Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn Heights Library

It’s been a while since I was at the Library, let’s see, oh yes, 1993, then again 2016. Well, when I was a kid I practically grew up at this place. last weeks visit brought back lots of memories. The staff was warm and helpful and you still get the creepy characters hanging here for hours. Nothing new here. Now there is security, and a TSA guard checking for contraband and all sorts of book dangerous materials. Everything at BPL, is streamlined, databases are on-​line, there is WiFi, and no Starbucks concession, but it’s just a matter of time. BPL, is a marvelous resource for those of us who learned how to use and navigate card catalogs. (What’s that you say, look it up!) BPL and all NYPL need our, and yes yours too support. So please give generously, your cherished freedoms depend on it.

Easily accessible via mass transit to Borough Hall. I loved that this branch is dedicated to small business development and attended one of the free seminars/​workshops hosted by the NYC Department of Small Business Services. The librarian at the front desk needs to multitask assisting a patron while greeting another patron in need of navigational assistance to attend a free course that had already begun. If I did not speak up, who knows how long I would have waited for the gentleman ahead of me to conclude his inquisition? The unisex bathroom could use a little help with cleanliness.

Great place. Conference rooms are available and the staff is very helpful.

I love this library. Lots of real books and filled with kids doing homework. I live right up the street and visit often. It needs better air conditioning though.
Now I hear they want to tear it down and build condos and a smaller library. So sad.

This library is much bigger than the Carroll Gardens branch, and is also not a single room, so you may have more luck finding a quiet spot. Sometimes, the Carroll Gardens branch can get extremely loud, especially when there are a lot of children in there.
This library also has a much bigger selection of materials to borrow.
However, it can get crowded at times. The Wi-​Fi here is abysmally slow, even when you are upstairs (which is where a librarian mentioned the router was.)
However, the most intolerable aspect of this library is how many crazy people there are here. People talking to themselves rather loudly while pacing around, people talking to themselves while studying, seemingly unaware that they are in a library and that libraries are supposed to be quiet, people with the most repulsive body odor making no effort to hide the multiple containers of hot food they’re eating out of, again, unaware that it is a library… the list goes on. It’s not only distracting, but it’s also unsettling, and while the Carroll Gardens branch can get distractingly noisy, it’s much more rare, in my experience, to encounter people with such overt mental issues.

The computers are slow. Painfully slow. Turtle walking through molasses slow. Absolutely ridiculous.

I’m still amazed by the amount of Brooklynites who have no idea that this library exists. It’s been around for several years and it’s a real gem. There are two levels. It’s very clean with well stocked bookshelves and actually quiet. Brooklyn Heights library is in fact so quiet, that you almost expect the staff to be made up of strict, old fashioned schoolmarms with their hair pulled back in tight buns, wearing reading glasses with chains on them. Fortunately, no one here looks like that. The business library is first-​rate. Free internet access in the computer room with your library card. It’s just annoying that users are limited to only an hour of internet usage. Internet access is limited to no more than 2, timed sessions daily. There’s a very informative bulletin board tacked up with info regarding everything from childcare services to city exam postings. Self checkout and a book drop for returns after hours.

This is one of the smallest library I have ever visited, I don’t see any librarians working there. I came all the way here just to return my DVDs yesterday, the drop off place was the right side from the entrance. Then you would probably see a sign saying «return». Drop all your library material to the opening area near the wall and then you are done. I didn’t have time to check on the second floor but the library was super duper quiet. Some seniors were just reading newspaper or magazines, actually not many people notice this spot neither.
It’s a great place to drop off your books or DVDs or maybe you can study more efficient here because of the quiet atmosphere. However, it’s not a interesting to hang out with friends. My friends and me were rushing to leave right after I return my DVDs because it’s abnormally quite!!! It’s kinda scaring as well.
I have no idea when they gonna scan my DVDs and record to the system because my online library account still indicates that I owe the them. SMH.

I came here to get a library card. Court Street station is the closest stop.
I still like the good ol’ smell of a paper book… minus the faint smell of B. O in different parts of the building… Ohhh well…
The lady in the information desk is not helpful. What happened to my childhood memories of librarians being so helpful? Cause now, they’re just not…
Anyway, Since I came here to get a library card this is how you do it:
You need to apply for it online at home or at the computer kiosk at the library.
If you apply for it at home the card can be mailed to you… but if you do it at the library, you can get it right away. Make sure you have your ID. It’s free, of course, and you can get your books right away.

Good thing I only come in here to drop by books off and get my new ones on hold because its always a thousand degrees, it seems like the place to go for loud obnoxious smelly people to hang out, oh and again it’s reeks of B.O. Hence why I always request books on hold so that I only have to interact with the front desk area which is the only respectable area of the library. I hope you don’t ever have to go upstairs and find a book. If you do, hold your breath.

Okay, with the digital age, I have not been to a library since… since…maybe college? Oh wait, I did go to the library once up at the IBM Poughkeepsie when I worked there back in 1998. But since then, I can’t think of the last time I went to the library. So, what better time to change that than the 3^rd day of the new year!
During my lunch hour I walked the five blocks or so from my office to head over to the Brooklyn Public Library on Cadman Plaza. The outside was big and grand, but the inside brought me back to the days as a child going to the Baldwin Public Library in my neighborhood. I took a walk around the first floor where there were some tables and chairs that looked like they were still from the 80s. It was actually pretty crowded, but I found a seat and decided to check the reviews online for the library to see if anyone mentioned parts of the library that I should go to. (Good thing I didn’t do this field trip in the summer though, a ton of reviews mentioned it was super hot and they often had to close early because of the heat!)
I saw that they mentioned a second floor so I went exploring. I took the elevator to the second floor and headed up to another reading section. It was also crowded, but a bit less and I decided to settle into a seat and read my iPad (Yeah, yeah… I went to the library to read a digital book that was in my purse to begin with!) The seats were uncomfortable, but it was kind of nice being there and enjoying the peace and quiet away from work for a little bit.
I might be back to read my iPad again. But then again, Starbucks actually might be a bit more comfortable of a place to do that. I can at least say I tried it once though!

I almost had a heat stroke in there! Apparently the AC is broken. which happens, fine. but after seeing other reviews it looks like this has been happening at LEAST 4 days. Not acceptable. Because of this, the library was closing at 11’o clock today. Wow, how convenient.
When you want to use the computer (there are two computer rooms) you have to swipe your library card to sign in. They then give you a reservation time which is most likely going to be at least an hour later. If you want take care of business and get in and out… I suggest you be the first person there in the morning or not come at all.
The process for applying for a card is easy and takes less than 5 minutes. All you need is a valid ID and a piece of mail that you received at your NY address.
The staff was pretty unprofessional. Both in attire and attitude. One of the ladies at the information desk was on FACEBOOK instead of being attentive to patrons with questions.
Although its pretty close to me, I probably wouldn’t return.

Plain jane interior with spaced out shelves. Easy to locate off the Court Street R-​train.
Came here with friends to pick up books. Upon entrance, just a dense warm environment because the library was closing at 2p and saving electricity off AC because of the heat. Sitting at the tables underneath a fan, I got by staying still and just reading and avoided touching the table because it was uncomfortably sticky and warm. No idea how other patrons just sat there with their laptops and books to study. The wifi was pretty slow too and difficult to log on.
The librarian on duty was friendly and quick to help my friend. Once we got the books, we were out of there. Boy, outside was cooler with the brief breeze and bits of shade.
I suppose if I came here on another not so hot day this library would be better. But for now, low star review just for the discomfort of the warm interior.

This library is right off of the Court street station on the R train, across the street from the New York Supreme Court. The look of the library is mediocre, looks like any other Brooklyn Public library. But what really had me annoyed was the heat! Now I know the system is broke at the moment, but you seriously can’t crack the AC? Not even on low? It was cooler outside than in the building! Funny story; as we were leaving, we saw a sign on the door that said «Library closing today at 2pm due to heat!». Wow, go figure.
This place is great if you actually have an agenda. It’s the Business and Career library, so you’ll find plenty of books pertaining to the business, law, and psychology field. And the biggest plus? They have all the United States official law publications stacked up against the back wall! Looking for a certain case or maybe a bill signed into law? They have the publication. They also have books and published articles on current internships and the job market. So if you’re actually trying to find a job or need help preparing for an interview, they have plenty of books to help you get started.
On top of that, they have plenty of leisure books– autobiographies, business publications, magazines, etc. Great for casual reading! I borrowed 4 books, I should be set for a bit. The good thing is that since this place is part of the Brooklyn Public Library system, their library card works fine, no special card required. You can also return the books to any Brooklyn Public Library, so traveling shouldn’t be that much of a hassle (for me at least).

Small
Business
Section is
Great. Façade is
Pretty but inside school look. Closed Sundays.

How can you be out of books on affirmative action? Lmao. I found this hysterical. But other than that, this library is ok, nothing special. The staff is pretty knowledgeable, except for the one lady at the information desk who is like 93 years old, but… moving on.
I usually come here for the business reference books, which they have a small selection of.

Decent selection of reads but the staff here has a serious stick up the rear.
The place is always clean and everything is always where it’s supposed to be. I really like this place just minus the staff.

This branch of the library is pretty decent. They have a good selection of fiction and best sellers. Of course the Grand Army Plaza central branch is much better, but you can always request a hold if what you want is available at another branch. My only complaint is one time I saw one of the checkout clerks Facebooking instead of helping customers waiting on the line. tsk tsk That’s why I’m taking off one star. Also as in any public library there are sometimes homeless people who congregate in the reading rooms.

This libraries hours are definitely not what I need. They always seem to close 5 minutes before I can get there.
I definitely can’t make it there after work w. the exception of Tuesdays.
I have to actually set a reminder for myself to hit this first on my Saturday errands or else I will realize at 4:45 that I only have a few minutes to get there.
I never really browse here so I can’t comment on what they have. I do seem to remember seeing a surprising amount of animé dvds if you are into that kind of thing.

This BPL is a beauty from the outside. Situated at Cadman and near the park, it was a nice stumble upon. The chairs and tables are heavy and provide a great workspace.
No Card Playing? I guess the ruckus from Goldfish must be disturbing other patrons.
Have a good time, pick up a good book!