Left to right: Council Member Lynn Schulman, QPL President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott, Council Member Dr. Nantasha Williams, and Keith Felsenfeld, Chief of Staff to Council Member Linda Lee, at Central Library’s Annual Discovery Day.
QPL Honors Queens City Council Delegation at Central Library’s Annual Discovery Day
Library Celebrates Council Members for This Year’s Budget Wins
JAMAICA, NY_ Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott today honored members of the Queens City Council delegation for their role in securing increased funding for libraries in this year’s budget. The recognition took place during Central Library’s 11th annual “Discovery Day” community fair, which featured hands-on science exploration.
The Fiscal Year 2026 budget, enacted earlier this summer, included $17 million in increased operating support for the city’s three library systems – Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library and Queens Public Library -- with $2 million for expanded seven-day service at 12 branches, five of them in Queens. Hunters Point, Jackson Heights, Glen Oaks, and Rochdale Village branches began Sunday service this past weekend, while Kew Gardens Hills - already open Sundays - added Saturday service today. Together with Central, Far Rockaway, and Flushing, eight QPL branches are now open seven days a week. The Council also allocated $894,061 to QPL through various initiatives and member items, along with $14.5 million in capital funding.
“We are deeply grateful to New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, the Council’s Queens delegation co-chairs, Council Member Dr. Nantasha Williams and Council Member Linda Lee, and the entire Queens delegation for their outstanding leadership and advocacy,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “These critical investments recognize libraries as pillars of civic infrastructure and ensure we can deliver vital services in safe, inspiring spaces. We are delighted to have the Council Members with us here at Discovery Day to see how their support helps our communities thrive.”
“Libraries are among our most precious public resources, serving New Yorkers of all ages in every neighborhood,” said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “I’m proud we secured $17 million in increased funding for New York City’s public libraries, including an additional $2 million to expand seven-day service so more residents will have uninterrupted access to these critical resource and information hubs. The Council will continue to prioritize support for our neighborhood libraries and the vital programs they provide for Queens residents and all New Yorkers in our communities.”
“Libraries provide access to knowledge, opportunity, and community,” said Co-Chair of the Queens delegation Council Member Dr. Nantasha Williams. “They are the heart of our neighborhoods, not just places to borrow books, but spaces where children discover their love of reading, students find support, and seniors stay connected. With free workshops and programs, at the library, anyone, at any stage of life, can find something meaningful. That’s why this funding matters. Expanding to seven-day service gives residents the time and flexibility to engage with their libraries when it works for them, opening doors to learning, growth, and connection in ways that fit their lives. I’m proud to stand with Speaker Adams and the Queens Delegation to ensure our neighborhoods have the support and access they need to grow, learn, and keep our communities vibrant and connected.”
“Libraries are essential hubs that offer community members of all ages a place to connect, access technology, and receive supportive services,” said Council Member Linda Lee, Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addictions. “Thanks to the $2 million secured in the FY26 budget, this Council is ensuring these vital community spaces can serve residents seven days a week, expanding access to neighbors who frequent the Glen Oaks Library in my district, and families who rely on our libraries’ services across the city. I’m grateful to Speaker Adams for her leadership and advocacy on behalf of our libraries.”
“Libraries are the learning foundations for our communities — they provide access to knowledge, opportunity, and a safe space for people of all ages,” said Council Member Lynn Schulman. “I’m proud that the Queens Delegation, alongside Speaker Adrienne Adams, fought successfully to secure this critical investment in library service. With more branches now open every day of the week, families, students, and seniors across Queens will have greater access to the resources they need to grow, and thrive.”
Children watch experiments with dry ice in water at Central Library’s Annual Discovery Day.
Today’s event attracted hundreds of children, families and caregivers who took part in STEAM activities, arts and crafts, face painting and bike-riding lessons with a free helmet giveaway.
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 lab at the Queensbridge public housing complex, a community learning center at the Ravenswood public housing complex, and five teen centers. It also has four bookmobiles and two book bicycles.