Clarendon Library
🏢 Brooklyn Public Library · Brooklyn, New York
Clarendon Library
Clarendon Library on Nostrand Avenue has served the Flatbush and East Flatbush neighborhoods of Brooklyn since 1913, earning an Art Commission Award for Excellence after its 1990 renovation — the branch is known for its sky-lit reading room, distinctive window guards, and a lively outdoor courtyard.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 1pm–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 2035 Nostrand Avenue, BROOKLYN, NY 11210
Phone: 718-421-1159
Website: bklynlibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G8J3P2+7V (BROOKLYN, NY)
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📖 About Clarendon Library
Clarendon Library began in 1913 as an unstaffed deposit station tucked inside Markland's Drug Store on Clarendon Road — a modest starting point for what would grow into a full-service Brooklyn Public Library branch. By 1954 the library had moved to its permanent home at 2035 Nostrand Avenue, in the Flatbush/East Flatbush neighborhood of central Brooklyn. The branch underwent a major renovation in 1990 that earned it an Art Commission Award for Excellence, and today Clarendon is celebrated for its architecturally distinctive interior: a sky-lit reading room flooded with natural light, custom wrought-iron window guards and gates, and a sheltered outdoor recreational courtyard. Extended Tuesday and Thursday evening hours (until 8 p.m.) make it a practical destination for working residents and students, and the branch hosts a full calendar of computer classes, gaming events, crafts for adults, and youth programs including Lego Robotics.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1913 as an unstaffed deposit station in Markland's Drug Store on Clarendon Road; became a full BPL branch at Nostrand Ave by 1954
- Winner of an Art Commission Award for Excellence following its 1990 renovation
- Architecturally distinctive sky-lit reading room, custom wrought-iron window guards and gates, and an outdoor recreational courtyard
- Open until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday — ideal for working residents and after-school visits
- Active community programs: Computer Classes, Lego Robotics, gaming events, crafts for adults, and a Period & Personal Care Pantry
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Clarendon cardholders access New York's statewide and BPL digital collections free of charge:
📚 Services
- Laptop loan program (visit bklynlibrary.org/laptop-loan for details)
- Meeting rooms available for community reservations (bklynlibrary.org/rooms)
- After-hours exterior book drop for returns when the branch is closed
- Public computers, printing, and free Wi-Fi
- Period & Personal Care Pantry
- Free BPL library card registration
- Access to BPL digital collections: Libby, hoopla, Kanopy, NOVELny
🎸 Programs
- Computer Classes (regular sessions, all skill levels)
- Lego Robotics (youth STEM program)
- Crafts for Adults: Button Making and other hands-on workshops
- Ask-a-Tech tech help drop-ins
- All Ages and Teen-only Gaming
- Kids/Teen Board Game events
- Midwood Creative Writing Group (meets at Clarendon)
- Playtime storytime and early childhood programming
📍 Nearby Libraries in Brooklyn
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Clarendon Library building architecturally distinctive?
After its 1990 renovation, Clarendon received an Art Commission Award for Excellence — the branch features a sky-lit reading room that fills the interior with natural light, decorative wrought-iron window guards and gates, and a sheltered outdoor recreational courtyard. The combination of natural light and the courtyard space sets Clarendon apart from most other BPL neighborhood branches.
How did the Clarendon Library start, and how did it get to Nostrand Avenue?
Clarendon Library opened in 1913 not as a full library but as an unstaffed deposit station holding a small collection of books inside Markland's Drug Store on Clarendon Road. As demand grew, it became a full Brooklyn Public Library branch and moved by 1954 to its current location at 2035 Nostrand Avenue, where it has served the Flatbush and East Flatbush community ever since.
Which nights is Clarendon Library open late?
Clarendon is open until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday hours are 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday is 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; the library is closed on Sunday.
Does Clarendon Library have meeting rooms available to the public?
Yes. Clarendon has meeting rooms available for community use. To see available spaces, review BPL's meeting room policy, and request a reservation, visit bklynlibrary.org/rooms.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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