Sen. Gounardes Announces Library Services to Return to Carroll Gardens in July at Interim Location

Brooklyn Public Library will bring library services back to Carroll Gardens at a temporary location provided by Brooklyn Community Board 6

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 16, 2025

Brooklyn, NY — After a two-year closure for major renovations, Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) will bring library services back to the Carroll Gardens community this July through a temporary location at 250 Baltic Street, a city-owned property, currently underutilized by Brooklyn Community Board 6 (CB6). This temporary service is made possible with funding from State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, and Council Member Shahana Hanif.

With the permanent Carroll Gardens Library, located at 396 Clinton Street, undergoing extensive upgrades and its reopening now delayed until Summer 2026, CB 6 proposed the use of the space at 250 Baltic Street to help restore library access in the neighborhood. Residents in Carroll Gardens and surrounding areas, including Cobble Hill, Gowanus, and the Columbia Waterfront, have deeply felt the absence of the library over the past two years.

Local elected officials representing the area co-signed a letter of support urging the Brooklyn Public Library to explore the CB 6 space for temporary library access during the remainder of the closure period. Although the BPL organized mobile book events during the first two years of the closure, the elected officials emphasized the need for consistent, equitable access to serve the community members in the area. Access to library services is especially urgent given that PS 58, a nearby elementary school, also lacks a functioning library, further limiting access to books and reading materials for children in the area.

Council Member Hanif and Senator Gounardes each earmarked $8,300 to help cover costs, and Assemblymember Simon allocated $10,000. IKEA Brooklyn will donate furniture and supplies to ensure a welcoming and comfortable environment for patrons of all ages. 

The original Carroll Gardens Library, a beloved branch that has served the community for 120 years, closed in July 2023 for essential upgrades overseen by the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC). The renovation includes a new teen space on the mezzanine, updated HVAC systems, improved lighting, fire and safety upgrades, and restoration of the building’s historic architectural features. While the renovation was initially scheduled for completion by July 2025, the reopening has now been delayed until Summer 2026 due to additional structural reinforcements needed at the site to accommodate new energy-efficient heating and cooling units.

In the meantime, the Carroll Gardens Pop-Up Library will open in July (exact date to be confirmed) and operate four days a week: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 1 PM to 5 PM, and Friday, 10 AM to 2 PM. 

On Wednesdays, library staff will offer mobile programming around the neighborhood, including story times, book clubs, and tech help. A full calendar of programming is available on the BPL website. Services available at the temporary location include book browsing and borrowing, returning materials, picking up holds, signing up for library cards, and asking reference questions.

This interim location will remain open until approximately four to six weeks before the full Carroll Gardens Library reopens in the summer of 2026. BPL will host a ribbon-cutting when the pop-up location opens. 

"This library is an incredibly important anchor for families across Carroll Gardens and beyond, and so many of us have been missing its presence during the renovation," said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. "I'm incredibly proud to have provided funding to get this temporary site open, and to work with Council Member Hanif, Brooklyn Community Board 6 and BPL leadership so neighbors can access books and have a place to learn, connect and grow. And soon enough, the 120-year-old permanent library will reopen with new dedicated space for teens and updated infrastructure, and will continue to serve as a community institution for generations to come."

“When libraries close, we lose more than books. We lose a culture of reading, joyful discovery, and lifelong learning,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “I’m proud to partner with Assemblymember Simon, State Senator Gounardes, Brooklyn Public Library, and Community Board 6, in responding to the community’s need for ongoing access by helping to establish this temporary location while essential upgrades are made to the Carroll Gardens Library. As we await the reopening of this beloved and historic branch, the pop-up library will ensure that the community can continue to benefit from the invaluable resources, programs, and connections that our libraries provide.”

"I’m thrilled that library service will be back in Carroll Gardens at a pop-up site while the permanent library is renovated. Libraries are one of our greatest democratic institutions and the community has deeply missed the cherished Carroll Gardens library. I’m grateful to CB 6 for providing space and to our partnership with the Brooklyn Public Library, Senator Gounardes and Council Member Hanif for working together to find this solution,” said Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon.  

“The Carroll Garden Library has served the borough for more than 120 years,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “Now, as the Library undergoes a much-needed renovation, we can continue to provide the books and programs the community depends on. I extend my sincerest thanks to New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Council Member Shahana Hanif, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, and Community Board 6 for their help in securing the pop-up library, and to Ikea for their generous donation of furniture and supplies.”

“I’m thrilled that the Carroll Gardens Library will continue serving the community during renovations through this interim location at 250 Baltic Street, which is also home to Brooklyn Community Board 6,” said Mike Racioppo, District Manager at Brooklyn Community Board 6. “After speaking with fellow CB6 members and the Cobble Hill Association, I suggested this idea and contacted the Brooklyn Public Library and our elected officials. I’m proud to see this becoming a reality and a reminder that government can do good things.”

"The closure of the Carroll Gardens Library has left a deep hole in our community,” said Ginger Gaines, President of Friends of Carroll Gardens Library. “We thank our elected officials for arranging for this interim location while the much-needed renovations of the building are being completed.”

“The Carroll Gardens Library is our neighborhood library, and we’ve deeply felt its absence,” said the Cobble Hill Association. “From the spark of an idea, our community partners took off running—and we still can’t believe how quickly this came together. We’re so grateful to everyone who worked hard to make this temporary space a reality, and we can’t wait to enjoy it until the library returns to its beloved home.”

Press Contacts: 

Billy Richling, billy@senatorgounardes.nyc

Stephanie Brown, brownsd@nyassembly.gov

Musarrat (Mus) Lamia, mlamia@council.nyc.gov

Fritzi Bodenheimer, FBodenheimer@bklynlibrary.org

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