SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Elected officials and library administrators gathered at the Kings Bay branch of the Brooklyn Public Library last Friday to celebrate the launch of a new laptop loaner program.

The program kicked off in Brooklyn Public Library branches in Kings Bay (3650 Nostrand Avenue) and Kings Highway (2215 Ocean Avenue), where 18 brand new laptops and charging carts are now available thanks to $50,000 in funding allocated by Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein.

“Whether you’re a student using the internet as a research aid or a senior citizen wanting to know your rights, this program will have a positive impact on all library patrons,” said Weinstein in a press release.

The laptops will help busy branches like Kings Bay by allowing people to use the laptops for two hours anywhere in the building – a departure from the policy for current desktop computers, which can only be used for 30 minutes.

Now… we’re on our way over to make sure every browser’s homepage is set to Sheepshead Bites.

Source: brooklynpubliclibrary.org

Midwood’s Kings Highway Library (2115 Ocean Avenue) is Brooklyn’s busiest branch, thanks in a large part to its Russian-speaking clientele, according to a report by the New York Daily News.

The library’s position as Brooklyn’s number one hotspot for book worms is backed by some impressive numbers. They boast a yearly circulation of 1.3 million with 50,000 people enrolled in its various programs, many taking advantage of its free English-as-a-Second-Language classes.

The varied programs the library offers, ranging from a Russian-language computer class to an English conversation club, cater to the large immigrant community that keeps the establishment busy all day. The Daily News highlighted what attracts Russian immigrants to the branch:

“Russian people love to read,” said librarian Svetlana Dubinsky, noting their top picks are translations of Danielle Steele, Nora Roberts and Nicholas Sparks potboilers, and Cecelia Ahern romance novels. The classics are for youngsters.

“They come in with their grandkids and say, ‘I want my grandson to read Dostoyevsky because that’s what I read,’” she explained.

While the Russian speaking base makes up a large majority of the library’s patronage, they do a good job reaching out to all cultures. The immigrant friendly atmosphere have drawn in Ukrainians, Chinese and Mexicans, with their Chinese-language collection sporting high popularity.

The library has also become a valuable resource to immigrant moms looking to improve their English and provide a welcoming educational atmosphere for their children:

“I am trying to learn English by being at the library,” said Sumaira Bano, an Urdu speaker from Pakistan.

Ukrainian immigrant Lidiya Ilchuk, 32, brings daughter Sofiya, 6, for help with math and checks out books for the Public School 199 first-grader to read at home, two per day.

“This is her education,” the Midwood resident said.

Photo by Erica Sherman

Gravesend Cat Friends, a Trap Neuter Return (TNR) group working to combat pet over-population and the stray cat problem in Southern Brooklyn, invites you to hear TNR expert Peter Szalaiko of Ferals in Peril deliver a presentation, October 16, 6:30 p.m. at the Kings Highway Library, 2115 Ocean Avenue near the intersection of Avenue P and Kings Highway.

Szalaiko and Gravesend Cats are also inviting neighbors to help trap 25 or more cats.

Perhaps Ned’s cat lady should attend. Or maybe she should be caught and neutered. Whatevs.

To learn more, call Susan Bercaw at (646) 708-3333 or email gravesendcats@gmail.com.

Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’s mobile community office will be visiting the Kings Highway Brooklyn Public Library at 2115 Ocean Avenue, on Friday, April 8, from 2 to 4 p.m.

A staff member will be in attendance to discuss local issues and answer questions from the community.

Call (718) 743-4078 for more information.

Brooklyn Public Library officials and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have struck a deal to maintain a minimum of five day service at all branches, narrowly escaping devastating cuts that would have shuttered branches and eliminated hours across the board.

[ABOVE: Watch BPL Representative Mel Henkle tell Community Board 15 about the new hours, and thank the community for its advocacy.]

In our neck of the woods, the compromise means that some of our libraries will lose Saturday service beginning July 10, including the Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend and Homecrest branches. Saturday service will be provided at the Kings Bay, Kings Highway and Brighton Beach branches, and the Kings Highway branch will also have summer Sunday hours.

See the new hours for all Sheepshead Bay area libraries.