Left to right: Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, State Senator Michael Gianaris, QPL President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott, QPL Chief Librarian Nick Buron, QPL Chief Operating Officer Sung Mo Kim and QPL Chief of Staff Gitte Peng
Video footage available here
Queens Public Library, Elected Officials and Community Leaders Celebrate the Reopening of Steinway Branch, Following Eight-Month Renovation
The Upgrades Include New Computers, Furniture and Self-Service Kiosks
QUEENS, NY_ Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott and library staff, joined by elected officials and community leaders, welcomed the public back to the Steinway branch following an eight-month closure for improvements to the building’s main floor and cellar.
The upgrades consist of new furniture, finishes, such as new paint and carpeting, shelving, workstations and self-service kiosks, as well as technology improvements, including new computers and scanning equipment.
“Steinway Library has served Astoria residents for more than 130 years, and the extensive upgrades will help ensure it remains a cornerstone of the community for generations to come,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “We look forward to welcoming back our customers, and introducing new ones, to an inspiring, modern space that is accessible to all.”
“The historic Steinway Library has been an anchor of this community for the many generations of families who have passed through its doors,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Now that its extensive renovation is complete, all Astoria families will have equitable access to the many educational and enrichment opportunities the Steinway library will be offering inside its newly upgraded building. Thank you to the Queens Public Library for your hard work on this important project, which has given Astoria residents the state-of-the-art library that all communities deserve.”
“The Steinway library is an important Astoria resource and I am thrilled it’s finally open for business again,” said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris. “I encourage all our neighbors to visit this upgraded facility.”
“I'm so thrilled that the Steinway branch of the Queens Public Library has now officially reopened! With all of the new renovations and improvements, including major accessibility upgrades, the new Steinway library will undoubtedly be a central hub again for our children, families, and seniors to learn and engage with this critical fixture of the community. The programming provided at this location is exactly why we must continue to invest in and support our libraries. Thank you and congratulations to Queens Public Library CEO Dennis Walcott and everyone involved,” said Assemblymember Jessica González Rojas.
“I am so excited for the reopening of the newly-renovated Steinway Library!” said NYC Council Member Tiffany Cabán. “This vital, beloved community resource serves not just as a haven for book-lovers like me, but also as a site of technological access, a space for afterschool programming, a hub for community-based organizations and services, a cooling center in the summer, a warming center in the winter, and so much else. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard for eight long months to get it ready for the community!
Adult Area at Steinway Library
The reopening marked the completion of the second of a two-phase project to renovate and upgrade the building in the past few years.
The scope of the previous $4.9 million capital project, completed in January 2022, included the construction of an elevator serving all three floors of the building, an ADA-accessible restroom, and an ADA-accessible entrance ramp. The project also included expanded WiFi capability, a 24/7 exterior returns machine, new staff offices and the renovation of the second-floor children’s area, teen area and multi-purpose room.
The original Steinway Library was founded by William Steinway, of the famed piano making family, in 1890 to serve neighborhood immigrants. It was one of the three original branches that in 1896 had become part of the Long Island City Public Library system, which was later renamed to Queens Borough Public Library.
The current 12,500-square-foot building, located at 21-45 31st Street and designed by architect Adolph Goldberg in a mid-century modern style, opened in 1956.
The hours are:
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - 10 AM to 6 PM
Tuesdays - 1 PM to 6 PM
Thursdays - 12 PM to 8 PM
Saturdays - 10 AM to 5 PM
About Queens Public Library
Queens Public Library is one of the largest and busiest public library systems in the United States, dedicated to serving the most ethnically and culturally diverse area in the country. An independent, non-profit organization founded in 1896, Queens Public Library offers free access to a collection of more than 5 million books and other materials in 50 languages, technology and digital resources. Each year, the Library hosts tens of thousands of online and in-person educational, cultural, and civic programs and welcomes millions of visitors through its doors. With a presence in nearly every neighborhood across the borough of Queens, the Library consists of 66 locations, including branch libraries, a Central Library, seven adult learning centers, a technology center located in the nation’s largest public housing complex, five teen centers, two bookmobiles, and two book bicycles.
