Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Paul A. Ochoa and Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda E. Johnson on Thursday announced the start of the project, which will expand the branch’s public space by more than 50% while preserving its historic architecture.

Construction is expected to wrap in summer 2028.

Mayor Mamdani said renovating the space matters because “libraries are where New Yorkers go to learn, discover and imagine what is possible, and they deserve spaces that meet the needs of our city today.”

“This $36 million investment will make Eastern Parkway Library fully accessible, more energy efficient and more welcoming, while honoring the architecture that has made this branch a beloved part of Crown Heights for more than a century,” he added. “With more natural light, a green courtyard, a reading terrace and spaces for kids, teens and families, we are giving New Yorkers a library worthy of the community it serves.”

The Eastern Parkway Library has served Crown Heights since 1914. The two-story Carnegie library is a Classical Revival building featuring a limestone façade, long arched windows, double-height reading rooms and mezzanines overlooking the lower floor.

The renovation will add a large glass façade to bring more natural light into the building. The branch will also become ADA-compliant through the addition of an elevator and entrance ramps.

Inside, the redesigned library will feature dedicated spaces for reading, learning and community programs. Plans include a multipurpose room equipped with a projector, a main reading room, teen zone, two children’s zones, a STEAM room, community room and classroom in the restored fireplace room.

Johnson added that the renovation will incorporate modern technology and additions into the historic building.

“The renovation — which will bring more natural light into the branch, add modern technology and create inspiring spaces — will ensure that Eastern Parkway Library can serve the community for another 100 years,” she said. “Thanks to Settlement Housing Fund, Amazon and IKEA, we are opening a temporary library in the neighborhood this fall, ensuring vital library services remain accessible throughout the construction process.”

Beyond the library’s interior, a renovated courtyard will provide outdoor seating, while a third-floor reading terrace will be surrounded by greenery.

Artwork by local artist Oasa DuVerney will also be incorporated throughout the library thanks to the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art Program.

The building is slated for energy-efficient lighting and upgraded plumbing, HVAC and fire alarm systems. Once the work is finished, the library is expected to achieve LEED Silver certification — recognizing the building’s energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable design.

“The Eastern Parkway Library is an architectural gem in the Crown Heights community and one of the busiest libraries in Brooklyn, and we are thrilled to break ground on this amazing project,” Ochoa said in a statement. “This project is not only upgrading the interior of this unique, two-story building, but we are also making it fully ADA-compliant and expanding public space by more than 50 percent! This is what the community asked for, and what we’ll be delivering.”

Library users won’t have to wait until 2028 to continue using branch services.

During construction, a temporary pop-up library provided by Settlement Housing Fund will operate in the neighborhood. IKEA has donated furnishings for the temporary space, while Amazon is providing additional support for interim library services.

The temporary branch is expected to open this fall and will allow patrons to check out books, participate in programs and access technology while the Eastern Parkway building undergoes its transformation.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, which included BPL and city officials, Eastern Parkway Library manager Josephine Evans noted that, thanks to the renovation and expansion, more community members would be able to take part in the library’s services and programs. She also acknowledged the Lenape people who owned the land on which BPL libraries are built.

“The land on which the library stands is part of the unceded homeland of the Lenape people; we pay respect to the Lenape, past, present, and future generations,” Evans said.

Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson described libraries as “magical places” for kids, a “practical” space for adults to study for a citizenship exam or brush up on the latest computer software, and a safe space that provides protection during heat waves or wildfires.

“Our libraries are some of our last true public spaces, and today they’re the backbone of so much more than the literary world,” Kerson said.

Deputy Borough President Kim Council, a former librarian, admitted that she was biased when it comes to BPL, describing it as “the best library system in the world.” She noted that the Eastern Parkway Public Library has served as a vital hub for literature, resources and information for generations of Crown Heights residents.

“These are the places where our kids learn to love reading, where Brooklynites access technology and resources, where neighbors come together to learn, to work, and to connect. There is no place like a library,” Council said, recalling that the first book she checked out as a kid was “The Teacup Full of Roses” after she received her library card.

Ethan Norville, chairperson of Brooklyn Community Board 9, noted that an investment in public libraries was an investment in the community and the city.

“[Libraries] give each one of us a chance to get 1% better every day, to learn a skill, to discover something new, to meet a neighbor, to continue to form community, and access information that otherwise might have been harder to reach,” Norville said.