Dyker Library debuts repairs and improvements

Raise the roof.

Councilmember Vincent Gentile and Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda Johnson were at the library’s Dyker Branch, 8202 13th Avenue, to discuss both repairs and future improvements to the space on Wednesday, November 9.

During the event, Gentile and Johnson joined families, employee, and the Dyker Singers to celebrate the progress made at the library.

The first item on the agenda was fixing the branch’s damaged roof. “This roof needs attention and repair and that’s what the money is going to do,” said Gentile. “Once that’s completed and the roof is repaired in the next couple of months, then we can begin on the interior renovations and for that I’ve allocated $1 million in capital money. So you’ll see new things happening here like new furniture, maybe a new layout. There hasn’t been a new design yet.”

Johnson was also pleased with the progress made on the heavily used branch. “If you look up at the ceiling, there’s clear evidence that we’ve had some leaks in this library,” she said. “There’s no building that serves the public that should have a leaky roof.”

Once the roof is finished, several upgrades are expected to be made throughout 2017. “It’s all with the idea of upgrading, modernizing and making it more useful for today’s users,” Gentile added. “Don’t forget this building was put up in the early 1970s and it really hasn’t undergone  any kind of interior renovation since so the time has come to spruce it up.

“On another level the promise for the future is that not only will we have a building that is safe and dry but we’ll put a million into this branch and make it inspiring and a place that is attractive to all of our patrons from the smallest to senior citizens’ Gentile went on. “That’s what we want in our library. We want people to come here to do their best thinking, their best playing.”

The Dyker Singers performed for attendees and presented Gentile and Johnson with a card.

In addition to Gentile, Borough President Eric Adams helped fund the repairs.

“Gentile is a great friend of libraries,” Johnson said. “He knows the problems we face and great work we do. We are also grateful to the Borough President. There are needs all over the systems. I wish every councilmember was as understanding with these issues as Gentile.”