![]() Apr 23 6:30PM --to-- 8:00PM Haitian Creole Class for BeginnersLocation: Central Library Registration: Online or by phone Details: Customers are required to attend all sessions of this program. If you wish to register, check availability for program date April 23, 2018 Availability: 17 openings This course is for people with little or no prior knowledge of Haitian Creole (Kreyòl). Participants will learn speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension within a Haitian cultural context. Core concepts of grammar, phonetics and other aspects of language structure will be covered. At the end of the course, participants will be able to conduct simple conversations and write at the basic level in Kreyòl. Space is limited.
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![]() Apr 24 3:30PM --to-- 6:30PM Compass Explorer (Teen Radio Podcast Program)Location: Central Library Registration: Not required The Teen Podcast Career Training program will help you get familiar with what it takes to hold a career in Broadcast Journalism, Audio Engineering, News Reporting, Radio Disc Jockeying and much more. Come be apart of the QL Teen Radio Podcast and learn how to produce your own podcast! Additional Program Dates/Locations This is a recurring program. If registration is required, you must register individually.Additional Dates
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![]() Apr 26 4:00PM --to-- 5:30PM Creative Writing WorkshopLocation: Central Library Registration: Not required Have you ever wanted to write a novel, a comic, or both? Do you find yourself thinking about different characters and the worlds they belong to? Not sure where to start? Join us for our creative writing workshop! Each week, we will cover a different topic in creating your novel, from world building to character development. Space is limited. For ages 12-19. Additional Program Dates/Locations This is a recurring program. If registration is required, you must register individually.Additional Dates
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![]() Apr 27 4:00PM --to-- 5:30PM Teen Graphic Novel and Anime ClubLocation: Central Library Registration: Not required Like manga? Enjoy graphic novels? Love anime? Then join us for our Anime and Graphic Novel Club! We'll watch new and old favorites, read amazing titles, and discuss what we liked and what we didn't. Additional Program Dates/Locations This is a recurring program. If registration is required, you must register individually.Additional Dates
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![]() Apr 27 4:00PM --to-- 5:30PM Teen Code ClubLocation: Central Library Registration: Not required Learn to code at Queens Library! Our code club has no lectures: you’ll learn to make websites, animations, apps, and games by actually making them, step by step. You’ll learn Scratch, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and Python at your own pace. You can prepare for a tech career and learn skills you can use in the real world right now to make whatever you can dream up. | |||||||||||||||||||||
![]() Apr 28 1:00PM --to-- 4:00PM Financial Literacy Conference Location: Central Library Registration: Not required Join us for a financial literacy conference. Students will learn the basics of managing money including budgeting, banking, and credit. There will be snacks and giveaways. All students who participate will earn service credit. | |||||||||||||||||||||
![]() Apr 29 1:00PM --to-- 2:30PM Spanish Beginner Conversation ClassLocation: Central Library Registration: Registration is now closed This course introduces the basic elements of the Spanish language within a cultural context. Emphasis is on the development of basic vocabulary related to greeting, how to introduce oneself, how to express likes and dislikes, how to speak about a present action, and more. Develop basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
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![]() May 5 1:00PM --to-- 4:00PM Teen Free Comic Book DayLocation: Central Library Registration: Not required Teens, come celebrate Free Comic Book Day at the Queens Library. Enjoy one free comic book from a variety of titles. There will be various crafts and prizes, including a Cosplay Contest! | |||||||||||||||||||||
![]() May 11 4:00PM --to-- 5:30PM Teen Graphic Novel and Anime ClubLocation: Central Library Registration: Not required Like manga? Enjoy graphic novels? Love anime? Then join us for our Anime and Graphic Novel Club! We'll watch new and old favorites, read amazing titles, and discuss what we liked and what we didn't. Additional Program Dates/Locations This is a recurring program. If registration is required, you must register individually.Additional Dates
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![]() May 20 2:00PM --to-- 4:00PM Open Mic for PoetsLocation: Central Library Registration: Not required Jody-Ann Buckle is a blogger, author, freelance writer and an aspiring novelist. She launched her blogging website www.bucklewithjo.com in 2016, sharing stories of personal development, travel, and living your best life daily. Jody-Ann published her first poetry book, Reflections of a Queen Rising, in June 2017. | |||||||||||||||||||||
![]() Jun 1 4:00PM --to-- 6:00PM Teen Graphic Novel and Anime ClubLocation: Central Library Registration: Not required Like manga? Enjoy graphic novels? Love anime? Then join us for our Anime and Graphic Novel Club! We'll watch new and old favorites, read amazing titles, and discuss what we liked and what we didn't. Additional Program Dates/Locations This is a recurring program. If registration is required, you must register individually.Additional Dates
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![]() Jul 31 12:00PM --to-- 3:00PM Harry Potter Birthday BashLocation: Central Library Registration: Not required Teens, your Hogwarts acceptance letter has finally arrived! Come celebrate the boy who lived at the library for our Harry Potter Birthday Bash! We will have an assortment of activities, including make your own Butterbeer and wand crafting! Hogwarts robes are encouraged, but not required. |
Free computer access is available at all the libraries. The Central Library in Jamaica has:
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The Central Library @ Queens Library contains nearly one million volumes of materials in comprehensive subject collections, and more than 800 titles of academic and professional journals and magazines, as well as professional indices and abstracts. For more information, see: |
Child Care / Preschools | ||
A Special Place for Kids 89-14 163rd St Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 739-1601 | Afro American Parents Day Care Center Incorporated 117-16 Sutphin Blvd Jamaica NY , 11434 phone: (718) 322-2030 | All My Children Day Care 175-44 Mayfield Rd Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 658-1563 |
All Our Children Family Daycare 148-07 111th Ave Jamaica NY , 11435 phone: (718) 739-5930 | Early Sunrise Daycare 187-08 Hillside Ave Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 736-9064 | Head Start 161-06 89th Ave Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 523-1888 |
Kids Circle Daycare 164-04 Goethals Ave Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 380-1280 | Queens Child Guidance Center 161-06 89th Ave Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 558-8657 | Sensational Kids Incorporated 176-21 Wexford Terrace Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 883-0851 |
Allen Christian Pre-School 114-32 Merrick Blvd. Jamaica NY , 11434 | Gil-Blu Nursery - Kindergarten 120-02 Merrick Blvd Jamaica NY , 11434 | Kids Porta Bright Horizon Center Bldg 350 JFK Airport Jamaica NY , 11430 |
Little Flowers Early Childhood 23410 Merrick Blvd Jamaica NY , 11422 | Rochdale Village Nursery & Kindergarten 170-30 130th Ave Jamaica NY , 11434 | Treehouse Day Nursery 168-40 127 Ave Jamaica NY , 11434 |
Community Board | ||
Community Board District #12 90-28 161st Street Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 658-3308 fax: (718) 739-6997 |
Community Organizations & Services | ||
Greater Jamaica Development Corporation 90-04 161st Street Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 291-0282 fax: (718) 658-1405 | Jamaica Chamber of Commerce 90-25 161st Street, Suite 505 Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 657-4800 | Jamaica Business Development Center 90-33 160th Street Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 206-2255 fax: (718) 206-3693 |
Community Mediation Group 89-64 163rd Street Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 523-6868 | BFFY Jamaica Family Youth Center 90-11 160th St Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 526-5151 | Jamaica Center for the Arts and Learning 161-04 Jamaica Avenue Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 658-7400 fax: |
York College Performing Arts Center 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 262-3750 fax: | King Manor Museum King Park, 153rd Street and Jamaica Ave. Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 206-0545 fax: (718) 206-0541 | |
Black Spectrum TheatreRoy Wilkens Park 177th St. & Baisley Blvd. Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 723-1800 fax: | Chung-Cheng Art Gallery
St. John's University Visual Arts Sun Yat Sen Hall Jamaica NY , 11439 phone: (718) 990-6583 fax: (718) 990-1881 |
Fire Department | ||
Engine 275, Battalion 50: 111-36 Merrick Blvd. | Engine 298, Battalion 50: 153-11 Hillside Ave. | Engine 315, Battalion 50: Engine 315, Battalion 50: |
Engine 315, Ladder 125, Battalion 50: 159-06 Union Tpke. | Ladder 127, Battalion 50: 153-11 Hillside Ave. |
Local Hospitals | ||
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center 8900 Van Wyck Expressway Jamaica NY , 11418 phone: (718) 206-6000 | Queens Hospital Center 82-70 One Hundred Sixty-Fourth Street Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 883-3000 |
Local Newspapers | ||
Jamaica Times | Queens Chronicle | Queens Tribune |
Parks and Playgrounds | ||
Rufus King Park Jamaica Avenue from 150th to 153rd Street | Major Mark Park Hillside Avenue, from 173rd to 175th Street | Captain Tilly Memorial Park Bordered by Highland Ave, Upland Pkwy, Gothic Pkwy |
Harvard Playground 179th Place, north of Jamaica Ave |
Police Department | ||
Post Office | ||
Jamaica Post Office 88-40 164th Street Jamaica NY , 11432-9997 phone: (718) 990-1090 |
Private / Parochial Schools | ||
Allen Christian School 171-10 Linden Blvd Jamaica NY , 11434 | Bethel Mission Junior Academy 10615 154th St Jamaica NY , 11433 | |
Ideal Montessori School 87-41 165th St Jamaica NY , 11432 | Immaculate Conception School 179-14 Dalny Road Jamaica NY , 11432 | Jamaica Day School of St Demet 84 35 152nd St Jamaica NY , 11432 |
Jamaica Montessori 90-01 Merrick Blvd Jamaica NY , 11432 | Jamaica Seventh-day Adventist Busy Bee Learning 88-28 163rd St Jamaica NY , 11432 | New Dawn Elementary School 90-34 161st Street Jamaica NY , 11432 |
Nativity B V M School 92nd St & Rockaway Blvd Jamaica NY , 11416 | St Clement Pope School 120-27 141st Street Jamaica NY , 11436 | St Peter Claver School 149-18 Jamaica Ave Jamaica NY , 11435 |
St Nicholas of Tolentine School 80-22 Parsons Blvd Jamaica NY , 11432-1096 |
Public Elementary Schools | ||
PS 086 Queens (Q086) 87-41 Parsons Blvd Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 291-6264 fax: (718) 297-0298 | PS 131 Abigail Adams (Q131) 170-45 84 Avenue Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 739-4229 fax: (718) 658-5690 | PS 095 Eastwood (Q095) 179-01 90 Avenue Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 739-0007 fax: (718) 658-5271 |
Public High Schools | ||
Hillcrest High School (Q505) 160-05 Highland Avenue Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 658-5407 fax: (718) 739-5137 | Jamaica High School (Q470) 167-01 Gothic Drive Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 739-5942 fax: (718) 739-4826 | Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School (Q620) 165-65 84th Avenue Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 297-6580 fax: (718) 658-0365 |
Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School (Q680) 60-20 Goethals Avenue Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 969-3115 fax: (718) 969-3552 |
Senior Centers | ||
Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults, Inc. 162-04 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 657-6500 fax: (718) 523-7746 | Robert Couche Senior Center 137-57 Farmers Blvd Jamaica NY , 11434 phone: (718) 978-8352 | Senior Citizens Center 123-10 143rd St Jamaica NY , 11436 phone: (718) 657-6500 |
Senior Citizens Center 166-01 Linden Blvd Jamaica NY , 11434 phone: (718) 658-0980 |
Elected Officials | |
NYC Council Hon. I. Daneek Miller IDMiller@council.nyc.gov | |
District Office 172-12 Linden Boulevard St. Albans NY, 11434 phone: (718) 776-3700 fax: (718) 487-3580 | Manhattan Office 250 Broadway, Suite 1810 New York NY , 10007 phone: (212) 788-7084 fax: (212) 788-7093 |
NYS Assembly Hon. Alicia Hyndman HyndmaA@nyassembly.gov | |
District Office 232-06A Merrick Boulevard Jamaica NY, 11434 phone: (718) 723-5412 fax: (718) 723-5465 | Albany Office LOB, Room 820 Albany NY, 12248 phone: (518) 455-4451 fax: (518) 455-5522 |
NYS Senate Hon. Tony Avella Avella@nysenate.gov | |
District Office 38-50 Bell Boulevard, Suite C Bayside NY, 11361 phone: (718) 357-3094 fax: (718) 357-3491 | Albany Office Room 902, Legislative Office Building Albany NY, 12247 phone: (518) 455-2210 fax: (518) 426-6736 |
US Congress Hon. Gregory W. Meeks | |
District Office 153-01 Jamaica Ave., Suite 204 Jamaica NY , 11432 phone: (718) 725-6000 fax: (718) 725-9868 | Legislative Office 2234 Rayburn House Office Building Washington DC, 20516 phone: (202) 225-3461 fax: (202) 226-4169 |
Boro President Hon. Melinda Katz Info@queensbp.org | |
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Mayor Hon. Bill de Blasio | |
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Community History
Jamaica was a former town and capital of Queens County. The first European settlers were probably New Englanders from Hempstead. They were granted a patent by Peter Stuyvesant, governor of New Netherland, on March 21, 1656. The settlement was initially called Rusdorf. After the English conquest in 1664 the name was changed to Jameco, after the Indians who were the earliest inhabitants of the area. In 1680, the present name was adopted.
On May 17, 1686, New York governor Thomas Dongan issued a charter to the landowners of Jamaica. The Dongan Charter consolidated the various hamlets into the town of Jamaica and set its boundaries. (The Dongan Charter is on display in the Long Island Division of the Central Library.)
In 1702 Jamaica briefly served as the capital of the New York Colony during a Yellow Fever outbreak in Manhattan.
Important to the history of Jamaica is Prospect Cemetery. The cemetery, which is the oldest cemetery in Queens, dates back to 1668 and includes the graves of some of the earliest inhabitants of Jamaica.
Two of Jamaica’s important landmarks are King Manor and Grace Episcopal Church. King Manor is named after Rufus King, a Massachusetts delegate to the Continental Congress, one of the two first New York Senators to Congress, a diplomat, and anti-slavery advocate. Grace Church was founded in 1702 and served as the official church of the British colonial government during the Revolutionary War. Rufus King is among those buried in the Church’s graveyard.
In 1898 Queens became part of the City of New York of which Jamaica was the county seat.
Jamaica owes its strength as a major shopping area to transportation. Jamaica Avenue was once a toll road between the ferry in Brooklyn and Hempstead. The Long Island Rail Road in Jamaica developed into a major hub. King Kullen, the first self service supermarket in the U.S., opened on Jamaica Avenue in 1930. In the 1960s, interest in Jamaica as a major shopping district began to decline. However, in recent years there has been a coordinated effort, through the work of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, to revitalize Jamaica.
Library History
The first Central Library was located on Parsons Boulevard. It opened in 1930 and was expanded with WPA funds in 1941. The current building on Merrick Boulevard was dedicated on April 11, 1966. The new building was the result of the unwavering efforts of Library Director Harold Tucker. It was designed by the architects York & Sawyer, Kiff, Colean, Voss and Souder. The new Central Library was the first major branch of an urban library to place all public services on one floor. The library cost $5,700,000 and contained 195,000 square feet of floor space. The library was renovated and expanded in 1989. Additional renovation and expansion has begun and is expected to be completed in the next few years, and will include the new Children’s Library and Discovery Center.
The Queens Library’s online catalog, InfoLinQ (Information online at Queens Library) was unveiled at the Central Library in October 1993. In January 1999 the Cyber Center opened at the Central Library. The Cyber Center has 48 computers for customer use, allowing access to the Internet and word processing. The Cyber Center, along with additional computers in the library, has helped to close the gap between the technology “haves” and “have-nots.”
Bibliography
“Libraries” by Phyllis Dan in The Encyclopedia of New York City.
Lighting the Way: The Centennial History of the Queens Borough Public Library 1896-1996 by Jeffrey A. Kroessler.
Suggested Reading on Jamaica’s History (available at the Central Library)
“Jamaica” by Vincent Seyfried in The Encyclopedia of New York City.
The Origin and History of Grace Church, Jamaica, New York by Horatio Oliver Ladd.
Recollections of Old Jamaica: 1655-1887.
Records of the Town of Jamaica Long Island: 1656-1751 edited by Josephine C. Frost.
Queens Poet Laureate 2007 – 2010
The Queens Borough President’s Office has announced the Fourth Poet Laureate to serve from 2007 to 2010:
Julio Marzan
Queens Poet Laureate
An honorary position, the Queens Poet Laureate promotes an appreciation of poetry throughout the borough and writes poetry that is inspired by, or relate to, the borough of Queens.
To learn more about the Queens Poet Laureate, go to http://www.queensbp.org/content_web/cultural_affairs
/cultural_poet2007.shtml