April 11, 2010

Visit Your Brooklyn Public Library!

Bay Ridge Public Library at the corner of 73rd Street and Ridge Boulevard

I had fallen out of the habit of going to the library in Brooklyn. The selection of books for adults at any one time is pretty limited.

But recently, I've started using the library more than at any time since I was an elementary school kid at OLA. Because I don't look for books at the library anymore! I look for them online - where they tend to have what I want.

Here's how you can do it too. First, go to your local Brooklyn Public Library and get a Library Card.

Then go to the Brooklyn Public Library website and create a username and password.

To find a book, go to the site and log on. Enter the name of the book or author in the library search box. If you find it in stock, click the gold " Place a Hold " button and tell them which library branch you wish to pick the book up in.

If it's in stock, they'll find the book for you in one of the BPL branches. When it arrives at the branch you designate, they send you an e-mail or text message, after which you have ten days to pick it up.

Then you walk in, go to the designated book pick up section where the books are organized by last names of those who placed the orders.

The other day, I picked up two books I had ordered, and spent a total of maybe three minutes in the Bay Ridge Branch finding them and checking them out.

The online reservation system is really good, perfect for busy people.

See you at the Brooklyn Public Library!

April 04, 2010

Coffey Street, Red Hook, Brooklyn

The woman who owns this house put this sign up sometime after 9/11. She updates it every morning.

Photo taken at 915 am today.

( Click once or twice to enlarge photo )