Saratoga Library
🏢 Brooklyn Public Library — Brooklyn, New York
Saratoga Library
Saratoga Library is a landmark 1908 Carnegie branch in Bedford-Stuyvesant, designed in Classical Revival style by architect R.L. Daus with ornate cast-iron mezzanine railings and a pediment inscribed "Brooklyn Public Library" — and in 1997 it became the first New York City Carnegie library to receive a designed garden from the Horticulture Society of New York.
🕑 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: 8 Thomas S. Boyland Street, Brooklyn, NY 11233
Phone: 7185735224
Website: bklynlibrary.org
📖 About Saratoga Library
<p>Saratoga Library opened in 1908, built with Carnegie philanthropic funds under a contract Andrew Carnegie signed with Brooklyn in 1901. Architect R.L. Daus of the firm Daus & Otto designed the one-story, seven-bay Classical Revival brick building at the corner of Thomas S. Boyland Street (then Hopkinson Avenue) and Macon Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Distinctive features include a projecting central entrance crowned by a large cartouche, a pediment inscribed "BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY," ornate cast-iron mezzanine railings with fish-scale patterns, original plaster ceilings with cove molding, and a wood-and-glass vestibule screen. In 1997, the branch made New York City history as the first original Carnegie library to receive a designed garden from the Horticulture Society of New York. The building has undergone rehabilitation in 1958–60, 1974, and 1990, and continues to serve the Ocean Hill and Bed-Stuy communities.</p>
⭐ What makes this branch special
- 1908 Carnegie branch designed by architect R.L. Daus in Classical Revival style
- Ornate original interior: cast-iron mezzanine railings with fish-scale patterns and original plaster ceilings
- First New York City Carnegie library to receive a designed garden from the Horticulture Society of New York (1997)
- Pediment over the entrance still reads "BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY" as it has for over a century
- Active community programs including Summer Reading in the garden, Teen Tech Time, and resume and job-search workshops
📱 Free with a Brooklyn Public Library Card
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saratoga Library a Carnegie library?
Yes. Saratoga Library is one of Brooklyn's original Carnegie-funded branches, built in 1908 with philanthropic funds from Andrew Carnegie's 1901 contract with the city. The building retains many of its original Classical Revival architectural features.
What is special about Saratoga Library's garden?
In 1997, Saratoga Library became the first New York City library from the original Carnegie endowment to receive a professionally designed garden, created by the Horticulture Society of New York. The garden is used for Summer Reading events and other community programs.
Where exactly is Saratoga Library in Brooklyn?
Saratoga Library is at 8 Thomas S. Boyland Street at Macon Street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy) neighborhood of Brooklyn, serving the Ocean Hill community.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.