaces and volumes are consolidated through efficient spatialization and volume management, and complementary environments are introduced, such as a new browsing area, a quiet reading area, a group meeting area, and listening booths.\u201d<\/p>\n

New York state Assembly Member Robert C. Carroll (D-Brooklyn) said dedicated teen spaces were essential to keeping young people engaged creatively, educationally and civically instead of having \u201ctheir entire lives be gamified on their phone.\u201d<\/p>\n

As chair of the Assembly Committee on Libraries and Education Technology, Carroll led the effort to secure $13.2 million for essential capital needs at branch libraries throughout Brooklyn, as well as ongoing capital support for libraries statewide.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat you have done here is going to make sure that a next generation of Brooklynites become and stay readers, become interested in new ideas, become interested in new places that you\u2019re going to find in these books and new stories,\u201d Carroll said. \u201cAs long as I\u2019m the State Assembly member and the chair of the Libraries Committee, I will happily fight for this library and all of our libraries throughout the state to make sure they get the necessary financial support that they so desperately need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deputy Borough President Kim Council admitted that she was \u201cunapologetically biased when it comes to Brooklyn libraries,\u201d noting that libraries provide essential resources and technology, serve as community hubs and instill a love of reading in kids.<\/p>\n

The former librarian recalled her time as a high school student visiting the library, riding up the street and seeing Jay Z\u2019s lyrics on the wall. She thought it was \u201cgenius\u201d to celebrate the rapper and attract more people to the library.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a high school student, we had many a study group here. I may have used it as an excuse to hook up, meet up with a boyfriend,\u201d Council joked. \u201cSo to see the continued investment is beyond my scope of dreams. They\u2019re a great place to meet your neighbors, to work, to study, to get out of the heat. No library in the borough of Brooklyn brings people together like the Central Library. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important that we are celebrating the opening of these brand-new wings. When we invest in our libraries, we invest in the places that bring people together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Deputy Borough President Kim Council admitted that she was \u201cunapologetically biased when it comes to Brooklyn libraries.\u201d Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"The Teen Center is dedicated to teens only. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

The unveiling also celebrated the new collection space occupying the west end of the second floor in the Eastern Parkway Wing. Housing books and materials dedicated to art, music and sports, the space also includes quiet reading nooks, study booths and an art studio.<\/p>\n

Original historic shelving and exhibition display cases along the perimeter window walls remain and have been refurbished. Library visitors will also find a new collection devoted to crafts. With a library card, patrons can borrow craft tools and kits ranging from bookbinding and screen printing to metal stamping and hand embroidery.<\/p>\n

The kits include an assortment of supplies and are designed to help patrons learn or complete a craft. Tools are single-purpose items needed for a specific craft, job or hobby area.<\/p>\n

The renovation is part of the largest spate of library redevelopment since the Carnegie era, updating aging infrastructure systemwide and enhancing branch library design.<\/p>\n

The first phase of the renovation included returning formerly administrative space to the public and creating four new spaces, including the Civic Commons, a community engagement space featuring a computer center and IDNYC services; the New and Noteworthy book gallery, with librarian-curated book titles; an enlarged and modernized Business and Career Center for job seekers, entrepreneurs and small-business owners; and the Major Owens Welcome Center, dedicated to the late congressman.<\/p>\n

Owens represented Central Brooklyn neighborhoods from 1983 until he retired in 2006. Before being elected to Congress, he worked as a librarian at Central Library and earned the moniker \u201cThe Librarian in Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n

Future projects include renovations to the adult learning center, children\u2019s wing and a main reading room on the second floor.<\/p>\n

The renovation is generously supported by private funding from The Carson Family Charitable Trust, Miriam Katowitz & Arthur Radin, Robin K. & Jay L. Lewis, Susan & David Marcinek, the Estate of Doris M. Ohlsen, Brian O\u2019Neil and Family, and anonymous donors. Government funding was allocated by Carroll, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Council Member Crystal Hudson, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and New York state Sen. Zellnor Myrie.<\/p>\n

The New York State Education Department provided additional support.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For the first time, Brooklyn teens have a space at Central Library designed entirely with them in mind.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":347425,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[129970,98,100,99,14749,53557,129971,129972,9,24,129973,12,370,63,129974],"class_list":["post-347424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-brooklyn","tag-bpl-central-library","tag-brooklyn","tag-brooklyn-headlines","tag-brooklyn-news","tag-brooklyn-public-library","tag-kim-council","tag-library-renovation","tag-linda-e-johnson","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-new-york-state-assembly-member-robert-c-carroll","tag-news","tag-newsletter","tag-nyc","tag-toshiko-mori-architect"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=347424"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347424\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/347425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=347424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=347424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=347424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}