Walt Whitman Library
🏢 Brooklyn Public Library · Brooklyn, New York
Walt Whitman Library
Fort Greene's Carnegie landmark since 1908, the Walt Whitman Library is temporarily closed for a $14.75 million renovation — expanding public space by 40%, adding an elevator, and restoring its Classical Revival exterior — with a full reopening expected in late 2026.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed (renovation — reopening late 2026) |
| Tuesday | Closed (renovation — reopening late 2026) |
| Wednesday | Closed (renovation — reopening late 2026) |
| Thursday | Closed (renovation — reopening late 2026) |
| Friday | Closed (renovation — reopening late 2026) |
| Saturday | Closed (renovation — reopening late 2026) |
| Sunday | Closed (renovation — reopening late 2026) |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 93 Saint Edwards Street, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Phone: (718) 935-0244
Website: bklynlibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G8M2VC+QW (Brooklyn, NY)
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📖 About Walt Whitman Library
The Walt Whitman Library anchors the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn as one of the borough's oldest Carnegie branches. It traces its roots to a reading room that opened on Nassau and Bridge streets in 1900; in 1908 architect Rudolph L. Daus (of Daus & Otto) designed the present Classical Revival building at 93 Saint Edwards Street — a single-story, three-bay brick-and-limestone structure with original wooden book stacks, decorative metal railings featuring Greek fret and egg-and-dart borders, and a foliated stone cartouche above the entrance. The building cost $101,455 in total (land and construction), and opened to the public on September 1, 1908 with a performance by the Muller Music orchestra. For decades the branch maintained an extensive collection on naval architecture and marine science to serve workers at the nearby Brooklyn Navy Yard. In 1943 — on the 125th anniversary of Walt Whitman's birth — the branch was officially renamed in honor of the Brooklyn-born poet. After a major rehabilitation in 1958–1960 and upgrades in 1998, the library closed in 2024 for its most comprehensive overhaul yet: a $14.75 million project by Belmont Freeman Architects that adds a new elevator, replaces aging HVAC systems, reconfigures all three floors to increase accessible public space by 40%, creates a dedicated teen area, and adds an outdoor reading garden at the entrance. A temporary Walt Whitman Pop-Up Library (3,000 sq ft) operated at 240 Nassau Street during construction. The main branch is expected to reopen in late 2026.
⭐ What makes this library special
- 1908 Carnegie building designed by Rudolph L. Daus in Classical Revival style — one of Brooklyn's oldest surviving library structures, with original wooden book stacks and ornate decorative metalwork
- Named in 1943 for Walt Whitman, born in Brooklyn in 1819, on the 125th anniversary of the poet's birth
- Served Brooklyn Navy Yard workers for decades with one of the city's largest collections on naval architecture and marine science
- $14.75 million renovation by Belmont Freeman Architects expands public space by 40%, adds an elevator and ADA-accessible entrance ramp, and creates a new outdoor reading garden
- Part of Brooklyn Public Library's 60-branch system — one card borrows across every BPL location, plus NOVELny statewide databases for all New York residents
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Walt Whitman cardholders access free digital collections through Brooklyn Public Library and New York State — available online even while the branch is closed for renovation:
📚 Services
- Full circulating collection (books, large print, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines)
- Children's programming space
- Meeting and study spaces (post-renovation, expanded by 40%)
- New accessible elevator and ADA entrance ramp (post-renovation)
- Dedicated teen area (post-renovation, new)
- Outdoor reading garden at entrance (post-renovation, new)
- Brooklyn Public Library card valid at all 60 BPL branches system-wide
🎸 Programs
- Storytimes and children's literacy programs
- Homework help and after-school programs
- Resume workshops (offered at pop-up location during renovation)
- Teen programming and activities
- Community programs for adults and seniors
📍 Nearby Libraries in Brooklyn
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Walt Whitman Library closed, and when will it reopen?
The branch closed in 2024 for a comprehensive $14.75 million renovation led by Belmont Freeman Architects. The project addresses the building's aging infrastructure — replacing HVAC systems, adding a new elevator, upgrading bathrooms to full ADA accessibility — and reconfigures all three floors to increase usable public space by 40%. A new teen area and outdoor reading garden are also part of the scope. Funding came from the New York City Council, the City of New York, and New York State's Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The library is expected to reopen in late 2026. During construction, limited services were available at a temporary pop-up at 240 Nassau Street.
Who was Walt Whitman, and what is his connection to this library?
Walt Whitman (1819–1892) was born in West Hills, Long Island, and spent formative years in Brooklyn, where he worked as a printer, journalist and editor — including at the Brooklyn Eagle — before publishing 'Leaves of Grass' in 1855. The Fort Greene branch was renamed in his honor in 1943, on the 125th anniversary of his birth. The neighborhood around the library, Fort Greene, is also home to Walt Whitman Houses — a large public housing complex — underscoring how deeply the poet's name is woven into this corner of Brooklyn.
Is this a Carnegie library, and what makes the 1908 building architecturally notable?
Yes. The Walt Whitman Library is one of the Carnegie libraries built after Andrew Carnegie signed a 1901 contract with Brooklyn to fund five branch libraries. Architect Rudolph L. Daus (Daus & Otto) designed the building in Classical Revival style on a limestone base, using red and brown brick laid in Flemish Bond with limestone trim. Distinctive original details include wooden book stacks with decorative metal railings, scalloped metal screens with Greek fret and egg-and-dart borders, a foliated stone surround topped by a cartouche at the entrance, and the stone parapet inscribed 'BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY.' The 7,000-square-foot open-plan interior, with no interior walls, was considered innovative for its era.
Can I still use Brooklyn Public Library services while Walt Whitman Library is closed?
Yes. Your BPL card works at all 60 branches across Brooklyn — the nearest open branches are Brooklyn Heights Library (0.7 miles, 286 Cadman Plaza West) and Pacific Library (0.8 miles, 25 4th Avenue). You can also access BPL's full digital collection — Libby eBooks, hoopla, Kanopy streaming, and NOVELny research databases — from any device with no physical visit required. Check bklynlibrary.org for branch hours and digital-access guides.
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