Library day
Nowadays, books are read much less, but people still read on the Internet and on the phone because they understand that it is good for the brain, and libraries remain important centers of culture and communication, providing free access to knowledge and cultural events. There are more than 60 public libraries in Brooklyn, each playing a unique role in people's lives.
The Brighton Library recently hosted an important meeting of concerned community leaders and activists to improve the Brooklyn Public Library's operations and make it an important information and cultural center. The meeting was organized by David Diles, Chief Strategy Officer of the Brooklyn Public Library. Active people were invited to the meeting to discuss the Brooklyn Public Library's 2024 strategic plan.
A strategic plan to improve library services examines the needs, neighborhood characteristics, and interests of the people living in the area served by the library. The directors of the Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay libraries, Svetlana Negrimovskaya and Adriana Michel, invited area activists to the meeting.
Brighton Beach has changed significantly over the years. Today, this area on the ocean coast is inhabited not only by Russian-speaking residents, but also by representatives of Uzbekistan, Georgia, Ukraine and other countries of the former CIS. Despite the diversity of languages, Russian remains widespread. Talented people from various communities and the creative intelligentsia of South Brooklyn were invited to the meeting, and the importance of involving people in free library services and events was discussed. The need to attract multilingual staff and provide cultural events for different communities and ages was raised.
I would like to note altruistic people who do a lot for society. For example, Ari Kagan, despite his busy schedule, attended the event and made his recommendations for improving the work of the library in Brighton.
An example of a successful library is the library on Sheepshead Bay, whose director is Svetlana Negrimovskaya. She managed to transform a small library into an active cultural center for the community. Here they not only read and borrow books, but also hold clubs of interest, performances, concerts and art exhibitions. This compensates for the lack of communication between people. The library also provides assistance to refugees, organizes free English courses, and various seminars, for example, on legalizing brought diplomas and opening your own business in the USA. For this purpose, highly qualified specialists are invited. Particular attention is paid to sick and lonely people. For example, it is very important to help teenagers and divert them from the influence of the street. For this purpose, drawing classes for children are held on Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30 pm, on Wednesday from 4 to 6 pm they provide assistance in preparing homework, on Thursday children's play day from 3:30 to 4:30 pm, and Friday is teen art time from 2 to 3 pm.
Over the course of 9 years, thanks to the collaboration of Sheepshead Bay Library and Kingsborough Community College, hundreds of new immigrants learned about 4-month courses and received a profession in America in a short time.
Kingsborough College professor Anna Geller-Coplan suggested using local libraries as an opportunity to connect residents with elected officials and city agencies to improve living conditions in Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay.
Everyone wrote recommendations for improving the library’s activities and thank you very much for your support and inspiration. These proposals will be presented to the Brooklyn Public Library for further consideration.
Libraries continue to be important centers of information, cultural and social life, helping to strengthen connections, providing access to knowledge, and serving as a platform for cultural exchange and personal development.
Marina Lagunova
