Though e-books get all the press these days, good old fashioned paper books not only still exist—they are still being innovated. For example: this week the Brooklyn Public Library took a jump into the future when it installed an Espresso Book Machine in Central Library's Grand Lobby. So now if the library doesn't have your book—but it exists in OnDemandBooks library—you can just print it yourself. more ›

Nothing livens up a library like a good old fashioned porn fight! Two men got into a fist fight at the Brooklyn Public Library over the weekend, allegedly because one was waiting for the other to finish looking at porn on one of the library's computers. And in the end, only one of the men was given assault charges...and it wasn't the one looking at porn! more ›

It isn't surprising that a raccoon was discovered inside of the Brooklyn Public Library, it was probably trying to escape certain death in Prospect Park! WNYC reports that the animal was recently spotted in the basement by the library's maintenance crew, and the area has been shut down to staff since Friday. Since that time, Animal Care and Control has come in, and the library brought in a private pest service to put down traps, but the little guy hasn't been seen since! more ›

The New York Public Library has been fearing proposed budget cuts, but is the solution to their monetary woes an under-advertised free service they already offer? Like suckers we've been paying for Netflix, when we could be sating our softcore pornography fixes for free... online and on-demand, even! Greg Mocker at WPIX just spent a lot of man hours sifting through various city libraries for erotic films, finding hundreds at the NYPL, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library. more ›

Over the weekend, librarians and their supporters spoke up on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library in Grand Army Plaza, saying: "We Will Not Be Shushed." The group read from stacks of books throughout their marathon "book-in" protest, where they also raised their voices against proposed cuts. By month's end 40 libraries could be shut down, with others getting new, reduced hours. more ›

After being publicly embarrassed when a Washington Post reporter was allowed to watch their firings, the Daily News reports that former BPL staff members feel "vindicated" that chief Dionne Mack-Harvin has resigned in the wake of the scandal. On top of having their reactions publicly aired, laid-off workers were asked to sign an agreement not to discuss the firings. One former worker said "We felt disgusted. We felt we weren't valued at all." Though Mack-Harvin insists she was "misled" by the reporter, Library staff says the Post had approved access. "They thought it was a great media opportunity... After the story came out, they realized it was public relations mistake." more ›

Brooklyn Public Library chief Dionne Mack-Harvin has resigned after a scandal with downsizing firm the Five O'Clock Club and the Washington Post. The story goes something like this: Mack-Harvin's $80 million budget for the library system was cut by 5% last August, so she hired the downsizing firm to fire 13 employees. However, the Five O'Clock Club was being profiled by the Washington Post, apparently looking to cover a real-life Up in the Air firm. more ›

Opening tomorrow as a counterpoint to the Red Hook Ikea kick-off is a photography exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library that chronicles the disappearing industrial sites along Brooklyn's waterfront. Called "Twilight on the Waterfront: Brooklyn's Vanishing Industrial Heritage," the photographs are the work of Nathan Kensinger, who has compiled an impressive body of work over the last five years by sneaking into dilapidated properties around Brooklyn. more ›

Slowpokes and procrastinators beware: Late fees from overdue library books in New York could be costing you points off your credit score. The New York Times has an article today that describes how the The New York Public Library and the Queens Public Library have been using a private company named Unique Management Services, which is a collections agency that library late fines are referred to when not paid by book borrowers. One rabbi in Far Rockaway found this out when he tried to apply for a mortgage! more ›

Books, or at least book shelves, must be on this couple's wedding registry: The Post has a cute story about a couple whose engagement took place at the Strand Bookstore. Joshua Reich and Shianling King "always told friends they met at the Strand," but they actually met online - their first date was supposed to be at the Museum of Modern Art, but the lines were so long that they went to the Strand instead.... more ›

ART: Secrets of Coney Island Creek opens at the Brooklyn Public Library tonight. The exhibit of photographs by photog/author/Coney Island native Charles Denson goes back to the 1960s "when the waterway was at a low point, surrounded by industry and suffering from neglect and pollution. Since then, portions of the creek have been reclaimed, drawing both wildlife and residents to its shores. The photographs in Secrets of Coney Island Creek document those early decades and offer a fascinating and comprehensive portrait of the creek today and its relationship to the Coney Island community." more ›

, humorously chronicled her pilgrimage to locales connected to three slain American presidents (Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley). Vowell will be appearing this Sunday as part of a fundraiser for 826NYC (tickets); she’ll be talking “with/to/about” comedian Eugene Mirman. (Demetri Martin hosts the event, which also features musicians Grizzly Bear, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, and Feist, among others.) Gothamist recently spoke with Vowell about 826NYC, politics and gluten. more ›

Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg announced a project to commemorate abolitionist activity that occurred in Brooklyn in the 1800s. He named a panel made up of community leaders, academics, and historians to aid the city and Downtown Brooklyn Partnership in asking for and reviewing commemoration proposals. more ›

The saga of the issuance of Official New York license plates to people, businesses, and groups that are not a part of the government continues. Yesterday, the Daily News followed up with a story about how the New York Public Library received several sets of the plates for its vehicles. In case you didn't know, the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Borough Public Library are not a part of the city government, but instead are all private nonprofit corporations that get funding from the federal, state and city governments unlike some other libraries in the state which are directly part of local government. And of course the News mentioned they found vehicles with the Official plates parked illegally and free of parking tickets. more ›

Students at all NYC schools have a day off today in what is officially noted on the Dept. of Education's calendar as a Chancellor's Conference Day for Staff Development. That dry description actually masks the fact that today's day off from school is a tradition that dates back to 1829 and used to be one of the most widely celebrated holidays in Brooklyn and Queens. Dating back 178 years, Anniversary Day was a school holiday to celebrate and commemorate the founding of the first Sunday School (a de facto Protestant institution at the time) on Long Island. [See our post on Anniversary Day 2006] more ›

A story in this week's Crain's suggests that the Visual and Performing Arts Library planned for the BAM Cultural District in Fort Greene may never materialize due to lack of funding. The story ("Library Project in Doubt," p6) is based on an anonymous source, described as "an insider at the Brooklyn Public Library." Unfortunately we cannot post the link because Crain's requires a subscription. more ›

Anyone who has attempted to walk or bike from one side of Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza to another knows that it can be a difficult journey, through which a constantly swiveling head is required to keep an eye on traffic coming from seemingly every direction. The above overhead image shows just a portion of the plaza where five different roads converge in an inner traffic loop, including Eastern Parkway and Prospect Park West, and the entire site is bisected by Flatbush Ave. It's also a destination for pedestrians and cyclists. Aside from the plaza's Memorial Arch and Bailey Fountain, Grand Army Plaza is the northwest entrance to Prospect Park, hosts a weekend greenmarket, and is the location of the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. more ›

A Sunday NY Times roundup of development and community planning process in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn contains this hidden threat: more ›

There may be some crappy post offices in Brooklyn, but the Brooklyn Public Library is trying to expand its offerings for members. The Post reports that the library has been talking to Netflix to allow library members to rent DVDs - for free - as well as home delivery. So you could check out books and movies from the comfort of your own home - never leave your apartment again! more ›

Leaving our local Key Food this morning, for the first time we heard the spare change guy's rendition of "Bad to the Bone" and then we turned to one of our weekend rituals: Reading the The Brooklyn Paper. more ›

Remember all the excitement surrounding the BAM Cultural District around, oh, 2001? Well, the NY Post is reporting that the previous plan for a theater and arts library has been expanded to include a dance studio, public park, museum and gallery, underground parking garage and residential housing. more ›

December 7: Alex Prud’homme at O&CO. more ›

FASHION: This is an early one, fashionistas. The Brooklyn Public Library is hosting a round table discussion today on Fashion and Beauty trends. Come. Learn. Be pretty. more ›

Yesterday, there was a press conference to herald the formation of the Grand Army Plaza Coalition, which will help improve Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza for pedestrians. According to Transportation Alternatives, is coalition is "made up of civic associations such as the Park Slope Civic Council, the Prospect Heights Parents Association and the Eastern Parkway Cultural Row Association...cultural institutions such as the Prospect Park Alliance, the Brooklyn Public Library and the Heart of Brooklyn Cultural Partnership...advocacy organizations such as the Project for Public Spaces, Transportation Alternatives, and the Open Planning Project." Jan Gehl, an urban quality consultant from Denmark, will be "re-envisioning" the plaza, told NY1, "These great opportunities have completely been cut off in little islands where people, like Eskimos, have to jump from one ice floe to another. The middle here where you have fountains and other nice things, there are no one." more ›

We know it's fashion week, but Gothamist prides itself on offering all kinds of other, more bookish delights for those not inclined to prowl the tents at Bryant Park. Kicking off this week, Symphony Space (95th and Broadway) is hosting Banned: Stories by Censored Writers and Dissidents, with work by authors from Iran and Indonesia. The show starts at 6:30PM on 2/8 and costs $25, less for members. more ›

Gothamist reader Richard Kim sent in this great link to the Fulton Street Trade Card Collection at the Brooklyn Public Library. The collection features some wonderfully weird 19th century business cards for a variety of stores in downtown Brooklyn. Check out the description for the card above: more ›