Central Library (Grand Army Plaza)
🏢 Brooklyn Public Library — Brooklyn, New York
Central Library (Grand Army Plaza)
Rising over Grand Army Plaza like a gilded open book, this Art Deco landmark is the monumental flagship of the Brooklyn Public Library system.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9 AM – 9 PM |
| Tuesday | 9 AM – 9 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM – 9 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM – 9 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM – 6 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM – 6 PM |
| Sunday | 1 PM – 5 PM |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Phone: (718) 230-2100
Website: bklynlibrary.org
📍 Plan your visit
🚉 Getting there
10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238. Nearest subway: Grand Army Plaza station, right by the entrance. Get transit & driving directions → (live subway & bus routes).
🚘 Parking
Free and metered street parking in the surrounding blocks.
♿ Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance, restroom and seating, plus an assistive hearing loop.
🛀 Amenities
Public restroom and baby changing table on site.
⭐ Visitor rating
4.6 / 5 from 1,398 Google reviews.
🕑 Best time to go
Usually calmest soon after opening; busiest in the mid-afternoon.
Visit details from the library’s Google Business Profile, verified October 2026 — confirm on the official page before a special-date trip.
📖 About Central Library (Grand Army Plaza)
Brooklyn's Central Library was formally dedicated on March 29, 1941, capping a decades-long saga that began with Raymond F. Almirall's abandoned Beaux-Arts scheme and was reimagined in 1935 by architects Alfred Morton Githens and Francis Keally into the sleek Art Deco form seen today. Viewed from above, the building famously fans open like a book, its curved wings embracing the corner of Flatbush Avenue and Eastern Parkway across from Prospect Park. The 50-foot entrance pylons carry gilded bas-reliefs by sculptor C. Paul Jennewein, while a 15-panel bronze entrance screen by Thomas Hudson Jones depicts figures from American literature. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the building in 1997 and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. Home to more than 1.7 million items, the Central Library serves as the system's principal research and lending hub, and a multi-phase interior renovation begun in the early 2020s has been modernizing its public spaces.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Art Deco flagship whose footprint fans open like a giant book
- 50-foot gilded entrance pylons by sculptor C. Paul Jennewein
- Bronze entrance screen of literary characters by Thomas Hudson Jones
- NYC landmark (1997) and National Register listing (2002)
📱 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
Why does the Central Library building look like an open book?
The 1935 Art Deco redesign by Alfred Morton Githens and Francis Keally arranged the two wings so that, seen from the air, the building fans open like the pages of a book facing Grand Army Plaza — a deliberate architectural nod to its purpose.
Who created the gilded figures on the front of the library?
The gilded bas-reliefs on the 50-foot entrance pylons were sculpted by C. Paul Jennewein, and the bronze entrance screen depicting characters from American literature was created by Thomas Hudson Jones.
Is the Central Library the same as the New York Public Library?
No. Brooklyn Public Library is a completely independent system serving the borough of Brooklyn, and the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza is its flagship — separate from the New York Public Library, which serves Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island.
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❓ More questions
Who can get a free Brooklyn Public Library card?
Any New York State resident can get a Brooklyn Public Library card free of charge, unlocking the Central Library’s collections along with free e-books, audiobooks, and the Culture Pass program.
What is the Culture Pass you can reserve with a BPL card?
Culture Pass is a program free with a Brooklyn Public Library card that lets cardholders reserve free passes to participating New York City museums and cultural sites.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.