City To Sell Pacific St. Library, Carroll Branch Is Safe

Boerum Hill book lovers received bad news last week, when the New York Daily News reported that the city has plans to shutter the Brooklyn Public Library's Pacific Branch. 

According to a spokesperson, the Brooklyn Public Library has been faced with a "unique situation" owning a building in disrepair and an opportunity to "replace it with a brand new branch at little or no cost." While the City Council must still approve the plan, Library representatives say there is no other recourse.

The Pacific Street branch is in need of $9 million in repairs to critical infrastructure and building systems, the official told Patch.

The branch is also in need of significant upgrades to provide better services
to the community, she said.­ "For example, while the Pacific Branch ranks second highest in the system for computer usage, it offers only eight computers to be shared by children and adults."

With $230 million in system wide deferred maintenance, the BPL is unable to afford the extensive work needed to maintain this building to the standard our patrons deserve.

Instead, over the next three years, the BPL plans to replace the Pacific Street facility with a brand new one in the recently designated BAM Cultural District, in partnership with the City, BAM and Two Trees.

The relocation will be part of a mixed-use development built on what is
currently a parking lot abutted by Flatbush Avenue, Lafayette Avenue and
Ashland Place.

"The new branch will be a larger, accessible, flexible, technology-rich branch," described the spokesperson, "with programming designed specifically for the needs of the surrounding community."

There will be no interim period without access to resources, however. The existing building will not be sold until after the new facility is complete, officials said. Additionally, the Library is not planning any staff reductions as a part of the plan. 

While officials offered an optimistic spin on the sale of the Pacific Street Library—one of 18 donated by tycoon Andrew Carnegie 100 years back—not everyone is happy about the plans.

"Alas, the Pacific Street Library is not landmarked—but should be," noted one resident in reaction to the news. "Their circulation is up close to 60% in the past decade and they are home to dozens of local community groups that use their space for meetings."

There are no current or future plans to sell the Carroll Gardens branch, said the spokesperson.

Stay with Patch for updates.