New York City Rental Cars and the Brooklyn Public Library

The Brooklyn Public Library is a collection of libraries in the borough of Brooklyn. It is the fifth largest public library system that you can visit in the United States with your New York City rental car.

Not just another pile of books

The Brooklyn Public Library System began in 1892 as an act of legislation by the New York State Legislature. It wasn’t until 1896 that it was formally established in the borough. The library was helped enormously with donations between 1901 and 1923 from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. He donated $1.6 million over this time, which helped to open 21 branches in the area. When you visit with your New York City rental car you can learn more about the history of this library.

Start in the middle of Grand Army Plaza

The Central Library is located adjacent from Prospect Park with your New York City rental car, just south of Grand Army Plaza at the corner of Eastern Parkway and Flatbush Avenue. The building was designed to look like an open book, with the spine at the main entrance on the plaza and the two wings running along the avenues. This branch opened in 1941, although construction began in 1912. While you are here with your New York City rental car you can check out the Brooklyn Collection, which is a special collection of photographs, manuscripts, clippings, books, maps, prints, and other significant artifacts of the borough.

It’s not personal, it’s business

The Business Library is another major branch of the Brooklyn Public Library System that you can visit with your New York City rental car. It is located at 280 Cadman Plaza West is downtown Brooklyn. This branch of the library has been an important part of Brooklyn’s libraries since 1852 when it was a reading room for the instruction of young men. Since then it has served the purpose of educating people in the neighborhood in the practical aspects of business, rather than philosophy and literature. The current location has been its home since 1962.

Sing and dance like you mean it

The Visual and Performing Arts Library is currently in development near the Brooklyn Academy of Music. You can soon visit this location with your New York City rental car at Flatbush Avenue, Lafayette Street, Ashland Place, and Hanson Place.

Don’t forget the little guys

While the above libraries are central to the Brooklyn Public Library System, there are 58 neighborhood libraries that you can also visit with your New York City rental car throughout the borough. The library system also has the Bookmobile, which is a mobile library that carries up to 6000 books to serve communities whose libraries are closed for renovation. There is also a kids version of the Bookmobile, the Kidsmobile, that serves schools, day care centers, and community events to encourage young people to read. The Kidsmobile also offers storytelling and arts and crafts as part of their services.