Research Your Brooklyn Block in the Othmer Reading Room

Few quiet spaces match the second floor at 128 Pierrepont Street. Step inside the carved wood sanctuary of the Othmer Library, where soaring shelves and leaded glass give the room an unhurried rhythm.

This is a dedicated workplace for memory rather than casual sightseeing. Visitors come to trace local lineage, study vintage property maps, and sift through community records. Admission to the reading room is completely free for independent research, though archival materials require advance planning. Staff recommend booking a research seat ahead by email at CBHReference@bklynlibrary.org, as not all collections can be retrieved on the day of your visit, and off-site materials require at least two weeks advance notice.

The Othmer Library reading room opens Tuesday through Thursday from 12:00 to 17:45, and Friday through Saturday from 10:00 to 15:45, remaining closed Sunday and Monday. These research hours differ from the general building schedule. Store your bags downstairs, take a wooden seat, and spend an afternoon exploring the borough past.