Macon Library Gives and Takes

For more than three years, families have flocked to the Macon branch of the Brooklyn Public Library on Mondays to attend the free story time and music class.

Drawing children from all over Brooklyn, the classes often reach up to 65 people, leaving the hallways of the library triple parked with strollers and the small room brimming with families and little inquisitive voices dancing in excitement for the activities of the hour.  

Taneya Gethers, the Macon librarian that runs the children’s program, greets each child by name as they stream in a few at a time. She begins by leading a hello song and you can hear the little voices mimicking her singing, “aloha, guten tag, shalom...” they chirp, the sounds of rattles and tapping toes spilling onto the floor.

The kids, ranging in age from 4 months to 6 years old, settle in and immediately begin to wander around the blue carpeted floor with bare feet.

Babies are just learning to walk and explore, while the older children dance and repeat new songs. Tables are lined with books and words are posted up on the walls.  Within the small space in the basement of the library, the children are encouraged to speak and bond and learn.

However, beginning May 9, due to changes in scheduling, the library will no longer be open on Mondays. And free story time and music classes will be a thing of the past.

The library is closing on Mondays because the Monday hours will be spread across the remaining week days to make room for different programming. According to Jason Carey, director of marketing and communication for the Brooklyn Public Libraries, the Macn branch is preparing to receive more computers and begin a new digital literacy program, something that is greatly needed in the community.

Still, parents who are are active members of the classes are disappointed in the prospect of losing Mondays and possibly even Gether's unique and interactive story time.

“I understand necessity for the computers and job searching, but if this program gets cut, the library is going in the wrong direction,” said Kerem Beygo. “It’s been proven that if kids like reading they’ll be better students, which means better futures.”

“We have a wonderfully diverse group, the neighborhood is growing and we’ve come to represent a little of everyone,” says Gethers. Her classes have formed around this idea of global Brooklyn and teaching even the babies how to be a global citizen from the beginning. 

“We talk about foods and words and our neighbors close and far. We play music of all different genres, basically setting the foundation for literacy and lifelong learning.”  

As a kindergarten teacher, Lisa Caswell knows how important early childhood literacy is. She brings her young daughter in every Monday:

"I get too many children who’ve had such limited exposure. We come here and find a place where we can create without spending, which is important in our community," said Caswell. "It’s upsetting that these kids were given this opportunity to learn skills in a safe structured way and now it’s being cut."

“I’m saddened," said Renee Simmons. "When we come, the room is packed, standing room only sometimes! Taneya is great with the kids, my baby starts cooing as soon as we step in the room."

Gethers said she is optimistic that there will be more story times, but during other hours: “We want to enhance one aspect without hurting another; there’s a great need for these computers and programs and we’ll work to revamp and fit everything in.”

 “We’ve been coming for three straight years,” said Amy Bolger.  “They couldn’t have picked a more inconvenient day. So many places like museums and galleries are closed on Mondays, this has become a standard event for so many people, not just for the kids, but for us parents to connect. It’s an inspiring way for everyone to start the week.”

But there's still room for change, hinted Gethers; things can change, particularly if the community continues to voice its concerns.

"This is a pilot, we’re going to see how it goes," said Gethers. "Community feedback will be important."