Central Library (Grand Army Plaza)
🏢 Brooklyn Public Library · Brooklyn, New York
Central Library (Grand Army Plaza)
Brooklyn Public Library's Art Deco flagship at Grand Army Plaza has anchored the borough's intellectual life since February 1, 1941 — an open-book in limestone and bronze where four late evenings a week meet a nationally celebrated Books Unbanned program and a 189-seat cultural auditorium.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–9pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–9pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–9pm |
| Thursday | 9am–9pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–6pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Phone: (718) 230-2100
Website: bklynlibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G8M2CJ+VP (Brooklyn, NY)
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Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Central Library (Grand Army Plaza)
Central Library is the flagship of Brooklyn Public Library, a system of 60 neighborhood branches serving over 2.6 million Brooklyn residents. Its striking Art Deco building at 10 Grand Army Plaza was designed by architects Alfred Morton Githens and Francis Keally, replacing an earlier Beaux-Arts plan by Raymond F. Almirall that stalled for three decades; construction restarted in 1935 and the library opened on February 1, 1941. The limestone facade — shaped to mirror the ellipse of Grand Army Plaza — is crowned by sculptural bas-reliefs by Carl Paul Jennewein and a 40-foot gilded bronze screen by Thomas Hudson Jones depicting 15 characters from world literature. The library completed a $38 million first-phase renovation led by architect Toshiko Mori in 2021, restoring administrative spaces to public use and adding a custom metal ceiling sculpture to the New & Noteworthy Book Gallery; a $95 million second phase covering new youth and adult-learning wings is underway and due by 2027. Beyond its 1.7-million-item collection, Central is home to the 189-seat Dr. S. Stevan Dweck Center for Contemporary Culture and hosts the groundbreaking Books Unbanned initiative, which provides free digital library cards to teens across the United States facing book bans in their communities.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Art Deco landmark (1941) designed by Githens & Keally, clad in Indiana limestone with a facade curved to echo Grand Army Plaza's ellipse and a bronze literary screen by sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones
- Books Unbanned — BPL's nationally recognized program offering free digital library cards to any U.S. teen (ages 13–21) so they can access 350,000 eBooks and 200,000 audiobooks regardless of local censorship
- 189-seat Dr. S. Stevan Dweck Center for Contemporary Culture hosts free author talks, film screenings, chamber music, literary series and children's programs throughout the year
- Ongoing $95 million Toshiko Mori-designed renovation (Phase 2, 2024–2027) will add expanded youth and teen wings, a state-of-the-art Adult Learning Center and flexible community gathering spaces
- Open until 9 pm Monday through Thursday — the longest evening hours in the BPL system — making it the borough's most accessible after-work and after-school destination
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Brooklyn cardholders can read, stream and research free with these digital collections:
📚 Services
- IDNYC enrollment site (municipal ID for New York City residents)
- Books Unbanned free digital e-card for U.S. teens (ages 13–21)
- Research commons with librarian assistance
- 189-seat Dweck auditorium for public cultural programming and private event rental
- Meeting and study room reservations
- Public computers, printing, scanning and free Wi-Fi
- Adult Learning Center (expanded in Phase 2 renovation)
- Youth wing with children's and teen collections and programs
🎸 Programs
- Books Unbanned — free digital cards for censored-book access nationwide
- Dweck Center literary series, author talks and public affairs panels
- Film screenings, chamber music and jazz concerts
- Children's storytimes and family programs
- Teen programs via @bklynfuture
- Summer reading challenges and year-round youth events
- Adult literacy and learning classes
📍 Nearby Libraries in Brooklyn
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Central Library shaped like an open book?
Architects Alfred Morton Githens and Francis Keally, who redesigned the building in the mid-1930s after the original Beaux-Arts plan was abandoned, oriented the structure so that its concave front facade follows the ellipse of Grand Army Plaza — which, when seen from above, gives the building a distinctive open-book silhouette, with Flatbush Avenue and Eastern Parkway as the two splayed pages.
What is the Books Unbanned program and who can apply?
Books Unbanned is a Brooklyn Public Library initiative launched in 2022 that issues free one-year digital library cards to any person aged 13–21 anywhere in the United States who is facing restrictions on books in their local community. Card holders get free access to BPL's full eBook and audiobook collection of 350,000-plus titles via the Libby or BKLYN Library app — including many books that have been challenged or removed from school and public library shelves elsewhere. Apply by emailing BooksUnbanned@bklynlibrary.org.
What happens inside the Dweck Center at Central Library?
The 189-seat Dr. S. Stevan Dweck Center for Contemporary Culture, which opened in 2007 in a space below the main building, hosts a year-round calendar of free public events including author readings and literary series, film screenings, chamber music and jazz concerts, public affairs and humanities panels, and children's programs. The fully accessible auditorium is also available for private event rental.
Is Central Library still under construction, and which areas are affected?
Central Library is currently in Phase 2 of an ongoing renovation led by architect Toshiko Mori, with a budget of $95 million and an expected completion date of 2027. The work is being carried out in stages so the library remains open throughout. Phase 2 will expand and modernize the youth wing, add dedicated teen spaces, and create a new Adult Learning Center with a computer lab, seminar room and flexible gathering areas. Phase 1 (completed 2021, ~$38 million) restored administrative areas to public use and enhanced the main entry.
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