QPL and Google Celebrate the Relaunch of the Far Rockaway Teen Library and Its Newly Expanded Digital Literacy Resources
Far Rockaway, NY – The Far Rockaway Teen Library, at 2002 Cornaga Avenue, hosted an open house party on Tuesday, May 24, to highlight its new digital capabilities and expanded digital literacy resources, including brand new top-notch equipment, provided with support from Google.
As technology is increasingly becoming an everyday part of teens’ lives, libraries are uniquely positioned to offer young adults access to free digital literacy resources, guiding them through an ever-evolving digital world and helping them develop the high-demand tech skills needed in today’s job market.
Thanks to Google, the completely transformed space now features robust tech resources, including 25 new desktop computers, six iPads, a 3D printer, a Logitech driving game, and a 75” TV for gaming, as well as ProTools for the recording studio and multiple software programs for editing, photography, and videography, such as Adobe Creative Cloud. The Teen Library also boasts new furniture for the lounge and homework areas, in addition to new computer and gaming chairs.
During the event, teens were able to participate in a tech fair, where they learned about 3D printing, robotics, drones, virtual reality, and more. There was also a DJ, a 360 photo booth and giveaways.
“The Far Rockaway Teen Library provides young people with a safe and inclusive environment where they can access free, quality learning programs and connect with their peers and mentors,” said QPL President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “Google’s investment in this important space has significantly expanded its digital literacy resources, which are essential for helping teens develop the skills necessary to navigate today’s fast-changing technology landscape.”
“Ensuring all New Yorkers have access to professional tech opportunities requires us to create access to tech tools and education where New Yorkers are,” said Angela Pinsky, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Google New York. “Our public libraries are the best resources for knowledge, community, and education across the five boroughs, and providing them with state of the art equipment, and making them the front line partners for tech program outreach is one of the smartest investments Google can make.”
“New Yorkers know that our libraries are more than just books,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “I am thrilled to see the Queens Public Library, with support from Google, has now made Far Rockaway the go-to place for programming that will empower teens to not only gain critical 21st Century digital literacy skills but also translate them into career opportunities.”
QPL President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott and Teen Center Site Coordinator Eyitami Oyarijivbie
The Teen Library, originally established in 2008, is designed exclusively for teens, many of whom have been experiencing unprecedented isolation since the beginning of the pandemic. It provides teens in Far Rockaway with dedicated space they can call their own, helping them explore their interests and learn outside of the classroom with their peers and trusted adults. It reopened for limited programming in January 2022, following its closure in March 2020, when QPL temporarily had closed its physical locations to help stop the spread of COVID-19. With this relaunch, the Teen Library will be able to welcome more teens to participate in an expanded menu of digital literacy opportunities.
The space also aims to stimulate creative thinking, encourage civic engagement and – with the guidance of youth counselors and teen librarians – helps teens explore their school and career options.
It offers teen-friendly digital programming, including a series of podcast production workshops, DJing classes and an app development program. Additionally, it features a dedicated homework space, creative corner with film-editing equipment and computer area with free printing.
The Teen Library continues to provide its robust virtual programming, including Youth Justice Court, workshops on subjects ranging from technology, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to creative arts and health and wellness, college readiness and job search resources, as well as a book club. It also offers grab-and-go kits, containing items like craft supplies, bookmarks, and writing journals to engage teens in projects outside the Library.
Prior to the start of the pandemic, the Far Rockaway Teen Library had approximately 33,000 visits a year.
The Far Rockaway Teen Library is open Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 6:00 PM.
Teens need a library card to enter the space, and they need to reserve a time slot to use gaming systems and computers. To make a reservation, go here. Reservations can be made a week in advance for up to 45 minutes per activity. Walk-in reservations can be made at the main desk if slots are available.
The Far Rockaway Teen Library is adjacent to the Far Rockaway Swing Space, located at 1003 Beach 20th Street. The main Far Rockaway Library at 1637 Central Ave. is closed during the construction of a new building, tentatively expected to open to the public by the end of the year.
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 125 years ago, QPL offers free access to a collection of more than 5 million books and other materials in multiple languages, technology and digital resources, and more than 80,000 educational, cultural, and civic programs annually. QPL consists of 66 locations across the borough, including branch libraries, a Central Library, seven adult learning centers, a technology center, and two teen centers, and attracted more than 11 million visitors in 2019.
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Contact: Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, ekern@queenslibrary.org
CONTACT:
Angela Montefinise, New York Public Library, angelamontefinise@nypl.org
Fritzi Bodenheimer, Brooklyn Public Library, fbodenheimer@bklynlibrary.org
Elisabeth de Bourbon, Queens Public Library, edebourbon@queenslibrary.org
New York City’s Public Libraries Make a Statement Against Censorship with NYC Banned Books Challenge
Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library recommend 10 banned or challenged books for New Yorkers to borrow and read to fight censorship
To get the city started, the libraries are offering unlimited digital copies of National Book Award winner Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo through June 26; additional physical copies of the book will be available systemwide.
MAY 23, 2022—The City’s three public library systems are taking a stand against censorship with a new Banned Books Challenge: 10 banned or challenged books that expert librarians recommend New Yorkers borrow and read.
To get the city started, Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library (which serves the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island), and Queens Public Library are making one of the recommended books—popular YA title and 2021 National Book Award winner Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo—available with no waits via their free e-reader apps through June 26.
Additional physical copies of the book—featured on The New York Public Library’s Best Books for Teens of 2021 list—will also be available systemwide; some branches will also host book club discussions about the book specifically targeted at teens (as many banned and challenged books are YA titles, and teens have been particularly impacted by the isolation of the pandemic).
More information can be found at bklynlibrary.org, nypl.org/bannedbookschallenge, or queenslibrary.org.
The 10 titles include:
- The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
- Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan
- Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen by Jazz Jennings
- All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
- Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
- 1984 by George Orwell
- Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez
- This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
The Banned Books Challenge is being launched as a statement against the growing national trend of book bans. The American Library Association (ALA) recently announced that it tracked an “unprecedented” number of challenges to library, school, and university materials in 2021: 729 challenges to 1,597 individual books. This is more than double the challenges tracked in 2019. The books being challenged often focus on race, LGBTQ+ issues, religion, and history.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club—a Penguin Random House title that explores issues of race and sexuality—has been the subject of such book banning efforts, including in Texas earlier this year. The story focuses on Lily Hu, a teenager living in 1950s Chinatown, who falls in love with another woman in an environment not friendly to LGBTQ relationships. Her romance, along with red-scare paranoia, create a high-stakes situation that could cost Lily’s father his citizenship.
When the title won the National Book Award in 2021, author Malinda Lo referenced “opposition to our stories” in an emotional acceptance speech, highlighting the “pressure to remove books about people of color, LGBTQ people, and especially transgender people from classrooms and libraries. I urge every one of you watching to educate yourselves . . . we need your support to keep our stories on the shelves. Don’t let them erase us."
The Banned Books Challenge is an effort to do just that: to make a statement against censorship and organized efforts to erase identities, and to connect New Yorkers with a book that they will not only enjoy, but can help develop understanding and empathy— the tools needed to fight ignorance and hate. Running from May 23 to June 26, the challenge launches during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and on the eve of LGBTQ Pride Month, contributing to robust efforts at all three library systems to celebrate and honor those who identify as part of those groups.
It is also worth noting that The New York Public Library’s Chatham Square branch previously did a program around the title earlier in 2022, partnering with the San Francisco Public Library and the New York City Department of Education to do a coast-to-coast Chinatown book club around Last Night at the Telegraph Club. About 150 eighth graders in two New York City schools in Chinatown read and discussed the book along with organizing librarians, and then had a virtual discussion with their counterpart students in San Francisco and author Malinda Lo.
“Open access to books and information is the core mission of Brooklyn Public Library and an essential component for a thriving democracy. Reading encourages critical thinking, introduces us to diverse viewpoints and perhaps mostly importantly, helps young people learn to respect one another and themselves. So we are especially delighted to launch the NYC Banned Book Challenge with the award-winning title Last Night at the Telegraph Club, a poignant story about love and identity,” said Linda E. Johnson, President of The Brooklyn Public Library.
“The Library’s role is to make sure no perspective, no idea, no identity is erased,” said Anthony W. Marx, President of The New York Public Library. “To ensure free and open access to knowledge and information. Book bans are in direct conflict with that noble mission, and we cannot be silent. The Banned Books Challenge is just one way we can bring people together and shine a light on this issue. We hope as many New Yorkers as possible will participate, learn and understand each other, and then do what we all must do: exercise our freedom to read by exploring the library and reading as many books as possible. Learn. Grow. Be uncomfortable. Enjoy. That’s the best way to combat censorship, and the Library is here to support those efforts.”
"As the most democratic and open institutions in the country, public libraries are committed to deepening our understanding of ourselves and one another, and to opening minds to diverse points of view," said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. "With this citywide effort, we hope to encourage New Yorkers to exercise their freedom to grow, learn and discover by reading these books and to take a stand against censorship."
The Banned Books Challenge is just the latest way the City’s public libraries have stood up to book banning, an effort in direct conflict with their mission to ensure free and open access to knowledge and information.
Last month, Brooklyn Public Library, for example, launched Books Unbanned, an initiative to provide young adults across the country access to Brooklyn’s entire digital catalog (including dozens of frequently banned and challenged titles) via a special e-card. Over 3500 library cards have been issued after the first month of the campaign. In addition, members of BPL’s newly formed Teen Intellectual Freedom Council are creating peer support channels to advocate for the freedom to read.
The New York Public Library—which serves the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island—launched Books For All, a partnership with publishers Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, and Scholastic to give anyone in the country access to four commonly banned titles with no waits via NYPL’s e-reader app SimplyE. The project runs through the end of May; through April, Books for All generated 22,000 new SimplyE users, nearly 10,000 checkouts of the four titles, and record web traffic to NYPL’s catalog—with 13% of traffic and usage coming from Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas, where high-profile bans have taken place.
And for Pride Month in June, Queens Public Library will make an additional 10 LGBTQ-themed challenged or banned titles “always available” in digital format. These books will be announced soon.
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About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. As a leader in developing modern 21st century libraries, we provide resources to support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.6 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We provide nearly 65,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.
About The New York Public Library
For 125 years, The New York Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library receives approximately 16 million visits through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.
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 multiple languages, technology and digital resources, and more than 87,500 educational, cultural, and civic programs a year. It consists of 66 locations, including branch libraries, a Central Library, seven adult learning centers, a technology lab, and two teen centers.
Join us this June for Queens Rising, a multi-disciplinary arts celebration created to highlight our borough’s culture and creative diversity!
We’re proud to be one of the founding partners of Queens Rising, and we look forward to bringing you great in-person and virtual programming as part of this month-long initiative.
Learn more about our Queens Rising programs by clicking the links below, and learn more about the other Queens Rising partners and events at https://queensrising.nyc.
Queens Rising’s lead sponsor is Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Forest Hills. Major support is provided by the Queens Economic Development Corporation, Resorts World NYC, and the Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation.
Queens Rising Programs at QPL
Japanese Culture through Dance by Sachiyo Ito, Parts 1 & 2
Wednesdays, June 1 and 8, 11am, Virtual
Kickoff to Pride Month: Love Wins Food Pantry Meal Giveaway
Wednesday, June 1, 3pm, Langston Hughes Library
Kickoff to Pride Month: Art Exhibit
Wednesday, June 1, 6pm, Langston Hughes Library
Kickoff to Pride Month: Hair Show
Wednesday, June 1, 6pm, Langston Hughes Library
Black Music Month Series
Thursdays, June 2-30, 6pm, Langston Hughes Library
Looking Ahead: Queens Memory Podcast Episode 8 Listening Party
Thursday, June 2, 6pm, Jackson Heights Library
Teen 3D Design: Flushing Architecture
Thursday, June 2, 6pm, Flushing Library
Summer Reading Series for Children with the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Fridays, June 3-17, 5pm, YouTube Live
Pride Month: Drag Story Hour
Friday, June 3, 3:30pm, Jackson Heights Library
Tuesday, June 7, 4pm, Elmhurst Library
Saturday, June 11, 2pm, Hunters Point Library
Friday, June 17, 4pm, Woodside Library
Korean Arts and Crafts for the Entire Family with Soh Young Lee-Segredo
Friday, June 3, 4pm, Bayside Library
Monday, June 6, 4pm, Sunnyside Library
Wednesday, June 8, 4pm, Douglaston Library
Friday, June 10, 4pm, McGoldrick Library
CreArtBox Live Podcast & Music Series
Saturday, June 4, 3:30pm, Hunters Point Library
Pride Month: My Pride Story Showcase
Saturday, June 4, 3pm, Jackson Heights Library
Oceans of Possibilities: New York Aquarium's Ocean Wonders: Sharks!
Monday, June 6, 6:30pm, Virtual
Celebration of Diversity Highlighting the Festivals of Bangladesh
Tuesday, June 7, 6pm, Facebook Live
Origami: Flexagon Moves Forever
Wednesday, June 8, 3:30pm, Virtual
Good for Your Soul: A Cooking Show with Chef and Artist Josefina Bahamondes
Wednesday, June 8, 6pm, Virtual
Oceans of Possibilities: Harbor Views of NY, Part 2 with Oscar Israelowitz
Wednesday, June 8, 7pm, Virtual
Pride Month: The Dissidence of Reinaldo Arenas
Thursday, June 9, 6pm, Virtual
The Greatest Inheritance: Queens Memory Podcast Episode 9 Listening Party
Thursday, June 9, 6pm, 34th Ave Open Street (34th Avenue between 69th and 70th Streets), Jackson Heights
The Beauty and The Spirit of Korea with KTMDC Dance Group
Thursday, June 9, 6pm, Virtual
"People," An Outdoor Multimedia Experience
Thursday, June 9, 8pm, Hunters Point Library
Storytime about Diversity and Immigration in Queens
Friday, June 10, 3:30pm, Virtual
Juneteenth Forum: History, Traditions, and A Case for Reparations
Monday, June 13, 8pm, Virtual
Live Talk from Queens with Ralph McDaniels & Artist Sherwin Banfield
Tuesday, June 14, 3pm, Instagram Live
Sankofa Series: Deep Dive — Negro Spirituals and The Blues
Tuesday, June 14, 4pm, Langston Hughes Library
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana presents Tablao Flamenco
Tuesday, June 14, 6pm, Facebook Live
Juneteenth: Black Dolls, A Virtual Presentation with the New York Historical Society
Tuesday, June 14, 6pm, Virtual
The Quiet Before: On the Unexpected Origins of Radical Ideas with Gal Beckerman
Friday, June 17, 7pm, Facebook Live & YouTube Live
Queens Memory Live
Tuesday, June 21, 4pm, Travers Park, Jackson Heights
Sankofa Series: Bring Your Own Joy with Nikki Williams
Tuesday, June 21, 4pm, Langston Hughes Library
Synagogues of Western Europe with Oscar Israelowitz
Tuesday, June 21, 6pm, Virtual
Pride Month: Following the Beat: The Queer Reclamation of William S. Burroughs
Friday, June 24, 7pm, Facebook Live & YouTube Live
Greek Music Through the Ages with Areti and Makaria
Monday, June 27, 5pm, Facebook Live
The Water Brought Us with Artist Laura R. Gadson
Wednesday, June 29, 7pm, Virtual
Oceans of Possibilities: Literary Thursdays: Jacquelyn Mitchard and "Two If By Sea"
Thursday, June 30, 4pm, Virtual
It's Mental Health Awareness Month, and QPL is highlighting the importance of mental health in the lives of all Americans at every age and stage of life.
Each year, we provide support and educate the public through our programs and services.
Join us for virtual and in-person programs, check out our booklists for adults, young adults, and children, and browse our recommended resources.
Mental Health Awareness Booklists
Upcoming Programs
click on each title for more information
Circle Of Transformation
Saturday, May 7, 12pm, Cambria Heights
Yoga for Everyone with Toya Williford
Saturdays, May 7, 14, 21, 28, 12pm, Virtual
Virtual Guided Meditation on Mondays
Mondays, May 9, 16, 23, 11am, Virtual
Caring Connections: Ageless Inspirations Social Group
Tuesdays, May 10, 17, 24, 1:30pm, Virtual
VA S.A.V.E. Training: Identifying And Responding To The Warning Signs Of Suicide
Tuesday, May 10, 6pm, Virtual
Color Therapy
Tuesday, May 10, 1pm, Rochdale Village
Telling the Story of You
Wednesday, May 11, 5pm, Virtual
Virtual Guided Meditation on Wednesdays
Wednesdays, May 11, 25, 11am, Virtual
Joselyn Smith Greene, Author of "The Gift of Knowing You"
Friday, May 13, 7pm, Virtual
Breathe and Flow: Chair Yoga for Everyone
Saturday, May 14, 12pm, Virtual
Root, Grow & Bloom Yoga Series
Saturdays, May 14, 21, 28, 3pm, Virtual
Wellness Wednesdays with Dr. Naika
Wednesdays, May 18, June 1, June 15, 12pm, Facebook Live/YouTube Live
The Art of Setting Boundaries
Thursday, May 19, 5pm, Virtual
Live Your Truth: Building Self-Esteem
Tuesday, May 24, 5pm, Virtual
Healing Learning Circle for Women! (in Bengali)
Thursday, May 26, 10:30am, Virtual
Mental Health Awareness Resources
Mental Health
Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health: Resource Guides + Toolkits
Guides and toolkits providing information, resources, and skills to promote emotional well-being.
NY Project Hope: Coping with COVID (Emotional Support Helpline: 1-844-863-9314)
NY Project Hope provides an emotional support helpline, a provider directory, and online wellness groups (including grieving & healing and support & education) for COVID19-related stress.
NYC Well, 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355)
New York City's 24/7 helpline for confidential support, crisis intervention, and information, including referrals for mental health and/or substance abuse concerns. NYC Well is available through online chat or by phone, where someone who is in need of support may speak with a counselor, with interpreters available for 200+ languages.
Safe Horizon, 1-800-621-HOPE (1-800-621-4673)
Safe Horizon provides assistance, advocacy, and support to victims who have experienced domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, youth homelessness, and other crimes.
Therapy for Black Girls
An online space dedicated to the mental wellness of Black women and girls; you can also use this resource to locate mental health professionals in your area.
Therapy for Black Men
A directory of mental health professionals and coaches that provide multiculturally-competent care for Black men.
Social and Emotional Health
National Institutes of Health: Social Wellness Toolkit
A toolkit for learning new strategies and ways to improve your social well-being.
NYC Department of Health: Social Emotional Development (Children)
Age-specific guides for caregivers of babies, toddlers, and school-age children, including a resource to find an Early Childhood Clinic in your area.
NYC Department of Education: Social-Emotional Wellness During COVID-19
Resource list for caregivers to instruct their children's social and emotional wellness and learning.
It's Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and we're excited to celebrate AAPI contributions to our nation's history and culture.
Check out our booklists for adults, young adults, and children, join us for our virtual and in-person programs, and more.
Queens Memory: Podcast and Cultural Programs
AAPI Books: Young Adult Fiction & Nonfiction
AAPI Books: Children's Fiction
AAPI Books: Children's Nonfiction
Queens Memory Podcast: "Our Major Minor Voices"
Season 3 of the Queens Memory Podcast features stories from our neighbors of Asian descent living here in Queens, in their own voices.
New episodes premiere every Monday at https://queensmemory.org/podcast, and you can also listen and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Podcast Addict, and other major podcast platforms.
Each episode will be followed by virtual cultural programs on Tuesdays and in-person listening parties on Thursdays.
Season 3 of the Queens Memory Podcast and its cultural programs have been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
Queens Memory Podcast Cultural Programs (click on each title for more information)
Celebrate Eid with Pakistani Music
Tuesday, May 3, 6pm, Facebook Live (watch the replay)
What Gets Lost in Translation: Episode 4 Listening Party
Thursday, May 5, 6:30pm, Fresh Meadows Library
Experience the Richness and Diversity: Virtual Chinese Music Concert
Tuesday, May 10, 6pm, Facebook Live (watch the replay)
Invisible Homeless: Episode 5 Listening Party
Thursday, May 12, 6pm, Elmhurst Library
Confronting Stereotypes Through Artmaking
Tuesday, May 17, 6pm, Facebook Live (watch the replay)
Seeing Signs: Episode 6 Listening Party
Thursday, May 19, 6pm, Woodside Library
Tibetan Artist Techung Performs Traditional Tibetan Music: Nangma and Töshay
Tuesday, May 24, 6:30pm, Facebook Live
Mother Tongue: Episode 7 Listening Party
Thursday, May 26, 7pm, Elmhurst Library
From Bollywood to Bhangra Beats featuring DJ Rekha: A Live Virtual Presentation
Tuesday, May 31, 5:30pm, Virtual
Looking Ahead: Episode 8 Listening Party
Thursday, June 2, 6pm, Jackson Heights Library
AAPI Booklists
Adult Fiction
The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata by Gina Apostol
If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho
Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed Masood
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Adult Nonfiction
Eat a Peach by David Chang
Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas
Fresh Off the Boat by Eddie Huang
Good Talk by Mira Jacob
The Loneliest Americans by Jay Caspian Kang
World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Not Quite Not White by Sharmila Sen
Fairest by Meredith Talusan
Dear Girls by Ali Wong
Rise by Jeff Yang, Phil Yu, and Philip Wang
Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner
Asian American Dreams by Helen Zia
Young Adult Fiction
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling by Wai Chim
Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
There's Something about Sweetie by Sandhya Menon
Not Here to Be Liked by Michelle Quach
Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous by Suzanne Park
Private Lessons by Cynthia Salaysay
Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance by Nisha Sharma
Made in Korea by Sarah Suk
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Young Adult Nonfiction
The American Dream? by Shing Yin Khor
The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston
Uprooted by Albert Marrin
From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry by Paula Yoo
Children's Fiction
Dream, Annie, Dream by Waka T. Brown
Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani
I Am Golden by Eva Chen
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
No Kimchi for Me! by Aram Kim
Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca
Drawn Together by Minh Lê
A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin
Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis
Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh
Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
Home is in Between by Mitali Perkins
Omar Rising by Aisha Saeed
Watercress by Andrea Wang
The Dragon Path by Ethan Young
Children's Nonfiction
Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Stars Who Made America Amazing by Phil Amara and Oliver Chin
Seven Voyages: How China's Treasure Fleet Conquered the Sea by Laurence Bergreen
The Rise (and Falls) of Jackie Chan by Kristen Mai Giang
King Sejong Invents an Alphabet by Carol Kim
The Story of Olympic Diver Sammy Lee by Paula Yoo
Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma by Joanna Ho
Niki Nakayama: A Chef's Tale in 13 Bites by Jamie Michaka & Debbi Michiko Florence
Mother Goose Goes to India by Kabir Sehgal
Between Two Worlds: The Art and Life of Amrita Sher-Gil by Meera Sriram
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat
Tu Youyou's Discovery: Finding a Cure for Malaria by Songju Ma Daemicke
Desert Diary: Japanese American Kids Behind Barbed Wire by Michael O. Tunnell
Dear America: The Story of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas
Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist by Julie Leung
Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom by Teresa Robeson
From the Tops of Trees by Kao Kalia Yang
Cultural Programs
click on each title for more information
Awakening the Japanese American Archives Through Art and Writing
Wednesday, May 4, 7pm, Virtual
A Musical Event Celebrating 75 Years of India’s Independence with Sanjukta Sen
Tuesday, May 10, 11am, Virtual
Hao Bang Ah! Tiger! Puppet Show
Friday, May 13, 4pm, Facebook Live/YouTube Live
Saturday, May 14, 1pm, Virtual
The Real and the Serial in Zhang Leping’s "Wandering Life of Sanmao" (1947-1948)
Saturday, May 14, 8pm, Virtual
Where In the World? Food!
Monday, May 16, 3:30pm, Richmond Hill Library
Monday, May 16, 5:15pm, Facebook Live
Know Your Rights and Bystander Intervention Techniques
Wednesday, May 18, 4pm, Lefferts Library
Mehndi Hands
Thursday, May 19, 3:30pm, Arverne Library
Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with Korean Culture and Music
Thursday, May 19, 5pm, Facebook Live
Asian American Writers in Conversation
Thursday, May 19, 6pm, Virtual
Shadow Puppet Performance: “Tiger Tales”
Friday, May 20, 4pm, Facebook Live/YouTube Live
Celebrate Eid: Henna Hand Painting Workshop with Anowara Ahmed
Saturday, May 21, 1pm, Virtual
The Keyaki Tree: Shadow Puppet Theatre
Monday, May 23, 3pm, Virtual
Talking Drums with Brian Adler
Wednesday, May 25, 4pm, Facebook Live/YouTube Live
Mahiwaga: Magical Stories, Dance, and Kulintang Music
Thursday, May 26, 6pm, Facebook Live
Literary Thursdays: Soon Wiley, Author of "When We Fell Apart"
Thursday, May 26, 4pm, Virtual
AAPI Resources
Stop AAPI Hate
Resources and how to report hate incidents.
Stop Asian Hate Toolkit
A toolkit for addressing anti-Asian bias, discrimination, and hate.
Right to Be (formally Hollaback)
A key organization who creates Bystander Intervention Trainings to teach people how to stop harassment.
Asian Mental Health Collective
Mental Health resources for Asian communities worldwide.
Chinese American Planning Council
CPC’s mission is to promote the social and economic empowerment of Chinese American, immigrant, and low-income communities.
Heart of Dinner
A volunteer organization that helps deliver care packages and meals to Asian elders.
Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York
This organization serves as a bridge for Korean immigrants and the wider Asian community to fully integrate into society and overcome any economic, health, and linguistic barriers.
SAYA (South Asian Youth Action)
SAYA aims to foster a strong sense of belonging in youth and provide them with tools to thrive academically, professionally, and personally.
South Asian Council for Social Services
This organization empowers underserved South Asians and other immigrants and integrates them into the civic and economic life of New York.
It’s National Volunteer Week! Service Takes Many Forms here at the Library, and this year we want to highlight the winners of the Friends of QPL Shining Star Award.
The Shining Star Award is given to individual Friends members that demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities that inspire and motivate others to action; and groups that exemplify a collaborative spirit and strive to work together to provide ideas, resources, and opportunities that uplift their community.
Here's our conversation with the staff of Cambria Heights Library, who received the Shining Star Staff Award for their work supporting the Cambria Heights Friends group.
Why are the Friends of QPL an asset to your community or neighborhood?
We have many community organizations in our neighborhood, from jazz collectives to domestic violence support groups to artists, writers, and beyond, so it’s essential that we have Friends who have contacts with these groups, and they do. They are very good at involving many aspects of our community and constantly pitching programs and organizations who can enrich our cultural spaces at the library. – Tejas Desai, Assistant Community Library Manager
What have been your proudest moments to date during your time working with the Friends of QPL?
My proudest moment was winning the Shining Star Award for Outstanding Staff Support! Also, the pandemic was so crazy, and the Friends really stepped up their virtual programming and were a major source of support. I remember when George Floyd was murdered: it was a tragedy. The Friends invited speakers to talk about police brutality, including a mother who founded an organization after she lost a family member to police violence. It was helpful to have an outlet to have a discussion about what was going on in the country. This was so invaluable during such a difficult time! The Friends are not just Friends, they’re also my friends! – Kacper Jarecki, Community Library Manager
Why was it important for your staff to remain actively involved with the Friends throughout the past two years during the height of the pandemic?
The Friends are in contact with and understand the soul of the community. Without them, we wouldn’t understand the needs and status of the community as much as we do. – Tejas Desai, Assistant Community Library Manager
Can you share your favorite memories of working with the Friends of QPL during the past two years?
- The Cambria Heights Friends sponsored a virtual poetry event in April 2020 that was well attended by the public and poets. We also had a painting event with Wanda Best, our Vice President (and artist). – Adrienne Hawthorne, Adult Services Librarian
- I really enjoyed tabling with Aletta Seales, Angela Sinclair, and others at various street fairs throughout southeast Queens where we promoted our programs, including Friends programs, and our library generally. – Tejas Desai, Assistant Community Library Manager
- My favorite memory is our collaboration on the Manga Madness series. – Amanda Aponte, Teen Center Site Coordinator
- My favorite memory is seeing them and hanging out with them! I love them so much! – Kacper Jarecki, Community Library Manager
With the world changed as a result of the pandemic, in what ways can the Friends (and the library) remain relevant and an asset to the community?
The world keeps changing, but we will always need each other!!! The library offers that human touch and human connection, and nobody exemplifies that better than the Friends!!! – Kacper Jarecki, Community Library Manager
For more information about joining an existing Friends group or starting your own chapter for your neighborhood library, visit https://volunteer.queenslibrary.org/qplfriends.
If you're interested in other ways of volunteering at Queens Public Library, you can visit https://volunteer.queenslibrary.org.
Posts in This Series
It’s National Volunteer Week! Service Takes Many Forms here at the Library, and this year we want to highlight the winners of the Friends of QPL Shining Star Award.
The Shining Star Award is given to individual Friends members that demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities that inspire and motivate others to action; and groups that exemplify a collaborative spirit and strive to work together to provide ideas, resources, and opportunities that uplift their community.
Here's our conversation with Shining Star Award recipient David Pecoraro, President of the Friends of Rosedale Library. Learn about his beginnings with the group, his experiences during his tenure, and what lies ahead for the Friends of Rosedale Library.
When did you first become involved with the Friends of QPL?
I was approached by the branch manager, Pat Eshun, to help form the Rosedale Friends since she saw me in the library frequently, and I became one of the two initial founders of the group.
What attracted you to becoming involved with the Friends of QPL?
I have been a Rosedale resident for over 56 years and have used this branch since we had a card catalogue and took out books using a photostat machine. My mother, the late community leader Sheila Pecoraro, helped save the branch by leading a sit-in during the 1970s NYC fiscal crisis. Later, the branch served as a place for reading for my sons Daniel and Samuel. It was just second nature to get involved when asked by Pat.
Why are the Friends of QPL an asset to your community or neighborhood?
Many of the working-class community of homeowners in Southeast Queens use this library for research, reading and video materials, and as a safe place for kids while their parents are at work. The Rosedale Friends have worked with our phenomenal staff and our great City Council Members—first Donovan Richards and then his successor, Selvena Brooks-Powers. With the discretionary funding they have provided, we have been able to set up events that have benefited the community, including our annual Jackie Robinson tributes and our annual Dream to Read events to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Thanks to the efforts of our council members, we hope to see a needed branch expansion.
What have been your proudest moments to date during your time as a Friend of QPL?
Our January 2021 online storytime reading and Dream to Read Book Give-Away in celebration of the 59th Presidential inauguration were a pair of memorable events linked to important historical events and figures. Also, we organized a memorable LGBTQ+ Pride event in Rosedale when we invited the partner of civil rights and labor icon Bayard Rustin to explain his history and significance.
Friends of Rosedale Library President David Pecoraro (right) and Member-at-Large Clara Pecoraro (left) at the library's annual Jackie Robinson Day book giveaway.
Why was it important for you to remain actively involved with the Friends throughout the past two years during the height of the pandemic? In what ways did the Friends support the neighborhood during this period?
With the support of Council Member Brooks-Powers, we were able to organize multiple book giveaways and a COVID-19 vaccination van. There was a necessity to have events to maintain continuity, even when the branch was closed. We needed to keep the library and the community on the map.
What would you still like to accomplish as a Friend of QPL?
Our branch expansion and the continuation of programming for our hard-working community.
What are the benefits of working alongside other members to accomplish your goals as a Friend of QPL?
I am fortunate to be assisted by an incredible group of women, including Vice-President Jannie Downes-Charles, Secretary Lorraine Gittens-Bridges, Treasurer Stacey Osbourne, and my wife, Member-at-Large Clara Guillermo-Pecoraro. They have provided energy, wisdom, assistance, perspective, and suggestions that have made our events possible.
In what ways have the library staff supported your efforts during your time as a Friend of QPL?
The Rosedale Library staff have been there from day one to help us put our events together. There is no way we could have done all we have done without them.
For more information about joining an existing Friends group or starting your own chapter for your neighborhood library, visit https://volunteer.queenslibrary.org/qplfriends.
If you're interested in other ways of volunteering at Queens Public Library, you can visit https://volunteer.queenslibrary.org.
Posts in This Series
It’s National Volunteer Week! Service Takes Many Forms here at the Library, and this year we want to highlight the winners of the Friends of QPL Shining Star Award.
The Shining Star Award is given to individual Friends members that demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities that inspire and motivate others to action; and groups that exemplify a collaborative spirit and strive to work together to provide ideas, resources, and opportunities that uplift their community.
Here's our conversation with Shining Star Group Award recipient the Friends of Cambria Heights Library. Learn about their beginnings, their experiences, and what lies ahead for them.
When did you first become involved with the Friends of QPL?
I have been a member since 2008. The Education Committee of the Cambria Heights Civic Association started the Friends group. We saw a need for a teen center located in the basement of the new library building, which was being used for storage. We spoke to politicians, our councilman, and our assemblywoman about our wish to have the space in the basement of Cambria Heights Library turned into a teen center. Thus, our Friends group helped get the teen center created. The cost of the project was over $2 million. The Friends continued to lobby in Albany and advocate for the library. – Angelia Sinclair, President
Why are the Friends of QPL an asset to your community or neighborhood?
Cambria Heights is a diverse neighborhood of all ages, ethnicities, and creeds. With that being said, we all get connected through the Friends of QPL. Our outreach resources include tabling during street fairs to attract people and engage them in a discussion about the Friends' functions. For over two years of the pandemic, the Cambria Heights Friends have been able to come into our neighbors’ homes through virtual programs on various topics. Children learned about the environment and how to grow plants from seeds in their own living space. Adults loved the mental health program that helped them cope with any type of anxiety. Langston Hughes, the American writer and social activist, said "What happens to a dream deferred?" How about a Broadway actor conducting a Dream Coaching program, which was a motivational session to help people identify the next steps in their life plan? Other presentations focused on domestic violence and songwriting therapy and affirmation. And Wow! How could I forget our Open Mic Celebration during National Poetry Month? – Barbara Woodford, Member-at-Large
What have been your proudest moments to date during your time as a Friend of QPL?
During the pandemic, the Friends of Cambria Heights provided virtual children’s programs on topics like math and kitchen gardening. Children’s author Ama Karikari Yawson held a dramatic interactive reading of her book Sunne’s Gift. Prior to the pandemic, the Friends funded an after-school kids' program in the library about creating your own terrarium; the Queens Botanical Garden supplied a teacher and all the necessary materials. We had adult painting programs before and (virtually) during the pandemic. These programs were taught by our Vice President, Wanda Best. Ms. Best also hosts programs (both in person and virtually) each October about domestic violence awareness. We used the funding from a Citizen’s Gardening Grant for a variety of informational and entertaining virtual programs during the pandemic. Our April 2021 National Poetry Month Open Mic was very popular. It was our second virtual poetry program. We invited community members and our library staff to share their original poems, or ones by their favorite poets. We even had a young poet perform his spoken word poetry. – Angela Sinclair, President
Why was it important for you to remain actively involved with the Friends throughout the past two years during the height of the pandemic?
It was an opportunity to communicate with others virtually and provide a wellness check. – Aletta Seales, Secretary
What are the benefits of working alongside other members to accomplish your goals as a Friend of QPL?
There is an African saying: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, take others with you.” My wish for the Friends is to go far into the future. Therefore, members need to work alongside each other. – Aletta Seales, Secretary
For more information about joining an existing Friends group or starting your own chapter for your neighborhood library, visit https://volunteer.queenslibrary.org/qplfriends.
If you're interested in other ways of volunteering at Queens Public Library, you can visit https://volunteer.queenslibrary.org.
Posts in This Series
It’s National Volunteer Week! Service Takes Many Forms here at the Library, and this year we want to highlight the winners of the Friends of QPL Shining Star Award.
The Shining Star Award is given to individual Friends members that demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities that inspire and motivate others to action; and groups that exemplify a collaborative spirit and strive to work together to provide ideas, resources, and opportunities that uplift their community.
Here's our conversation with Shining Star Award recipient Annette Tow, Treasurer of the Friends of Flushing Library. Learn about her beginnings with the group, her experiences during her tenure, and what lies ahead for the Friends of Flushing Library.
When did you first become involved with the Friends of QPL?
2001.
What attracted you to becoming involved with the Friends of QPL?
As a "book reader" and a "bookshelf browser" of "what can I learn today," I have an opportunity to pay back, as well as pay forward, by reinforcing the value and importance of a regional community library.
Why are the Friends of QPL an asset to your community or neighborhood?
The Friends offer an opportunity to have a voice in how/where the community will grow. Library personnel are not necessarily residents of the branch's community, so their values and how they view a community library can be different from a neighborhood resident.
What have been your proudest moments to date during your time as a Friend of QPL?
In 2003, I was able to coordinate an auditorium multicultural fashion show in Indian, Vietnamese, Mongolian, Korean, and Chinese. And in 2012, we held a successful summer STEAM program for 30+ elementary school-age children. During the program, 10 high school students were used as presenters. They learned practical task management, oral communication, and how to create effective visual presentations. Several business community leaders contributed funds as program sponsors.
Why was it important for you to remain actively involved with the Friends throughout the past two years during the height of the pandemic?
Pride in being a long-time Flushing resident and awareness of neighborhood changes, as there were repeated acts of building vandalism and vendor abuse in sidewalk market growth.
In what ways did the Friends support the neighborhood during this period?
A few members and I developed an informal survival "info" network and a Flushing Library service to select books for pick-up and return. We also helped with reporting any vandalism of library premises, supermarket shopping for food options, inventory, and hours.
With the world changed as a result of the pandemic, in what ways can the Friends (and the library) remain relevant and an asset to the community?
The Flushing neighborhood’s life cycle has changed, and because of its central location, the library can be a source of information to businesses, and offer employment, artistic/cultural, and educational opportunities as effective outreach, especially to immigrant families as well as long-time residents.
What are the benefits of working alongside other members to accomplish your goals as a Friend of QPL?
I have met a variety of people and had opportunities for personal friendships not ordinarily encountered, thanks to stepping outside of our personal spaces.
In what ways have library staff supported your efforts during your time as a Friend of QPL?
Library staff have advised us on what strategies would work and efficient operating methods or alternatives. Also, since the lockdown, building service employees have taken on taking care of the building's plants, which are a signature of Flushing Library.
What would you still like to accomplish as a Friend of QPL?
I'd like to see how the neighborhood and community have changed and how resilient we can be to grow and thrive in this "new normal"; to conduct a survey (public and business) to see how the community has changed and what we as Flushing Library Friends can promote as community outreach, so our residents can recover and move on in their lives.
For more information about joining an existing Friends group or starting your own chapter for your neighborhood library, visit https://volunteer.queenslibrary.org/qplfriends.
If you're interested in other ways of volunteering at Queens Public Library, you can visit https://volunteer.queenslibrary.org.
Posts in This Series
Flushing Library Set to Reopen to the Public With Full Service Beginning Monday, April 25
Flushing, N.Y. _ Flushing Library, the busiest branch in the nation, will welcome back customers beginning Monday, April 25, offering full service for the first time since it temporarily closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic.
Located at 41-17 Main Street, Flushing Library reopened in July 2020 for staff to process requests for books and other materials. It offered to-go service from November 2020 until March 2021, when the City began using it for its free COVID-19 vaccination site. Although Flushing became one of the City’s most visited vaccination locations, the City had to stop administering shots inside the branch in mid-June because the building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system had failed. However, the City continued to use the site for storage to support the vaccination effort for several months.
The HVAC system breakdown came at roughly the same time as a previously planned closure of the library for the construction of a second elevator and the renovation of the existing elevator. Work on this project started in December 2021. The bulk of the work on the elevators will take place at night so the building can be open during the day to provide library service. For now, the existing HVAC system has been able to provide heat while a temporary chiller is set up in a trailer outside the building. A brand-new system will be installed within the next two years.
"Striking this balance has been an enormously complicated undertaking that involved a great deal of thought, time, and creativity," said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. "Our team came up with a solution that enables us to carry out our mission as we work to provide greater access to all the resources Flushing offers, and the staff at Flushing have done an outstanding job making sure the library is as ready, inviting, and inspiring as possible when the public returns. They are very much looking forward to welcoming back our customers."
Flushing Library is a vital community resource and the first stop for many immigrants. In FY 2019, it drew 1.7 million visitors, circulated 1 million items and brought in 184,000 program attendees, who participated in its English classes, GED prep courses, technology workshops, job readiness classes, and a number of other programs. Many of its classes and cultural programming continued virtually throughout the pandemic.
The hours will be Monday through Thursday, 10 am. to 8 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. A roster of virtual and in-person programs will be offered starting the 25th. Flushing’s Adult Learning Center will also reopen the same day with classes for the public. The ALC hours will be Monday, Tuesday, and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For a complete schedule of QPL offerings, go here.
CONTACT: Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, ekern@queenslibrary.org