Reviews of Brooklyn Art Library (Library)

Yuting Ding

What a cute library! It’s full of sketches from people all over the world! You can visualize their stories and share you own too. The library also sell art supplies and very unique cards/postcards. Worth a visit and soak yourself in those sketches for a couple of hours!

Shannon Reals

I love this place it is such a cool experiment! I love looking into people's sketchbooks! I wish their website was a bit more intuitive, it's difficult to find the type of art or an artist. I chose 1 book I thought was one thing and got 2 books from the librarian which didn't seem at all like what I asked to see. Not sure where the second book even came from. It's easier to just browse through what's already out on the tables. First time I went I got a super helpful guy, definitely enthusiastic about art and talking about it. Last time I went I got a girl who seemed a little aloof, which made me feel like I was bothering her for coming in. However, the atmosphere and the products they're selling are really nice. They also allow you to take any pictures and post them online so you can share any new artists you find!

Robert N.

Absolutely one-of-a-kind. Half the store is a very well-curated selection of arts-related merchandise, including rubber-stamp printing sets from the 1950s and some gorgeous French stationery. But the main attraction is the wall of notebooks. Get yourself a library card and check one out -- it's pretty much at random, since you can't open them until you check them out. And see what some creative stranger has to say. Or fill in your own book and make your own connection, if you're so inclined. For the artistic crowd, this place is a must-see.

Jamie Lai

I came here for an event and definitely coming back to check out the sketchbook project.

Jin Xiaojing金晓婧

It will be fun, I swear.

Julia Monahan

You can easily spend hours here pouring over sketchbooks. Expect to leave inspired and impressed by the talent of strangers!

Jean Gab

So mindblowing !

잰드JAND

Awesome place

Hazel Jarvis

The Brooklyn Art Library is utterly wonderful. What could be nicer than an afternoon n the company of so many interesting sketch books. One comes away inspired and energized. The Library itself is so appealing as a physical space but what makes it even better is the welcome one receives. I wish I could go there every week. Was it worth the 2 hours each way to get there from Connecticut. Definitely! in fact I am already planning my next visit.

Maximilian Upp

So cool - what a place! The iPads checkout system is kind of hard to use. But overall it’s such a cool concept. We loved it! They also have some great merch. This place is a gem! Truly a cool repository of international art.

charles staunton

oh hell yeah, the public speaks.. in collage 5 stars

Gabe Isaac

BAL was the ideal location for our 20 person team building. The perfect amount of space for a casual lunch, large group learning, and four small group breakouts. Their team was super helpful in preparing the already inspirational space and ensuring we had everything we needed.

Sang Uk Park

Cool place to meet unique arts

XENA HUANG

Descent collection of zines. There's a photo booth on the back! It's a great place to stay cool and read during summer time in NY. Highly recommend it.

Rob Jelinski

Brooklyn Art Library is world renowned! It holds the largest collection of sketchbooks and has been featured in main media like The New York Times and Fox 5. There are so many cool sketchbooks you can see and hold (Literally, walls filled with them... I have about 5 their currently) and they have lots of fun items to purchase! Williamsburg a very neighborhood (lots of murals) and typically you can find street parking.

이경은

(Translated by Google) Come and watch! (Original) 시간나면 와보세요!

MaxGuide

(Translated by Google) Lost among these shelves reading the thousands of books that people have written, drawn, messy to leave his own track. (Original) Perdersi tra questi scaffali leggendo le migliaia di libretti che le persone hanno scritto, disegnato, pasticciato per lasciare una propria traccia.

Honor Thapa

A library filled exclusively with sketchbooks! What a wonderful place...

Denise Posnak Gaffney

In the age of digital everything, it is incredibly refreshing to walk into a place dedicated to the use of pen and paper. The Brooklyn Art Library allows you to peruse and check out sketchbooks created by people like us (and maybe YOU.. you can add to the collection) and to give yourself creative thinking time. It's organized beautifully and inspires you to get into your imagination.. LOVE IT.

Teri-Ann Carryl

Everyone at the Library is just the nicest around. Went in recently for the Sketchbook Project Tour and it's a great, cozy place, brimming with off-beat creativity. You can pick up some books, sketchbooks, tote bags, and such while you're there for one of their functions. It also helps that delicious smells come wafting in from the neighboring chocolate shop.

Tania Samoshkina

Awesome place! Love the Sketchbook Project and everything that guys are doing.

Ralph Hummer

Awesomeeee

Elizabeth Abel

Loved it.

Jacob SungIn Hong

This is a famous sketchbook project. And you can see old books with voice and music.

Francesca Reid

This truly is a hidden gem and a moment of peace in the hustle and bustle. If it's a majorly hot day, then it's ideal to come in the hottest part of the day and trawl though all of the eclectic and generous wonders that people have been kind enough to share of themselves. The whole ritual of searching for a topic, county etc and being brought two little works of art is a joy in/& of itself. It's so unique and I adore it. Can't wait to submit my own.

Russell Carswell

This is the most engaging exhibition of art I've ever experienced. I'm not a lover of galleries etc but leafing through little sketchbooks by artists from all over the world is a really personal thing and gives so much insight into the artistic process that is absent from the stuff on display at big museum exhibitions. I love the concept of the Sketchbook Project and recommend anyone, art aficionado or not to check it out. It's what art is really about.

Zeno Lee

Don't let the name fool you. It's not a typical library. You can sign up for a membership on the spot, which is free, and from that point, you check out small sketchbooks to browse art. The art itself is made by regular people and you have the choice yourself of buying a sketchbook to contribute. This is an international project, so you will find yourself exploring the anonymous or eponymous work of a stranger across the country or across the world. The artwork is full of variety. You may run across something inspiring and others may look like student projects. No matter, it's a good way to spend a few hours while walking around in the neighborhood

Emmanuelle Le Bigre

Wonderful space . Sketch books are awesome

Tristan King

Such a beautiful experience, this is really how library's get built. Its amazing walking through and having to choose a book and wait. I love how its quiet and you get to read the lives of others or their thoughts at that point in time. I went their due to Instagram and free supplies but I missed out on the supplies and ended up spending $50+

Diana M

This place is a hidden gem. If you want to be inspired, laugh, cry, love until you lose track of time looking at the thousands of sketchbooks from all over the world this place if for you. Get lost in people's creativity and different points of views, poems, love stories and crazy ideas, even if you think you are "not the creative type". The space is very cozy and the music is awesome too (indie music). The staff is very friendly and helpful. You can also become part of the sketchbook project. They have different projects and themes all year.

Arda Cabaoglu

Genius!

Genevieve Chua

a pain to browse freely. uses a kind of inefficient ipad search system. edit: i was asked to review my rating but i stand by it. the place isn’t user-friendly and is more of an archive rather than a library.

MONDE A

(Translated by Google) The Brooklyn Art Library, renowned for its sketchbook project! It is a space where you can see the sketchbook art of people around the world, and there is a guide of your own. A structure that can be seen and borrowed from the sketchbook following the manual. Inside, there is space to take pictures of stickers, and it was nice to see lots of creative works. I do not like the condition for a long time bb (Original) 스케치북 프로젝트로 유명한 브루클린 아트 라이브러리! 전세계의 있는 사람들의 스케치북 아트를 볼 수 있는 공간이고, 나름의 가이드가 있다. 매뉴얼을 따라서 스케치북을 구경하고 빌려서 볼 수 있는 구조. 내부에 들어가보면 스티커 사진을 찍을 수 있는 공간도 있고, 나름 크리에이티브한 작품들을 많이 볼 수 있어서 좋았다. 컨디션이 안좋아서 오래는 못봄 bb