BFA was commissioned by the New York Public Library to renovate the children's reading rooms at the Aguilar branch library in East Harlem and the Bloomingdale branch on the Upper West Side. The firm worked closely with the librarians to re-think space allocations for toddlers, grade schoolers, and teens, with appropriate fittings and furnishings for each group. In both libraries, modest budgets limited structural changes and compelled BFA to work with existing bookcases, refinished and rearranged. Design interventions focused on new lighting, carpeting, wall finishes, graphics, casework, and furniture.

At the 4,000 sf Aguilar branch, a geography theme celebrates the multicultural character of the neighborhood. At the 4,500 sf Bloomingdale branch, existing ceilings were removed to expose ductwork and plumbing, which were brightly color-coded to align with the library's technology theme. In both facilities, custom designed computer work stations provide neighborhood youth with opportunities for after-school study that they may not have at home; reflecting the ever-expanding role that libraries play in our communities.