Final Letter Report on the Brooklyn Public Library’s Compliance with Fire and Safety Regulations and the Americans with Disabilities Act
Executive Summary
This Final Letter Report concerns the New York City (City) Comptroller’s audit of Brooklyn Public Library’s (BPL’s) compliance with fire and safety regulations and with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) facility accessibility guidelines.
Established in 1896, BPL is one of the nation’s largest public library systems, serving more than one million City residents and 700,000 active cardholders. BPL is also one of the largest publicly-funded civic institutions in New York City with a total of 60 branches, including a Business Library and a Central Library, and an annual operating budget of $119 million. In addition to offering free and open access to books, periodicals, and electronic resources, BPL provides a variety of community-centered programs, services, and resources.
BPL’s Department of Public Safety monitors its security and fire safety programs and supervises the training of personnel in emergency responses to fire and events requiring evacuation of its buildings. The Department of Public Safety coordinates, implements, records, and documents fire drills a minimum of twice a year, and yearly updates BPL’s Business Continuity Plan, which details how the organization will continue to function during or after an emergency, disaster, or event. The Department of Public Safety also ensures that all BPL patrons, including those with disabilities, have access to library facilities and services.
BPL’s Capital Planning and Facilities Management department is responsible for the maintenance, capital planning, and rehabilitation of BPL’s network of libraries, which comprises 60 branches. BPL’s Capital Planning and Facilities Management department is also responsible for BPL’s ADA Policies and Action Plan 2019, which ensures that all exits are identified with proper signage that is adequately illuminated and visible, that entrances and pathways are free from any obstructions, and that bathrooms are accessible for patrons with disabilities.
Audit Findings and Conclusions
The audit found that BPL is generally in compliance with its fire and safety regulations. We found that BPL maintains a Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan as required by the New York City Fire Code. We visited all 60 branches, 5 of which were being renovated at the time of our observations. During our observations, we found that all 55 operational branches maintained BPL’s Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan as mandated by Chapter 4, Section 401.3 of the New York City Fire Code. That section requires that “procedures are in place that can be timely implemented in the event of a fire or non-fire emergency to provide the information, guidance, direction and assistance needed to protect the safety of building occupants, including if necessary, effecting their evacuation, relocation or sheltering in place.”
Overall, we found that BPL properly maintained logs for its fire drills, fire alarms, and sprinkler systems. We also observed all 804 fire extinguishers during our observations of the 55 operational branches and found that all 804 were properly tagged, signed, and inspected monthly, as BPL’s Department of Public Safety’s Departmental Policy & Procedure Manual requires.
However, BPL did not maintain all of the monthly fire extinguisher inspection reports as also required. Specifically, we could not account for 137 of 708 fire extinguisher inspection reports for Fiscal Year 2019. BPL officials informed us that 41 of the 137 reports were not generated because libraries were closed for renovations at different times throughout the year, leaving 96 reports unaccounted for. BPL’s Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan states that “BPL should monitor and maintain records of scheduled maintenance of all fire protection equipment and devices, such as automatic sprinkler systems, standpipe systems, other automatic fixed extinguishing systems, fire pumps, automatic fire detection systems, fire doors, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, and salvage materials.” After we notified BPL officials, they informed us that a staff member had erroneously destroyed 58 of the 96 missing reports and that the remaining 38 reports could not be located. Without proper maintenance of its fire extinguisher inspection reports, BPL cannot be assured that all fire extinguishers have been inspected and are properly functioning and in good repair.
Additionally, BPL branches were in compliance with its ADA Policies and Action Plan, which states “signs should be large and clearly readable from the street, even by someone whose vision is impaired. Signs inside the building should show which restrooms are accessible, directions to the elevators and stairs, as well as to the public service desks, exits, meeting rooms and special collections. Lighting should be strong and uniform, glare-free.” BPL is also in compliance with the NYC Administrative Code Title 27, Chapter 1, Subchapter 6 “Means of Egress,” Section 27-369, which states “Corridors shall be kept readily accessible and unobstructed at all times.” Based on our observations, all 55 branches had large signs that were clear and visible, exits that were properly identified with adequately illuminated and visible exit signs, and entrances/exits that were free of any obstructions. In addition, we observed clearly visible signage that indicated handicap accessible facilities, such as bathrooms, and directions to elevators.
Audit Recommendations
- Continue to properly follow its fire and safety regulations and ADA’s guidelines for accessibility;
- Continue to record and document the inspections for the fire extinguishers, fire drills, sprinkler systems, and alarm systems; and
- Ensure that its branches maintain all reports of completed inspections.
Agency Response
In its response, BPL agreed with the report’s findings and recommendations, stating that “We reviewed the audit report and accept the recommendations outlined.”