Sunset Park takes home the “Oscars of Libraries” award

A library shines in Sunset.

The Sunset Park Brooklyn Public Library Branch may be undergoing massive renovations, but it continues to prove the significance it has for the community

On Monday, June 6, the branch was one of only five to receive the “Oscars of Libraries” award, taking home $20,000. It was also the only Brooklyn branch to take home an award. The NYC Neighborhood Library Awards recognize and reward public libraries that exhibit exceptional free programs, resources and librarians.

“It’s a great honor for the entire staff. We have a great group of volunteers,” Roxana Benavides, the library’s supervisor, told this paper. “It means a lot because it was the public who nominated different libraries that are considered to be the best.”

During the awards presentation, a short film was shown that displayed the significance the branch plays for the Sunset community, specifically its diverse members.

“I want to learn English to get a better job,” said member Juan Carlos Paullino, when discussing the library in the video. “This is my first time in a library in the U.S. and I didn’t know that they offer all of these services.”

The video also displayed Paullino’s struggle to be reunited with his wife. “My wife lives in the Dominican Republic,” he said. “I want to ask the lawyer what I need and if it’s possible for her to come to the U.S.”

Sunset’s branch is one of the borough’s most used and the programs offered to attendees may be a key reason. “It’s extremely utilized. We go out to the community and do outreach to see whatever changes are happening and reach out to new patrons that are there. We tailor our programs and services in a way that most greatly impacts the community,” Benavides said. “We have such a big spread of programs for all different groups. The needs are still greater than what we can offer, but we make the most of our resources.”

Adding to the branch’s uniqueness is Eileen White, who volunteers as an English teacher for the branch. “I first thought of incorporating a library visit into the class because there’s so much that they offer that people need to know,” she said in the video.

More than 19,000 New Yorkers nominated their local library to win an award this year – up more than 40 percent from last year’s nominations.

“We are thrilled to honor these library branches as heroes in their communities,” said Julie Sandorf, president of the Charles H. Revson Foundation.

The winners were selected by a distinguished panel of judges.