NYC Arts: The Complete Guide to Art and Culture

The fifth-largest library system in the country, the Brooklyn Public Library serves more than six million people each year.

The famous Central Library, whose building resembles an open book, is the main reference center and the core of a boroughwide system with 58 branches in as many neighborhoods.

The library's collections contain more than five million books, periodicals, records, videos, audiotapes, sheet music and compact discs. Foreign language collections in 70 different languages—from Arabic to Creole to Vietnamese—are tailored to the neighborhoods they serve.

Programs for Seniors
The Brooklyn Public Library has many borough-wide services and programs for patrons 55 and older, including a Web page describing its resources.
These include lectures, films and performances. Creative Writing and Words and Memories are two library programs that take place in assisted living centers and senior centers. The free Books by Mail program supplies large print books, books-on-tape, audio CDs and DVDs to people who are homebound and have a vision disability.

For more information, contact the Service to the Aging (SAGE) office at (718) 236-1760 or TTY (718) 232-6849 or by e-mail seniors@brooklynpubliclibrary.org.

Foreign-language Programs
There are language discussion groups and the central and branch libraries have vast resources of books and materials in other languages. Rough 10 events each year are conducted in other language, such as Chinese, Russian and Spanish. Materials and brochures are available in languages including Chinese, Spanish, Urdu and French Creole.

• Directions: Subway: 2, 3 to Grand Army Plaza or Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum

• Disability Access: Varies according to branch
• Disability Assistance: For information, call (718) 236-1760 or TTY (718) 232-6849.
• On-Site Food: Cafe in main lobby
• On-Site Parking: Varies according to branch

Get involved with Brooklyn Public Library

• Donations through NYCharities.org