After months of renovations, the Bedford Library has reopened.
Linda E. Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the Brooklyn Public Library, joined local officials and community members at the library’s Franklin Avenue location to celebrate the reopening of BPL's founding branch on Friday, according to a press release.
Bedford Library, which originally opened in December 1897, underwent a $2.4 million renovation, which included the installation of a new HVAC system to improve air quality, an advanced building management system and an energy-efficient heating and cooling system.
Johnson said the reopening ushered in a new era of community building and empowerment.
“As the first public library in the borough, Bedford Library has provided Brooklynites space to explore their interests, read great books and connect with one another for over 125 years,” she said. “We are thrilled to be back on Franklin Avenue—in a newly modernized and energy efficient building—helping a new generation discover all the Library has to offer from story time to career classes and so much more.”
A public welcome back block party is planned for Saturday, May 17, with activities for children, teens and adults.
The renovation also included replacing all 77 windows with energy-saving models that offer superior insulation, UV protection and noise reduction. Historic wood trims were preserved during the window replacement process to maintain the building’s architectural integrity.
Inside, the branch received new flooring made partly with recyclable materials, a modernized elevator cab and upgraded LED lighting. The interior was repainted, and new landscaping was added outside to refresh the library grounds.
DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley said the renovations are designed to better serve library-goers while reducing the building’s carbon footprint.
“This will better serve the library-goers who use this 120-year-old building, keeping them safer and more comfortable as the effects of climate change become more severe," Foley said. "The historic significance of the building guided our work as we made sure renovations were done properly and with care.”
Community leaders praised the reopening, highlighting the importance of libraries as centers for learning and community life.
“The Bedford branch of the Brooklyn Public Library is a neighborhood institution that was sorely missed," said Council Member Chi Ossè. "We are so excited for its doors to open again and for our neighbors to experience the benefits of the brand-new renovations."
State Senator Jabari Brisport said the "world is better when we have enriching places where we get to exist as members of a community, rather than as customers."
"The new investments in the Bedford Library are investments in our shared humanity through a space that offers us all opportunities for connection and learning," he said.
