Good news from Felder, Eichenstein and Yeger: Boro Park library will be open Sundays!

Brooklyn, NY – Today, Senator Simcha Felder, Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein and Councilman Kalman Yeger jointly announced with Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) President Linda E. Johnson that the Boro Park Branch will be open on Sundays rather than Saturdays, beginning March 10, 2024. Located at 1265 43rd Street, the Boro Park branch is the only remaining location serving the neighborhood while both the Mapleton and Ryder branches undergo much-needed renovations and upgrades.

The officials expressed gratitude for BPL President Johnson’s willingness to reevaluate the sweeping Sunday closure policy that was vehemently opposed by Senator Felder, Assemblyman Eichenstein and Councilman Yeger. Implemented in response to mid-year budget cuts, Brooklyn Public Library’s announcement of the closure policy was met with a concerted effort by the elected officials to negotiate a more equitable plan that would accommodate families across Brooklyn with more expansive access to the libraries’ resources.

President Johnson responded positively to the allied advocacy, sharing her decision to reverse the sole weekend day of operation from Saturday to Sunday at the Boro Park branch. Regrettably, due to city budget cuts, this positive development is limited to just one location, with no plans yet in place to extend it to libraries serving other neighborhoods across Brooklyn.

“I am thankful for President Johnson’s efforts to better balance fiscal and community concerns and her willingness to value Brooklyn’s diverse needs and ensure that more families have the opportunity, on at least one day of the weekend, to utilize the library,” said Senator Simcha Felder. “With tax-paying New Yorkers feeling jammed from all sides during this difficult economic period, free public resources, like our libraries, are even more important and we will not stop fighting for the means to serve our hardworking families.”

"I am delighted that our local Boro Park library will be open on Sundays, and I thank Brooklyn Public Library President Linda Johnson for recognizing the significance of this decision," said Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein. "Many community members are available only on Sundays to enjoy the privileges of using our local library and its vast collection. In these challenging times, our local library offers an opportunity to learn, to grow, and ultimately to enrich our lives. I am confident that the Boro Park library will be visited regularly by young and old, especially on Sundays."

“There was never any doubt that the library had the ability to remain open on Sundays for our community’s families,” said Councilman Kalman Yeger.  “The library just needed the will to do it.  Our community’s tax dollars fund the libraries, and we have the right to receive the services we pay for.  I’m proud to have partnered with Senator Felder and Assemblyman Eichenstein in urging the library to reverse the decision to close on Sundays, and I’m glad the library saw its way to doing the right thing.”

“Cuts to City funding have had significant impacts on library service, and we are proud to have worked with our dedicated elected officials to find a solution at Borough Park Library that better serves neighboring communities,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “We know that public libraries and the vital services we provide are a lifeline for many, and we are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the library’s resources and programming are accessible to all.”