Recently named Chief Librarian of the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), Edwin B. Maxwell oversees the sixth-largest public library system in the United States. He described his role as overseeing public service in all Brooklyn libraries (62 branches).
“There are certain baseline services that we should provide to all people of Brooklyn, to make sure they have access to collections, information, technology, and that there’s programming for every age group,” said Maxwell. “Each branch, each neighborhood in Brooklyn, and what makes Brooklyn special is [that] they all have their own culture. … We have to figure out how to acknowledge and service each one of those communities, each one of those cultures, that really define what Brooklyn is. That’s the exciting part of the role for me.”
Maxwell said knowledge is essential to the lifeblood of communities, and knowledge is in books as well as a myriad of other containers. Libraries have always provided space to gain information. They also provide connection through programming and shared spaces, including the ability to have discourse even though people may disagree on issues.
“There are not many places left in society where you can come and it is open to everyone,” Maxwell said. “The other big piece is it’s free.”
He loves walking into a branch and seeing people connect. A New York City native, Maxwell was born and raised in the Bronx, but throughout his adult life, much of his time has been spent in Brooklyn. After earning his bachelor’s degree at Cheyney University (becoming a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Psi® fraternity), the nation’s oldest HBCU institution, he returned to NYC and discovered his calling. He earned a master’s degree in library science at Queens College and began his career as a youth services librarian, creating programs like the Growing Dollars and Sense Teen Virtual Investment Club, which connected young people with financial professionals to learn about financial literacy and investing.
Another position was serving as the manager of New Lots Library. During that time, the branch was awarded the Revson Award for outstanding community service. Prior to his position as Chief Librarian, he managed major BPL renovations, expanded Satellite Services, and launched the Teen Tech Center network. He also positioned BPL to increase its role in environmental and civic engagement.
His library journey was not traditional. Maxwell said that, as a youngster, he saw libraries as a quiet space to which he didn’t fully connect.
“I didn’t really understand the full breadth of libraries until I started working part-time and volunteering in the youth wing,” said Maxwell. “Coming from Kingsbridge in the Bronx, an underserved population, I didn’t put priority on libraries growing up. It was not until I was 20 or 21 years old, when I started working here, that I could see all the things. It was so shocking to me. I wanted to take that back to my neighborhood. I wanted everyone to know the amount of resources that were available in the library.
“It’s not that quiet place that it used to be; it is full of programs and people,” he added, noting that after seeing libraries as bustling community centers, they became his career focus. It is his mission to promote what is actually available through the BPL. There is a tremendous amount of programming — from events to films to exhibitions to panel discussions and more.
For young people, especially those trying to find themselves, libraries provide opportunities, belonging, exposure to culture, and life skills. Maxwell said there will be continued investment in youth programming. As libraries are renovated, there is a keen eye toward making space for youth.
“We want to do that for every age group, but…that’s one of the most vulnerable age ranges that we encounter,” said Maxwell. “To give young people a space where they can explore and connect with other members of their community and people that they might not meet every day.”
Maxwell has compiled a Chief Librarian’s Library List that contains not only books — including “The Alchemist,” “Between the World and Me” and “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” but also events, like community cooking and cultural events, and an amazing vinyl collection, including such gems as “Summer of Soul” and “The Low End Theory.”
“The List is varied by disciplines and authors and audiences, but it’s very me,” Maxwell said. “These are things that have resonated with me over the years. Pointing back to the breadth of things that we do in the library.”
Visit bklynlibrary.org and bklynlibrary.org/bpl-presents for more info.