Fort Greene Library Expands Children's Programming

The Walt Whitman Library in upper Fort Greene near Downtown Brooklyn plans to open a new children’s book section, add more children’s books, hire a new children’s librarian and roll out new arts and literacy programs for kids.

The upgrades were announced at a Tuesday press conference held by StudentsFirst NY — the local branch of StudentsFirst, an outspoken ed-reform lobby founded by high-profile reformer Michelle Ree some years ago.

“This community advocated for more literacy programs, more books, and accomplished these goals after a team effort from parents and families,” StudentsFirst organizer Charisse Smith said at the presser. “This celebration speaks to the fact that teamwork makes dreams a reality.”

The Walt Whitman upgrades will be pulled from a $39 million budgetary boost to the greater city library system approved by the New York City Council in June.

The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) system and its counterpart in Queens have been scrambling to implement new programs and opening hours made possible by these new funds, but have yet to announce a start date for the systemwide upgrades — including at Walt Whitman Library in Fort Greene.

According to StudentsFirst NY, a group of parent activists collected 1,980 signatures in support of upgrades at Walt Whitman.

“In response,” the organization said in a statement, “library leadership engaged with the community and announced a number of key improvements.”

The BPL, however, would not confirm specific improvements. In a statement sent to Patch in response to StudentsFirstNY’s press conference, a spokesperson for the BPL said:

“BPL has been proud to serve the community at Walt Whitman Library, a historic Carnegie branch, for more than one hundred years, and we are grateful for the support of the many patrons who advocate for Walt Whitman and all 60 of our branches throughout the borough.”

Inside sources told Patch that Brooklyn and Queens library officials are hoping to expand all branch opening times to six days a week by the end of the year, but that the process is slow-going.

A crowd of Fort Greene kids and parents — among them Patrick Cabiness, president of the PS 67 PTA — attended the StudentsFirstNY event on Tuesday.

“I look forward to working with the staff of the Walt Whitman Library in broadening its outreach efforts,” Cabiness reportedly said, “as well as coming up with new ways to make our community library a popular destination that makes our neighbors excited to take part in our library’s activities.”

Fort Greene parent Dorian Muller reportedly added: “I am here today to ensure children in the community, along with future generations of Fort Greene residents, can fully utilize Walt Whitman Library.”

It is still unclear when, exactly, the library’s new resources and programs for neighborhood kids will become available.