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HOURS & LOCATIONS

89-11 Merrick Boulevard
Jamaica, NY 11432
(718) 990-0700

Mon  9-9   Fri  9-9
Tue  9-9   Sat  10-5:30
Wed  9-9   Sun  12-5
Thu 9-9  

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About Us

 Annual Report 2008 | Collection Development | From The Library Director | History | InfolinQ Guidelines | Mission Statement | Press Room | Public Internet Use | By Laws | Plan of Service |

The Queens Library serves 2.2 million people from 62 locations plus seven Adult Learning Centers and two Family Literacy Centers. It has circulated among the highest number of books and other library materials in the country since 1994, and is the second largest public library in the U.S. in terms of size of collections.

Governance

The Queens Borough Public Library is an autonomous library system, guided by a 19-member Board of Trustees alternately appointed by the Mayor of the City of New York and the Queens Borough President. The Mayor, the Public Advocate, the Comptroller, the Speaker of the City Council, and the Borough President are ex-officio members.  

Administration

Thomas W. Galante is the Chief Executive Officer.  A senior management team, comprised of specialists in a variety of areas, including Community Library Services, Information Technology, Marketing and Communications, Technical Services, Finance, and Human Resources, provide expertise in their respective fields. 

Funding

Queens Library receives the majority of its operating expenses from the City of New York. In Fiscal Year 2008, total support was $127.6 million: City of New York (82%); New York State and Federal governments, as well as contributions and private sources (18%).

At A Glance

  • In Fiscal Year 2009, 23 million items were circulated.
  • In Fiscal Year 2009, in-person attendance was 14.7 million people.
  • In Fiscal Year 2009, 3.4 million people visited Queens Library electronically. 
  • Some 595,000 people attended more than 30,000 free programs in FY 09.
  • Staff answered 11.4 million reference and directional inquiries in FY 09.
  • Queens Library has more than 7.1 million items in its collections.
  • There were 857,500 active borrowers in FY 2009.
  • Friends of the Queens Library comprise 2,000 members. Friends are instrumental in volunteering, promoting, and advocating for the Library. For information, call 718-990-8585.
  • More than 3,000 students attended structured classes in English for Speakers of Other Languages in Fiscal Year 2008. Thousands more used the Adult Learning Centers for self-study and English conversation practice.
  • More facts about Queens Library (PDF).

Enrich Your Life

Read about what's happening at your Queens Library.

The Guide

The Guide is your monthly resource to the hundreds of programs at Queens Library that are available to you free of charge. Programs are subject to change without notice. Call the library where the event is taking place to confirm program date and time. For the most up-to-date information, click here.