Oct 8, 2015 2 min read Borough Park Library

Greenfield & Lander Announce New Sunday Hours At Four Library Branches

Courtesy of David Greenfield's Office — Courtesy of David Greenfield’s Office

The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) will keep four of its locations open on Sunday to accommodate Brooklyn’s growing Orthodox Jewish community that can’t utilize a library on Saturday, Councilman David G. Greenfield and Councilman Brad Lander announced today.

The new Sunday service will go into effect at Midwood Library (Avenue J and East 16th), Borough Park Library (13th Ave and 43rd), Mapleton Library (18th Avenue and 60th) and Ryder Library (23rd Avenue and 59th Street) starting Sunday, October 25.

“I am thrilled that after years of advocacy, four libraries in Borough Park, Midwood and Bensonhurst will now be open on Sundays so that children, families and adults can enjoy weekend access. This expanded service is especially important to Orthodox Jewish families, who cannot take advantage of Saturday library hours,” said Greenfield. “For the past five years, I have made investing in libraries a top priority by allocating significant funding for programming, books, capital upgrades and now hours to our neighborhood libraries. These extended hours will give library patrons in Borough Park, Midwood and Bensonhurst the opportunity to fully explore the multitude of outstanding free resources our neighborhood libraries have to offer.”

Lander echoed Greenfield’s sentiment in a statement.

“The Borough Park Library is one of the busiest in Brooklyn, in the heart of one of the great Jewish neighborhoods in the world,” the councilman said. “Like all New Yorkers, Borough Park residents deserve six-day access to the books, computers, community programs, and treasured spaces of their local library. And in Borough Park — where so many members of the Jewish community observe Shabbat on Saturday — that sixth day needs to be on Sunday.”

Currently only Kings Highway Library (on Ocean Avenue) and Central Library are open on Sunday. Due to union rules, operating on Sunday is considerably more expensive than any other day of the week.

Since taking office, Greenfield has made supporting and funding neighborhood libraries a priority. He is a key member of the Budget Negotiating Team where he has fought to restore critical funding for Brooklyn Public Library.