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 covers 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, 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 for 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 in writing.

  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? There's a counter-argument: a combined closure might mean one longer continuous stretch. We're not saying we know the answer. We're asking for a transparent explanation of the tradeoffs.