Neighbors, architects, and local leaders grabbed their shovels to effect the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Greenpoint Library and Environmental Educational Center. The facility, designed by Marble Fairbanks, will rise steadily from this patch of newly tilled soil until it is fully formed, sometime before 2018 ends. The new Greenpoint Library will be built to achieve LEED Silver Green Building Certification, and will be double the size of its predecessor.
The rebuild will cost $15M. Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund (GCEF) provided a grant of $5M to the Brooklyn Public Library who allocated $10M to the project from their own funds.
The architects’ floor plans include: reading rooms for adults, young adults, and children; community spaces for central library functions and those for the Environmental Education Center, lab spaces, a large community event space which divides into two more lab spaces, a lounge, small meeting rooms, staff spaces, an exterior green space, and green roofs.
“I could think of no better place to build the library of the future and foster environmental stewards of our community,” said Assembly Member Joseph Lentol
The 107 Norman Ave site has held a library since 1906. This will be the library’s third incarnation.
Meanwhile until the library reopens: A bookmobile will be on site Tuesdays & Thursdays at Norman Avenue and Leonard Street, where residents can browse, check out and return library books and DVDs from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. For further reading the Park Church Co-op (129 Russell St.) near McGolrick Park will stock reading materials for browsing and borrowing in one of their community rooms at 109 Russell St. during the following schedule: 12 p.m.–4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m.–4 p.m. Sunday afternoons. For early childhood storytime visit the Greenpoint YMCA (99 Meserole Ave.) Toddler Time (18-36 mos.) will be held Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and Babies & Books (0-18 mos.) will be on Thursdays at 10 a.m. You may also visit Brooklyn Library’s Leonard Street Branch (81 Devoe St.) or Williamsburg Branch (240 Division Ave.)
