13 limited-edition library cards with artwork from Jay-Z albums have been made available by the Brooklyn Public Library and Roc Nation to commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
A representative for the Brooklyn Public Library told CNN that 14,000 new library accounts have already been created as a result of the project, which concludes later this month. The library cards are associated with a Brooklyn Central Library exhibition that examines Jay-Z’s career through archival images, recordings, videos, and other artifacts.
According to the Guardian, at its main branch in Grand Army Plaza, the building’s exterior is covered in lyrics from the rapper. The temporary exhibition, ‘The Book of HOV’, delves into the life and career of a rapper who was born and raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant district.
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The exhibition, which debuted on July 14, pays “tribute to Carter’s global impact as a musician, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and disruptor. It was also created as a surprise for Carter and as a celebration for both his hometown of Brooklyn and the larger hip-hop community worldwide.”
“The community’s enthusiastic response to this exhibition is a testament to Jay-Z’s immense impact,” Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Public Library, revealed.
Residents of New York are entitled to free use of the Jay-Z-themed library cards. According to a library spokesman, New Yorkers can borrow all 13 versions, but only one will be activated on a Brooklyn Public Library account for resource checkout.
According to a news release, the library reported a “surge in visitors to Central Library” in the week after the release of The Book of HOV, which led to “almost five times the average number of visitors” and an increase in checked-out items.
The BPL’s website states that card designs are available at the Central Library on a rotating basis. “The Black Album” will be available August 14-20 while “The Blueprint” will be offered August 21-27. “Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life” cards will also be made available from August 28-September 3.
Despite some individuals attempting to sell the limited-edition cards online, a library clerk told CNN that they only make up a small portion of the thousands of people who have applied for a new card.
