Brooklyn Public Library Has Launched a Vinyl Collection

Brooklyn Public Library has opened a vinyl collection for teen and adult cardholders to borrow up to three records at a time for three weeks.

Brooklyn Public Library has gone crate digging. The 125-year-old athenaeum has launched a new vinyl collection for teen and adult library cardholders to check out, with 400 albums from genres ranging from country, pop, hip-hop, rock, and more. Located in the “New & Noteworthy” room, the collection currently includes notable albums from Erykah Badu, The Notorious B.I.G., JAY-Z, Al Green, Prince and others.

Cardholders can take up to three records home for up to three weeks, returning the vinyl to library staff members instead of the drop-off box. For those uninterested in checking out records, listeners can opt to play them on turntable stations with headphones.

“The library, many moons ago, had a vinyl collection and we decided it was prime time to bring it back,” Jennifer Thompson, assistant director of Central Library told CBS News. “We have all different kinds of genres in our collection, from country to pop to new wave to reggae.”

“Especially in Brooklyn, vinyl has made a comeback,” added Christine Schonhart, director of Central Library. “A little bit of everything, from the classics to modern music and a focus on New York musicians.”

Along with the new collection, the library is also offering programs for vinyl enthusiasts to learn audio production, music coding and DJing in the fall, as well as  ‘August Lunch Beats’ in the Central Lobby where DJs will spin records on August 18 and 25 from 12 PM to 12:30 ET.