You can browse and borrow vinyl records at the Brooklyn Public Library
Photo credit to Gregg Richards, courtesy of Brooklyn Public Library
The Brooklyn Public Library is launching a new pilot program this month for music lovers. Starting on August 9, BPL patrons can visit the Central Library branch in Park Slope and browse, listen to, and borrow a diverse collection of nearly 400 records. The vinyl collection and listening stations will be in the New & Noteworthy room on the first floor of the recently-renovated Central Library. Teen and adult cardholders can take out up to three records for three weeks.
Photo of BPL’s Central Library courtesy of Gregg Richards
On August 9, BPL will welcome artists Daisy the Great and DJ AG who will perform for library visitors. Daisy the Great is a Brooklyn-based indie-pop duo who wrote “The Record Player Song,” a track that has been streamed millions of times on Spotify. DJ AG will be spinning an eclectic variety of sounds, including garage house, rap, R&B, pop, and more.
The library will host August Lunch Beats in the Central Library’s lobby at noon on August 11, 18, and 25. During this time, library staff will pick from the vinyl collection and spin records.
Holds cannot be placed on any of the vinyl; records must be borrowed and returned in person at the Central Library. When returning the record, drop them off with a staff member at the Returns Desk, not the returns box, which could damage the record.
For those who are interested in taking out records, but don’t know how to operate a record player, there will be user guides available found at the in-library listening stations.
As a pilot project, BPL hopes to grow its vinyl collection and look for ways to improve the program as they get feedback from library patrons.
You can browse through the entire list of available records here, including a featured list that only includes artists from New York City. If you don’t know where to begin, BPL’s music librarian has some suggestions: Jay-Z’s The Black Album, Gustav Mahler’s Symphonie No. 1, The Rolling Stones’ Hot Rocks, Sarah Vaughn sings George Gershwin, and West Side Story: Original Edition.
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