Brooklyn Public Library is not part of the New York Public Library System. Little did I know that…read moreyou don't have to be a Brooklyn Resident to join. There's a lot of great online content and applications available to you if you're a member. Some are applications that would cost you if you download them from the App Store. I'm not sure where my review is but I know I did one. I'm going to look for my photos. I've been to some great exhibitions that I'll share photos after I find them! I've got friends that live in Brooklyn and we meet at the library. I have to admit that if I didn't love Manhattan, Brooklyn would be my second choice! Check out the library website for branches near you.

The Brooklyn Public Library was founded in 1892 by an act of the New York State Legislature, with…read moreits first official branch, Bedford Library, opening in 1896. The library system grew significantly with the help of Andrew Carnegie's $1.6 million donation, funding 21 new branches in the early 20th century. What a beautiful library! I love the art incorporated into the building. The Brooklyn Library is vast and has multiple outlets. On this particular day, the library was honoring James Balwin. James Baldwin, an African-American writer and civil rights activist, garnered acclaim for his essays, novels, plays, and poems. It was such a great exhibit, and I was in awe of how big the library was. This is a library with so much history, and it is a must-visit if you are in the area.

This place is clean, welcoming, and especially great for families with toddlers. There are regular…read moreevents for little ones, and a dedicated kids' room on the second floor that serves as a fun play area. You can request toys from the librarian, which adds an extra layer of engagement. Plus, the book selection is impressively large, making it a great spot for both kids and adults.

This place is fire I enjoyed the teen section, got my homework done, 10/10 made some new friends…read morewith the librarians and chopped it up with the staff

Interesting offshoot of the Brooklyn Public Library system. Being fairly new, it's fairly nice,…read moreclean, and has high ceilings. It's not super huge, but it's not a terrible place to get a little bit of work done to pass some time. I arrived recently when it was warmer than usual. Unfortunately, that meant the AC wasn't kicking in. That was a bummer. There are a couple meeting rooms along with some space for people to do some work for a short amount of time. There is a play area for kids, so it can get a bit noisy though. Then again, the library has to serve the greater good of the people. The architecture, as some have mentioned, is quite new and modern. It does make it a pleasant experience to enjoy. I don't know if it's super spacious, but it does do the job.

The DUMBO branch of BPL is the newest and latest library (since 1983!) and the sheer newness and…read morebeautifully modern design of the space speaks to that. The waterfront views of Manhattan Bridge and the various study spaces make this library a great choice for working though it does get a little noisy after 2pm with lots of younger patrons coming in then. Four super large, clean, private gender-neutral bathrooms and two water fountains! More libraries need better water fountains!

I'm an avid library-goer, and I attended this branch recently and loved it. Although it was a rainy…read moreday, there were several people waiting outside, including myself, to enter the library minutes before 10 am. This facility is large and clean with plenty of workstations and outlets. There's also more than one floor at this branch. I found my new go-to library location and I'm excited

Updating my review because the new library location at One Clinton is fabulous. The space is a…read morelittle wonky shaped, kind of like an arrowhead as the space does occupy the corner of Cadman Plaza W and Clinton St. There is a children's section in the basement, a reading room with plenty of desks on one side of the first floor and a reading circle on the other side, and a teens space on the mezzanine level upstairs. As it is a fairly new and renovated space, everything is really nice and clean. The library itself is massive and houses so many books too. My only complaint is that I wish the desks in the reading room had outlets on both sides of the table and that there were more tables and desks near the reading circle as it is not the most comfortable place to sit and read.

Adore this clean light big beautiful calm library! Books always are in good conditionread more

Smaller Library. They have a small play area for your…read morechildren with a small "kitchen" set. I've only been here once as I do prefer to bring my child to the Bay Ridge Location because of the set up. But my impressions are that the staff is very accommodating and are ready to help when necessary. It seems to be much quieter than the BR Location so, if you do need a quiet space for study, this would be the right location.

This library is located in park slope section of Brooklyn its very modern and I love the modest art…read morework architect its has that wooden frame inside and i love it ,there have the Hewlett Packard ( HP) computers ( similar to : Apple, Acer, Dell, Gateway, Lenovo, Panasanoic, Samsung Toshiba ,-Computers company's ) .It's very cool laid back here in this library its similar to the other Brooklyn public library i go to on Grand army plaza & Flatbush avenue ( Main branch),(Flatbush branch) on Linden Blvd & Flatbush avenue or (Crown Heights branch ) on New York Avenue & East New York avenue . Very convivent by the mta transportation: Subway: F,G-Train. 7street train station or R-train.9 street train station. Bus: B67,B69

This library is definitely on the smaller side compared to others I've visited. It has a few large…read moretables for working, which is nice in theory--but the limited space makes it feel a bit cramped. You're seated pretty close to others, and it can get distracting. I've avoided using the public computers because, well... let's just say the ambiance isn't ideal--between loud coughing fits and the occasional old man fully snoring, it's not exactly the vibe for focused work. There's a children's section immediately to the right of the entrance with tables, a rug, and a few computers for the little ones. It's thoughtfully set up, but again--space is the issue. Everything feels tight and crowded, which is surprising (and honestly disappointing) given how large and family-heavy the Park Slope neighborhood is. It works in a pinch, but it's not the kind of library you linger in for long.

Let's talk about great customer service. Shout out to Anthony and Carol was so friendly. Library…read morewas full of people. They explain great programs that the library offer. Looking forward to visiting this location again.

They've got a good selection of books in here, it's nice and quiet and very clean . I love coming…read morein here and they also have nice and clean restrooms.

This Library is suitable to do your research which is basic. I came here for a meeting with…read morecoworker on the topic of special education. We needed the computer to develop a power point which worked perfectly. The environment was calm the noise level was great meaning no loudness. People were courteous using their head phones perfect for a library day

The library is beautiful and majestic and I'm glad we visited during our trip. We didn't plan to…read morecome here but we were nearby at Bryant Park and decided to walk in. The library and exhibits are free to enter. For it being free I thought it would be way more crowded but it was manageable. It's really opulent inside and so beautiful, I loved watching all the wedding photoshoots going one. I bought recommend going to the top floor to see the mural on the ceiling. The best part was cooling down in the building LOL. Would def come back next time we're in New York.

I finally toured the NYPL Schwartzman Building last weekend after having it on my to do list for…read more... years? I'm so glad I finally made it! Also known as the Main Branch or just the New York Public Library, it's the flagship building for the library system. It was built after the New York Public Library was formed as a public-private partnership with two private libraries. The building opened to the public on May 23, 1911. The building was designed in the Beaux-Arts style, and it's gorgeous. The library offers docent-led building tours Monday through Saturday at 11am and 2pm. You book tickets online, and they release tickets every Sunday for the week ahead. You meet in the Visitor Center on the first floor for a one-hour tour. The tour was great. You learn about the history of the building and the library and then are taken by the docent to several beautiful areas of the library. The building is huge, and I really appreciated a guided tour which takes you to the highlights of the building. I'm not sure I would have found all the spaces on my own, and the architecture is worth it. They also have a permanent exhibit which highlights items from their research collections: "The Polonsky Exhibition of the New York Public Library's Treasures." Unfortunately, the exhibit was closed for a bit of time to change out some of the items on display (March 12-20, 2026) and that meant I couldn't visit the exhibit when I was there. They also have a gift shop. The docent who led my tour (Athena) was great, and I really enjoyed my tour of the library. I'll be back again for the Polonsky exhibit and a walk around on my own!

I was devastated when this place closed a few years ago, and was pleasantly surprised to find out…read morethat they reopened! I went there on a Saturday and it was the same quiet, peaceful place it's always been. You can get so much work (or studying) done there, especially with the free and speedy wifi. They have comfortable chairs, outlets for your electronics, and clean bathrooms. They also have a separate children's room. And the view is nice also, and it's completely free! This is the kind of place I'd give a big donation to if I were in the position to do so, but they do have a donation jar, which I will make sure to add to next time.

I found this spot such a gem! Really great space to study and work - it's quiet and big tables with…read moreplenty of outlets. The natural lighting and proximity to the River is also such a plus. Bathrooms were clean and the staff and other studies were all respectful. There's free and reliable WiFi ... and its free to work here!! After a study session, I'd recommend treating yourself to a lovely walk along the river, explore battery park, or Brookfield mall (there's a food court!)