Kensington Library Pulls Misused iPads

It appears that a pilot program to make iPads available for Kensington Library patrons between the ages of 2-5 went south.  After two years of use and abuse, public library officials decided to scrub the iPads availability due to older kids and even some parents covertly used the hand-held computers to make on-line purchases, play violent video games, and visit porn sites.

The 18th Avenue branch equipped the iPads with age-appropriate applications designed to help children learn to read, and other educational functions. Unfortunately it happened all too often that older kids took the iPads away from the younger children, changed passwords, installed the apps that they wanted, and then played on the devices. One older child even took a picture of himself and set it as the background picture for the iPad.

Kensington Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library

The last straw came when patrons saw inappropriate videos and nudity displayed on the iPads, prompting library officials to remove them from the library. Officials are now exploring other ways of using the computers.

“We’ve had the most success with iPads that are used as part of our programming, including literacy classes for adults and programs for children with special needs,” said Emma Woods, spokeswoman for the library.

Lincoln Center Local Live Coming to a Library Near You

Throughout the months of July, August and September residents of Brooklyn and Queens will be treated to special free music programming sponsored by the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center Education and the Brooklyn and Queens public libraries.

Broadway Pops International will bring musical theater to the Kensington Library on Autust 16 at 2pm

The variety of music will be wide, with 14 different offerings ranging in styles from opera to gospel to flamenco and American musical. The music will be presented in one-hour sessions which will also include discussions with questions and answers with the performing artists. These encounters allow the audience to engage in a more meaningful and enjoyable way with the music.

The first performance was on July 12 at the Queens Central Library. It was flamenco dance performed by Elementos de Flamenco. The last show of the series will be live streamed from the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center and will take place on September 27th. The encore performance will be viewable at five Brooklyn Public Library locations, including at the Kensington Library at 4207 18th Avenue. The Queens Public Library will also have 13 branches participating. For more information go to the Lincoln Center schedule.

Bikes and Books Get Together at the BPL

In anticipation of the “Bike the Branches” bike tour, the Brooklyn Public Library is outfitting hundreds of adults and children with bike helmets. The annual tour features people riding either on their own or in groups to visit as many as 60 branches of the BPL. When they arrive at each branch riders, and anyone visiting the library, will be able to participate in activities geared to families. Those who arrive at the most library branches will be eligible for prizes.

One helmet giveaway already took place at the Kensington branch of the BPL last week. This week, on Tuesday, May 13, from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, riders are invited to come to 10 Grand Army Plaza to be fitted for a free helmet, as long as supplies last.

Participants who sign up ahead of time can join in themed bike rides like the one touring some of Brooklyn’s most famous distilleries. Another ride visits famous literary locales, and another will be going to some of the borough’s most popular landmarks.

Tour day is May 17 beginning at 10am. Registration is online and costs $20 per adult and $10 per child under 17. Seniors over 65 also pay $10. There are group rates for families or groups with up to 10 members.

Futuristic Kensington Library Branch May Be Last of its Kind for New York

User-friendly Kensington Branch of the BPL

Kensington welcomed the newest member of the Brooklyn Public Library to its neighborhood recently: a gleaming, environmentally friendly complex with large open spaces, panoramic glass windows, and a slew of computers, iPads, and self-check-out, make this library state of the art and welcoming to visitors.

However it seems that it is more likely than not that this will be the last such building project in the BPL system. Building on an empty lot from scratch, like the new 18,500 square foot branch was, is a costly endeavor. New branches added to the system will most likely utilize already constructed spaces.

"In the future, I anticipate it would be more about using storefronts," said BPL president/CEO Linda Johnson.

A majority of the BPL’s 60 branches were donated about 100 years ago by Andrew Carnegie, and they are now ready for some massive repairs and upgrades. BPL estimates that there are over $250 million worth of repairs that need attention immediately, including things like roofs that are breaking down, and broken air conditioning systems. That is a large way from the $15 million that is now available by the city for use by the BPL.

Due to this situation the BPL to look into less expensive ways to improve their branches, such as utilizing storefronts instead of building new buildings.

The new Kensington branch is filled with mostly new 39,415 books and DVDs. It has 24 computers and two machines for self-check-out. As soon anti-theft equipment is installed the library is going to add three iPads for children.

"As peoples habits change so will we," Johnson said. "This is the first step to change our architecture to meet the way people are living and working today."

The Kensington library was one of the busiest in the entire system. There were 104,700 books or other items in circulation from this branch in 2012, ranking it the tenth busiest in the whole BPL system.

"It's really beautiful," said City Councilman David Greenfield (D-Flatbush). "It's the future of libraries and well worth the visit for even those who don't live in the neighborhood."

Environmentally Friendly Library Opens in Kensington

Brooklyn opened its most green library to date last week when the new Kensington Library opened its doors to the public. On hand to celebrate the event last Wednesday were city officials joining library staff.

The building was constructed from scratch for $16 million, the first Brooklyn library to have that honor in almost 20 years. The building is an environmentally concerned book-lover dream come true.

The building has LEED Silver certification and features some really neat features such as large front windows and a skylight to enhance the use of natural light and reduce the need for artificial lighting.

Sculptures powered by the rays of the sun hang down from the ceiling near the windows, spinning around when the sun is shining brightly.

In addition the spanking new library has 24 computers for public use; three iPads; and an assortment of spaces for story hours for children and community meetings for adults.

The new Kensington Library is located at 4207 18th Avenue. Come visit and see its high-tech amenities in action.

Children of Deceased Kensington Woman Say It Took Seven Days to Tell Them Mom Died in Hospital

The son and daughter of an elderly woman, Catherine Hawa, say it took New York Community Hospital seven days to inform them of their mother’s demise.

Catherine Hawa with Family 1966

The brother and sister, Michael and Jeanette Hawa say their mother passed away on November 16th, but they were only informed of that fact on November 23rd. Jeanette says that she was preparing to visit her mother at the Midwood hospital when she received a call from someone at the hospital telling her that her mother was dead and had already been in the morgue for seven days.

Michael says that he also received a call from a hospital staff worker on the same day, telling him that his mother was dead, but offering no explanation for the delay.

“I really don’t know why we didn’t call you,” he said she told him.

Born in Indianapolis, Catherine moved to Brooklyn when she married Edward Hawa in 1946. Hawa was a well-known figure at the McCrory’s department store in downtown Brooklyn where she sold greeting cards.

Hawa lived in Kensington until the time of her death at the age of 89, on East 5th Street, and was involved in several neighborhood groups like the Friends of Kensington, a fundraising organization for the Kensington Library, of which she was the president.

Kensington Library to Enjoy Longer Hours Beginning in September

Saturday hours are being restored to many branches of the Brooklyn Public Library system, including the Kensington branch library located at 410 Ditmas Avenue between East 4th and East 5th Streets.

Last year the Brooklyn Public Library, the fifth largest library system in the country, reacted to budget cuts by choosing to forego weekend library hours rather than lay-off union employees.

The libraries which will now be open on weekends owe their good fortune to a union-rule change which will force union employees to do basic library tasks during regular library hours instead of during overtime hours. About half of all the Brooklyn branches will benefit, bringing the number of libraries which will stay open six days a week up to 32, while the other 28 branches will still be open only five days each week.

“We are very excited to offer increased hours to our patrons at a time when they need and are using our community libraries at record levels,” said Linda Johnson, the system’s new executive director.

No libraries in the system will be open on Sundays, but the re-organization which Johnson is augmenting will add about 8 hours of service to each branch, on average, beginning on September 10th.

Not everyone is excited by the increase in library hours. The president of the Brooklyn library workers’ union, Local 1482, Eileen Muller, complained that the new schedules will make it more difficult for library staff to prepare programs and will also make it more difficult for the custodians to clean the libraries.

“It would be easier for the staff if they had that extra time in morning,” said Muller. “Unfortunately, the library is trying to make light of the work we have to do behind the scenes.”

Local Library Round-up

Basic Computer Classes - Kensington Library

We all know someone who needs this class. Intended for adults with little or no experience operating computers. It can be anyone from your hunting-and-pecking Aunt Ethel to your literally-afraid-of-the-machine Grampa Bill.

Tuesday, Dec 16 at 6:30 PM
Wednesday, Dec 17 at 10:30 AM
Tuesday, Jan 20 at 6:30 PM
Wednesday, Jan 21 at 10:30 AM
Tuesday, Feb 24 at 6:30 PM
Wednesday, Feb 25 at 10:30 AM

Resume Writing Workshop - Windsor Terrace Library

If you're like most people (read: me), your resume probably needs work. This class can't hurt.

Monday, Jan 5 at 1 PM

Skills Training and Employment Project - Windsor Terrace Library

Get help with job and career information, resumes, cover letters and interview preparation. Note: this is not an actual job. You will not be paid.

Tuesdays, 11 AM
No session on:
December 23, 2008
December 30, 2008

For a full list of events at the local libraries, click here! From what I understand they also have rooms full of books that you can just take home for free? Anyone have any more information on this? It sounds too good to be true.

Local Story Times

WT Library
Toddler Time (18 months - 3 years)
Tues. 9.30-10, 10.15-10.45, and 4-4.30
Pre-School Time (3-5 years)
Weds. 9.30-10
Babies & Books (birth - 18 months)
Once a month - 1/18, 2/29, 3/28, 4/25, 5/30, 6/27
10am

Kensington Library
Pre-School Stories
Mon. 1-2
Nap Time Stories
Tues. 1:30
Babies & Books
Weds. 11-12

Kensington Library SDC Project

Update on Kensington Library re-model profiled here a week ago. There was a comment that this project would not be moving forward but we got this news from a neighbor who followed up w the Brooklyn Public Library. Good news!

The New Kensington Branch Library building project is still in process and continuing forward. We are currently in the final phases of the design process, and the architect will soon be starting on construction drawings.
Currently, we are scheduled to begin construction in 2008, and the building should be completed in 2010. The new building will be a LEED certified, green building.
Doug Klostermann
Project Manager
Capital Planning and Facilities Management
d.klostermann@brooklynpubliclibrary.org

Thursday Kid Event at Kensington Library

Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang presents "Kid's Music for All" Thursday at Kensington Library

"The critically acclaimed debut children’s CD, “GWENDOLYN AND THE GOODTIME GANG” won Los Angeles based songwriter Gwendolyn Sanford a never-widening base of young fans (and their parents). It’s been reported even her sophomore holiday release “‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE ROCKIN’”enjoys year-round play! Now Gwendolyn and her band take it up a notch with “GET UP & DANCE!” an album that’s sure to rock your socks off and get your feet moving!"

November 1, 2007

3:45 PM

Kensington Library

410 Ditmas Ave. between East 4th & East 5th St.

Brooklyn, NY 11218

718-435-9431

Kensington Library Events

We just got an update on the events at Kensington Library. Since the readings at WT are getting a little packed try the walk down to Ditmas Ave.

Monday, October 29, 2007
Preschool Storytime 1:00 PM
Scary Movies for Teens 3:30 PM

Tuesday, October 30, 2007
ESOL Conversation Group 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Babies & Books 11:00 AM
Halloween Fun 3:45 PM

SDC - Kensington Library Update!

We tend to spend a lot of time at the WT branch since its closer to us. The Kensington branch has lots of good stuff happening too but unfortunately we're not in the loop so don't post as much on that branch. Regardless, a local just forwarded us some very exciting news on the updating of the Kensington branch! The sustainable design collaborative is giving the branch an update!

Here's the info from the SDC:
The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) design goal for the Kensington Branch is that it be a "state-of-the-art" facility that maximizes thermal and visual comfort, convenience, and the well-being of staff and library goers while functioning in part as an environmental educational center. As such its construction materials and mechanical systems should promote good air quality indoors and outdoors through reduced or eliminated emissions. DDC also requested that environmentally preferable materials be selected that have recycled content and are themselves recyclable.
William Bobenhausen, FAIA, directed all environmental design aspects of the project. Services began even prior to the selection of a project architect with the establishment of energy and environmental performance goals for the project. Energy performance goals include: Energy consumption (measured in BTUs per square foot per year) a minimum of 30% lower than for a building designed to conventional current practice.
Annual operating cost to be a minimum of 40% lower than for a building designed to conventional current practice.
The major theme of the building is to utilize natural light. A reduction of lighting energy use by 50% is projected through a combination of switching, circuiting and automatic controls.
Sen Architects is the designer with A.G. Consulting Engineering serving as the project engineer. A standing column type geothermal heat pump system will satisfy the relatively small heating and cooling loads of the building.
Engineering assistance was provided by Steven Winter Associates through NYSERDA's FlexTech Program.