The Brooklyn Public Library and NYC Council member Justin Brannan hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of the Bay Ridge Library Teen Tech Center.
The brand-new center provides local teenagers with access to various technologies — including computers, 3-D printers, cameras, digital musical instruments, and more — as a way to explore their passions.
According to BPL, the Bay Ridge center was developed to give young people a safe environment to both socialize with others and be creative in whichever projects they decide to take on.
“When we provide safe spaces where teens can meet their peers, sharpen their digital skills and express their creativity, we empower the next generation of entrepreneurs, scientists and artists,” said Linda E. Johnson, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Public Library.
“We are thrilled to open the Bay Ridge Library Teen Tech Center and can’t wait to see what our young patrons create!”
The new space joins the Best Buy Teen Center at Kings Highway Library which opened in 2019, as well as the Crowns Height Library Teen Tech Center which opened its doors in 2022.
Two additional centers are slated to open later this year at Saratoga Library (Oct. 24) and Adams Street Library (Nov. 2).
The centers are part of a Brooklyn Public Library initiative that provides local teenagers with safe spaces, literature, and programming — including Teen Takeovers, after-hours events planned by teens for teens — aimed just for them.
“Through access to books, technology, programming, and other resources, our libraries deliver immense opportunity to New Yorkers of all stripes, free of charge,” said Brannan. “Our new Teen Tech Center will help Bay Ridge Library deliver for our community in yet another way.”
