Brooklyn Public Library – Bay Ridge Library

Way back when I used to cut school and hang out here when my friends house wasnt available. You know what I mean who hasnt cut school and used some library to hide in until the coast was clear. Lol
Well stopping by here recently I noticed this place has changed. Since the last time I was here like 30 years ago. I needed a book to study for a civil service test and someone told me check out the local library.
The librarian was friendly and kind she showed me the books and they didnt have the one I was looking for. When she asked for my library card, the card I showed was long out dated. So I got a new and updated library card on the spot even though my book wasnt available.

I was told this library had been fully renovated in 2004 with more than 2 million dollars, obviously they did a great job. I like the huge window and the clean spacious table.
Network speed is OK (about 10Mb/​s), librarians are very helpful and courteous, plugs are enough, everything is good.
Also, the noise level is acceptable I think, you just need to wear a usual pair of headphones.

I came here to study for a huge exam purposely to concentrate and not be distracted. HUGE MISTAKE! This has got to be one of the worst libraries in terms of least possible noise ever. I wound up leaving after 25 minutes. The first floor was relatively occupied; ok no problem. However there was a man talking extremely loud in full conversation mode with someone. I’m completely distracted and wait for one of the employees to ask if he would lower his voice Never happened,. I went upstairs hoping for more of a quiet environment and it was no better. I was better off trying to study at home, my home distractions and all.
I do not recommend if you need some sort of quietude to study.

HUGE and beautiful. Has that «old library» smell. Love that there’s a café in the front where you can eat, read, and rest.

I love the amenities that the public library offers these days, and I don’t feel cheated that my tax money actually was put into good use by the community! there’s limited DVD selections, but you can always request books and DVD that’s on their catalog but not physically on this library online and pick up when it’s available, there’s email system to remind you that it’s arriving and when your items are about due. There’s also limited online ebook selection that you can download. their operating hours are very reasonable, not typical 9 – 5 so it’s good for people w different schedules. I rarely spend much time in the library, but i know there’s wifi and good AC during summer, lots of sun during daytime! The only thing i dislike is there’s no book slot that we can return our items when the library is closed.

This library is not too bad. Children books is upstairs and the Adult books are on the main floor. Both floors have computers to use for up to 30 minutes of use if there is people waiting to use it. You can certainly bring your laptop as they have free WIFI. The staff are helpful, but yet sometimes busy. Most of the time, I see them fixing library card issues. The only problem, I have with this place is when the children come here. They are making a ton of noise. Yo, parents control your kids. You are disturbing the other adults. This is a library and not a school lunchroom.
Please tell me if this makes sense. One girl and her friend said they are ran out of printing ink at home, so they spend $ 50 plus to print whatever they need to print at the library. IDIOTS!!! Not only that they caused a line for people who needed to print out stuff and made them wait. IDIOTS x 2!!! They also broke the printer IDIOTS x 3!!! You just can’t make this stuff up.
End of story.

Helpful staff, great event boards posted outside, diverse collection reflective of the surrounding area. I’m hoping that this library will expand again one day because it’s a great resource to the community of Bay Ridge. Hooray for this branch and all branches of the wonderful Brooklyn Public Library!!!

I actually really like this library. The staff members are very helpful and they have an automated check out system. Unfortunately you can only use their automated system so sometimes there’s a line to check out books and DVDs. I love that they have a book drop so I dont have to wait in line to return books but they do not have an overnight drop.

I recently went to this library to work on my resume, thinking I’d have a nice, quiet space to concentrate. I would have been better off going to Grand Central for peace and quiet. I have never been in such a noisy library and I don’t know why the librarians don’t have things under control. I’m not a violent person but I wanted to punch most of the people there. People’s cell phones were going off, two people constantly had IM chimes dinging, kids and adults were yelling and old men were burping, sniffling and snoring. I left needing an Advil for my headache.

I have to agree with Diana, they took forever on the remodeling. I think the delay was because fixing the wiring for upgrading the library to being computer friendly.
But before the remodeling, I use to come here as a child. I use to love how this library was bigger than Sunset Park’s branch library, and that the children section was actually on the second floor. On the first floor now, with the second that took over the newspaper microfilm area is a computer lab.

This is my closest local library branch. I used to come all the time as child and belonged to the local RIF program. Back they used to give free books. They remodeled this branch a few year ago. Which took forever by the way. But I must say after they remodeled it, the place became a lot brighter and open. It’s a pretty good branch decent sized. Though it’s across the street from from a school so after three it can get packed with kids. The one good thing is that they have the whole second floor so they won’t be completely in your way.