Brooklyn Public Library announces ‘Bike the Branches’

One-day bike ride through BPL’s 60 neighborhood branches

April 23, 2013 From Brooklyn Public Library

Brooklyn Public Library by Phoebe Neidl

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Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) announced on Monday the first annual Bike the Branches event – a one-day bike ride on May 11 through BPL’s network of 60 neighborhood libraries serving communities throughout the borough. Proceeds from the event will go to support library services, including programming, technology, and collections.

Participants in Bike the Branches can choose their own route and set their own pace as they visit branches across the borough. The Library offers suggested tours that celebrate Brooklyn’s storied waterfront, important literary history, culinary highlights or library architecture.

Bike riders will receive a “passport,” and will accumulate stamps for as many branches as they can visit between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Select branches will offer programming and other activities that demonstrate the importance of the library throughout all Brooklyn’s communities. The day will be topped off with a finish line celebration at Central Library in Prospect Heights from 5 to 7 p.m., featuring music, entertainment, prizes and more.

“Bike the Branches is an exciting new way to support Brooklyn Public Library and experience the reach of our library system into every corner of the borough – from historic Carnegie libraries built in the early 1900s to our newest branch, the LEED Silver Kensington Library, which opened last year,” said Linda E. Johnson, President & CEO of Brooklyn Public Library.

“When Andrew Carnegie envisioned the neighborhood branch system more than 100 years ago, he believed every Brooklyn community should have access to the knowledge and resources a public library can provide. By visiting the dozens of neighborhoods we serve across the borough, participants in Bike the Branches can help us provide the programs our patrons need, like story times for toddlers, resume writing workshops and WiFi access for jobseekers. We look forward to seeing Brooklyn’s communities joining the fun and giving back to their public libraries.”

Registration for Bike the Branches is now open (visit https://apps.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/btb/) and is $20 for adults, $15 for students, and $10 for children, with special prices offered for families ($40) and teams ($150 for up to 10 people).

Bike the Branches is part of Brooklyn Public Library’s annual Support the Branches fundraising drive. All proceeds from Support the Branches and Bike the Branches help fund Brooklyn Public Library’s work to bring vital services, resources and programs to every neighborhood in Brooklyn – ensuring that collections grow, computer equipment is upgraded, and more community programs are developed and enjoyed by the borough’s diverse populations.

Programming for children and families during Bike the Branches will include:

· Ah! Real Magic with Gary Ferrar: Bay Ridge at 1:00 PM

· Rolie Polie Guacamole with Frank Gallo, kids’ music that blends acoustic rock, funk and folk with catchy sing-alongs: Cortelyou at 11:00 am, Windsor Terrace at 2:00 pm

· The Magic of Amazing Ken with Ken Levy: Stone Avenue at 1:00 pm

· Plaza Theatrical Productions, Inc. presents “A Year with Frog and Toad,” a musical based on Arnold Lobel’s well-loved book: Central Library Dweck Center at 1:00 pm

· Sing Along with Louie Miranda from Jerry Joy Music, one of the most popular young-audience shows: Greenpoint at 11:00 am

· Reading is Cool/The Magic of Books with Jim Vagias, an assembly that encourages kids to “turn off the TV and open a book:” Dyker at 1:00 pm, Brighton Beach at 3:00 pm

· Magic & Mystery: The Mystery of Michael Lee: Macon at 1:00 pm

· A musical performance with Alexandra Turchenkova and Gennady Sinel’nikov, including musical works by Russian, American, French and Italian composers: Kings Highway at 12:00 pm

· Transportation workshop with author of “My Subway Ride” Selina Alko, where kids will have the opportunity to create their own trains out of cardboard boxes, recycled materials and paint: Sunset Park at 1:00 pm

· Handsome Harry’s Magic and Juggling: Ulmer Park at 1:00 pm

Bike the Branches is sponsored by Bike New York, Citi Bike, NYC Department of Transportation (DOT), Transportation Alternatives and Powerade.