NYC Snowstorm Forces Library Closures Across Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, NY —Brooklyn Public Library will close all branches Monday as a powerful winter storm slams New York City.

Library officials said the decision was made early Monday because of dangerous weather and treacherous travel conditions. The shutdown follows an overnight nor’easter that swept across the region, bringing fierce winds and whiteout conditions.

Snow began falling Sunday evening and intensified overnight, at times dumping up to two inches per hour in parts of the borough. Forecasters say the storm could be among the strongest blizzards in recent years, with accumulations nearing 18 inches in parts of Kings County.

City officials are urging residents to stay indoors as the storm continues to batter the area. A travel ban is in effect through noon Monday, barring vehicles from city streets, bridges and highways, and public schools will remain closed for the day.

Travel restrictions are scheduled to last at least until 12 p.m., while blizzard warnings remain in effect until 6 p.m. It remains unclear whether Mayor Zohran Mamdani will extend the emergency measures.

The mayor said that as of Monday morning, the city had deployed 2,600 sanitation workers on 12-hour shifts, 2,300 snowplows and 700 salt spreaders to respond to the storm.

Brooklyn Public Library is an independent library system serving 2.5 million residents in the borough and is the sixth-largest public library system in the United States. If conditions improve as expected, officials said, branches are slated to reopen Tuesday.

E-books and other virtual resources will remain available on the library’s website for those looking to stay busy indoors.