Leonard Library

The Plan

✅ As of May 2026, Leonard Library IS OPEN. Phase II construction is not expected to begin until Fall 2027. This page is about what's coming — and what we're asking for before it does.

Our Ask

We don't have all the answers — but the city does, and so does the library. We're calling on Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, Council Member Lincoln Restler, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and Brooklyn Public Library to:

  • →Commit to a real pop-up library during the closures — not just a book cart — like Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, and Fort Greene got.
  • →Make sure Leonard and Bushwick are not both closed at the same time.
  • →Tell us the plan, in writing, before the doors close.

We'll update this page as we learn more.

The Timeline

  1. 1

    Leonard closed end of 2022, reopened August 2025 — about 2.5 years (Phase I: heating, roof, ceiling)

  2. 2

    Phase II is coming: design done Dec 2026, construction Fall 2027 to Fall 2029

  3. 3

    Phase II is the accessibility work — elevator and ADA bathrooms. The access upgrades were saved for last.

  4. 4

    Bushwick closes June 5, 2026, reopening second half of 2028

  5. 5

    Leonard and Bushwick may both be closed: roughly Fall 2027 to mid-2028

  6. 6

    BPL says it will 'do everything we can to minimize overlapping closure.' We want a real plan, not a promise.

  7. 7

    Phase I ran roughly 32 months — the original estimate was about 18 months. We'll believe the dates when we see them met.

What We Lose When the Library Closes

  • •Kids lose a safe place after school. Many come here instead of being on the street.
  • •Seniors lose a warm, free place to go, learn, and see people.
  • •People with no computer at home lose free internet and computers. More than 4 in 10 Black and Hispanic Americans don't own one. [ALA, 2022]
  • •Students lose a quiet spot to do homework.
  • •The block loses its main shared space. Nearly 1 in 3 U.S. homes is now one person living alone. [LSS, 2024]
  • •Open libraries help kids read more — a renovated branch raises kids' checkouts about 20%. [LSS, 2024]

Other Neighborhoods Got a Real Pop-Up. We Got a Book Cart.

  • •Carroll Gardens got a full pop-up at 250 Baltic Street (Community Board 6 space). You can borrow books, pick up holds, get a card, and ask for help. IKEA donated furniture.
  • •Red Hook got a pop-up at 362 Van Brunt with books, computers, and free WiFi.
  • •Fort Greene got a pop-up at 240 Nassau Street (donated space), with story times and resume help.
  • •During Leonard's two-year closure, North Brooklyn mostly got 'Nellie,' a book cart.
  • →Our ask: North Brooklyn deserves the same.

A Fair Question About the Two Phases

Phase I (2022–25) handled mechanical and historic work. Phase II (2027–29) handles ADA accessibility. It's fair to ask: could these have been combined into one closure? We acknowledge there's a counter-argument — a combined closure might mean one longer continuous closure. We're not saying we know the answer. We're asking for a transparent explanation of the tradeoffs.