Park Slope Library
🏢 Brooklyn Public Library · Brooklyn, New York
Park Slope Library
One of Brooklyn's most beautiful Carnegie libraries, the Park Slope branch opened in 1906 at 431 6th Avenue in a Classical Revival building designed by Raymond F. Almirall — its Doric-columned portico, stained glass vestibule and mosaic tile floor surviving intact through more than a century of neighborhood life.
🕑 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: 431 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Phone: (718) 832-1853
Website: bklynlibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G8M298+7J (Brooklyn, NY)
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📖 About Park Slope Library
Park Slope Library is a branch of Brooklyn Public Library serving the Park Slope neighborhood from one of the borough's most architecturally distinguished Carnegie buildings. The library's roots trace to 1900, when a small natural-history collection opened inside the Litchfield Mansion in nearby Prospect Park under the name Prospect Branch; demand quickly outgrew the villa space, and the branch moved to a temporary storefront on 9th Street before the permanent Carnegie-funded building opened at 431 6th Avenue in 1906. Architect Raymond F. Almirall designed the Classical Revival structure — one of four Brooklyn Carnegie branches he drew — with a projecting portico of Doric columns, a stone pediment engraved 'Brooklyn Public Library / Established 1897,' arched stained glass windows in the entrance vestibule and a geometric mosaic tile floor in red, green, yellow and black. The building was designated a New York City individual landmark in 1998. A comprehensive rehabilitation in 1978–1981 modernized mechanical systems while leaving the tiled fireplaces, wooden wainscoting and original woodwork untouched; a later renovation completed in September 2012 added ADA ramps, doors and elevator, 24 public computers and a renovated multipurpose room. The branch was renamed Park Slope Library in 1975, and today it offers children's and teen programs, bilingual storytimes and meeting space, all within one of the last largely intact Carnegie interiors in Brooklyn.
⭐ What makes this library special
- New York City individual landmark (designated 1998): 1906 Carnegie building by Raymond F. Almirall with Doric-columned portico, arched stained glass vestibule and original mosaic tile floor
- One of only four Brooklyn Carnegie branches designed by Almirall — matched by Pacific, Bushwick and Eastern Parkway branches
- Renovated September 2012 to add ADA accessibility, 24 public computers and a renovated multipurpose room, preserving all original historic interior features
- Open late until 8pm on Tuesday and Thursday, serving Park Slope's after-school and after-work community
- Bilingual storytimes and a dedicated children's area with regular programming for babies, toddlers and school-age kids
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Park Slope cardholders access free digital collections through Brooklyn Public Library and New York State:
📚 Services
- Public computers (24 terminals) and free Wi-Fi
- Printing services
- Multipurpose meeting room available for community programs
- Children's area with dedicated reading and study space
- ADA-accessible entrance, elevator and facilities
- Brooklyn Public Library card (valid at all 60 BPL branches)
🎸 Programs
- Bilingual storytime (songs, fingerplays and stories for babies and children under 5 with caregivers)
- Children's storytimes and reading programs
- Dungeons & Dragons club for teens ages 12–18 (meeting twice monthly on Fridays)
- Summer reading challenges for all ages
- Community events and author programs in the multipurpose room
📍 Nearby Libraries in Brooklyn
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the Park Slope Library building, and is it protected?
The building at 431 6th Avenue opened in 1906 as one of the Carnegie-funded branches designed by architect Raymond F. Almirall in the Classical Revival style. It was designated a New York City individual landmark in 1998, protecting its Doric-columned portico, stained glass vestibule, mosaic tile floor and interior woodwork. The library originally operated as the 'Prospect Branch' out of the Litchfield Mansion in Prospect Park starting in 1900 before moving to its current permanent home.
Which nights is Park Slope Library open late?
The branch is open until 8pm on Tuesday and Thursday. Monday, Wednesday and Friday hours are 10am–6pm, Saturday is 10am–5pm, and the library is closed on Sunday. Hours may vary around public holidays — call (718) 832-1853 or check bklynlibrary.org/locations/park-slope before visiting.
What happened to the original Prospect Branch that preceded Park Slope Library?
The library's history begins in 1900 with the 'Prospect Branch,' a small natural-history collection housed inside the Litchfield Mansion on the edge of Prospect Park. As the Park Slope neighborhood grew, the collection moved to a temporary storefront on 9th Street around 1901, and then to the Carnegie-funded permanent building at 431 6th Avenue when it opened in 1906. The branch was renamed Park Slope Library in 1975 to reflect the neighborhood it had long served.
Does Park Slope Library have programs for children and teens?
Yes. The branch runs bilingual storytimes for babies and children under 5 (featuring songs, fingerplays and stories in English and Spanish), children's reading programs, and a Dungeons & Dragons club for teens ages 12–18 that meets twice monthly on Fridays (no prior experience required). A full calendar of events is available at bklynlibrary.org/locations/park-slope.
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