Brooklyn Bikes for Books

via Shelf Awareness

This Saturday, May 11, the streets of Brooklyn, N.Y., will be filled with bicyclists participating in the first Bike the Branches tour of the Brooklyn Public Library. Bikers can register (adults, $20; kids, $10) then post fund-raising links on their Facebook pages to help raise more money. Riders will receive maps and can choose from a number of themed routes, including one that moves through the history of literary Brooklyn. 


Treasures along the route include a first edition of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, the home where Richard Wright wrote Native Son and Henry Miller's boyhood stomping grounds.

According to Cheryl Todmann, director of special events and membership at the BPL, "The Brooklyn Public Library is set up so that nobody in the borough lives more than a mile away from a library. Events like these help connect us to the community who might have forgotten how amazing the library is." Facing a 36% decrease in funding this year, the BPL is turning to its pedaling community to help raise funds.

"There will be tons of author events, read-alouds for kids and special treats along the route," Todmann said. "So many authors have been involved with us throughout the years. We thought this event would be an amazing way to connect our present commitment to literature with our tradition of great writers."

Along with the tour of literary Brooklyn, there are alternate routes that explore Brooklyn in the movies, Brooklyn's architectural history and Brooklyn Eats, featuring food trucks from local vendors. Participating bikers will receive a passport at the start of the day and get it stamped at each location they visit. Riders with the most stamps at the end of the day are eligible for prizes and the honorary title of Bike King or Queen of the Brooklyn Public Library. For those without two wheels, there are running and walking options as well.
Follow the Brooklyn Public Library on Facebook for updates on the event. --Christopher Herz