Flatbush Library
🏢 Brooklyn Public Library — Brooklyn, New York
Flatbush Library
Flatbush Library is one of Brooklyn's original Carnegie libraries, a 1905 Classical Revival landmark that now anchors a vibrant Caribbean-American community — and is the only BPL branch with a dedicated Caribbean Literary and Cultural Center.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Tuesday | 1 PM – 8 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM – 8 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM – 5 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 22 Linden Boulevard at Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226
Phone: 7188560813
Website: bklynlibrary.org
📖 About Flatbush Library
<p>Designed by architect R.L. Daus and built by John Thatcher & Son, Flatbush Library opened in 1905 as the sixth Carnegie-funded library in Brooklyn. The original two-story Classical Revival structure featured vaulted reading rooms lit by skylights, round plaster columns, and a decorative limestone entrance. In 1937, WPA workers added east and west wings and a WPA Moderne façade — preserving the original balcony, oak sliding doors, and second-floor woodwork inside. Today the branch serves one of Brooklyn's most diverse neighborhoods, home to large Haitian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, and Caribbean immigrant communities, and houses a dedicated Caribbean Literary and Cultural Center along with a Caribbean-themed community garden called Sunshine, Seeds & Reads.</p>
⭐ What makes this branch special
- One of six original Carnegie-funded BPL branches, opened 1905, designed by architect R.L. Daus
- WPA Moderne façade and wings added in 1937; original Carnegie-era oak woodwork and balcony survive inside
- Caribbean Literary and Cultural Center — the only dedicated Caribbean cultural center in the BPL system
- Sunshine, Seeds & Reads community garden with a Caribbean theme adjacent to the branch
- Collections in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole serving the neighborhood's diverse Caribbean-American population
📱 Free with a Brooklyn Public Library Card
Any New York State resident can get a BPL card free and unlock:
📍 More Brooklyn Public Library branches
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Flatbush Library a Carnegie library?
Yes. Flatbush Library was the sixth Carnegie-funded library built in Brooklyn, designed by R.L. Daus and opened in 1905. The original Classical Revival interior — including the oak balcony, sliding doors, and plaster columns — survives behind the 1937 WPA Moderne exterior renovation.
What is the Caribbean Literary and Cultural Center at Flatbush Library?
The Caribbean Literary and Cultural Center is a dedicated space within Flatbush Library celebrating Caribbean literature, history, and culture. It is the only such center in the Brooklyn Public Library system and hosts regular programs including co-working sessions, author events, and collections featuring Caribbean and Haitian American writers.
Does Flatbush Library have materials in languages other than English?
Yes. The branch holds multilingual collections in Spanish and Haitian Creole, reflecting Flatbush's large Caribbean population from Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and other islands.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.