Blog posts

Meral Agish, Queens Memory community coordinator, recently held a workshop on conducting oral histories. Queens Memory is a community archiving program supported by Queens Public Library and Queens College, CUNY. They seek to promote local histories in the community through programming and to collect diverse local histories for their collections, while also providing training and materials to help local residents make oral histories that can be included in the collections. Any connection to Queens is a suitable topic for a Queens Memory interview. 

The collection, which has nearly 1,000 interviews, has been in existence for eleven years. It tells the stories of the lived experiences of individuals, but also seeks to contribute to the understanding of the collective memory of a place, time or experience. One example is the COVID-19 project, which documents the pandemic through the eyes of ICU nurses and college students, among others. For QPL’s 125th Anniversary year, the library is collecting library memories and experiences. Interviews can be conducted in any language. 

Oral histories complicate historical narratives by providing more and different points of view and serve as new primary sources of information. The idea of sharing authority between an interviewer and interviewee is key to oral history, which works through the idea of collaboration between the two. Interviews often revisit different tellings of events. In one interview that Agish shared, Joey Tabaco, a busboy at the Alaskan Pavilion at the 1964 World Fair included in the Memories of Migration series, covers details about place, personal identity, teenage hobbies, school, work, money, family dynamics, and more. Much of oral history is memory work, exploring the way that people remember. 

The first steps to conducting an interview are to contact someone you’d like to interview and explain why you’d like to talk to them. Discuss what you’ll cover and how you’ll record, whether in person, on video or on the phone. If you’re conducting the interview for Queens Memory, ask if they’d like their interview to be archived. This is a great way to expand the history that people have access to and to preserve someone’s story for the future. As Agish says, “Everyone is interesting because no one has lived your life.” 

As a repository for interviews, Queens Memory stores, preserves, and shares interviews with the public. However, Queens Memory never holds the copyright for interviews, leaving those in the hands of those who did them. 
Before you speak to your interviewee, prepare a list of topics. Think about the person’s first-hand experience and areas of expertise. Think about what you want to hear about or learn more about from them. Have a particular question in mind to start the interview, and listen closely in order to ask follow ups based on what they say to you.

Some topics that Queens Memory recommends are family lore and tradition, education, work and leisure, getting around, neighbors and the neighborhood, faith, change over time, and connections to history.    For more specific topic recommendations, visit here. 

Agish recommended using open-ended questions, as they are an invitation to share one’s story and offer more information. For example, Tell me more about your other memories of the World’s Fair. A closed question would be one that is answered easily by a yes/no answer, such as Was this your first job? Closed questions can be useful for clarification – for example, You mentioned X; was Y? 

Other helpful types of questions are follow-up as well as summarizing and concluding; the last two can be similar. An example of a follow up question would be, What was it like starting at a new high school? A summarizing question would be, Before we move on, is there anything you’d like to add? While a concluding question could be, Before we end, is there anything we didn’t cover? These questions show the collaboration between the interviewee and the interviewer, and the shared authority the interviewer has to determine the topics of the interview. 

Agish offered some tips for logistics of interviews, such as confirming the day before. Don’t forget to press record, which seems obvious but is something you can easily forget to do in the excitement of the interview. Remember to ask one question at a time and to give the interviewer time to reflect and gather their thoughts – don’t be afraid of silence. Listen and ask follow-up questions. Ask things they didn’t flesh out yet. If someone is stuck on a topic, you can gently move on to another topic. It also helps to keep an eye on the time so you don’t drain your interviewee by making the interview too long; pay attention to their energy level. People can be distracted or unable to focus. Some are talkative while others are more reticent. Work with your interviewee’s communication style. 

If you are recording for Queens Memory, you can use their recording kits. 

After an interview, send a thank you note and share the recording with your interviewee. If the recording is for Queens Memory, you’ll want to have them sign the consent form. After you submit the interview, Queens Memory will share a transcript with you that you can edit. Interviewees can edit out discrete portions of the interview that they are uncomfortable with or arrange to be anonymous or use a pseudonym. 

Queens Memory’s work broadens our understanding of the history of Queens by including diverse voices. They’re excited to hear from you about interviews you’d like to conduct! 

To arrange a one-on-one call or meeting with Meral Agish to discuss interviewing for Queens Memory, email her at meral.agish@queenslibrary.org or contact the Queens Memory team at queensmemory@queenslibrary.org. 

Queens Memory will hold another workshop on interviewing on Friday, November 12 at 2pm. Register here: https://queenslib.org/3lVVVOv

Sixty to eighty percent of all jobs are filled through networking, according to the Job and Business Academy’s Blanca Baquero who led a recent workshop on networking. Baquero spent most of her career in human resources.

Networking helps us to maintain quality relationships, interact with people, exchange information, open doors to opportunities, and gain the opportunity to learn new things. It’s a give and take process, she explained. There are many reasons to network, but the most important may be that it provides exposure to job opportunities and possible job leads. It gives us a chance to receive advice and assistance, get new perspectives, gain positive influences, and make new friends. The older we get, the smaller our social circles get, so networking is a great way to counteract that trend. 

Employers prefer known individuals, such as employee referrals. Many jobs may not be advertised. One network connects to another. These are all facts that explain why networking can be successful for job searchers – but networking should be a continuous and ongoing process. To prepare, check the Internet for events in your neighborhood, such as on Eventbrite.com or Meetup.com. You can also use sites that employers browse such as LinkedIn. Put together a networking list, organize your contacts, compose a brief introduction of yourself, and develop an action plan. Your contacts can be colleagues, school friends, and even family members. Your introduction is your elevator pitch, what you’d be able to say about yourself in the time it takes to ride to the sixth floor of an elevator. This will convey a strong idea of what you’re interested in, so that your networking can be focused. 

Baquero advises not to assume certain people cannot help you and shared an anecdote in which a woman had been looking for work for a long time. The woman’s building superintendent came to her apartment and mentioned he’d just been in another apartment where someone was saying their company was hired – and this led to a job for the woman. Opportunities come from unexpected sources. Start your networking with people who can endorse your abilities and track record. Ask them for suggestions and advice. Always be considerate by thanking them for any referrals and assistance and be sure to provide feedback by letting them know the outcome, whether anything comes of their suggestions or not. 

Networking requires you to strategize and present your best self. Having confidence is key. Remember what transferable skills you have and what you can offer. Understand who you are so that you’ll be authentic. Develop a unique personal brand, if possible, and always focus on the future. Avoid making negative comments about past experiences. 

Baquero offered several pieces of advice for networkers: in addition to showing enthusiasm and confidence, she recommended being clear, concise, engaging, and distinctive. Keep your conversation focused and clear on what you want to accomplish. Remember to network with a goal in mind. Always write a thank you note. 

After you have been networking for a while, it can help to evaluate and review your network. Who is providing realistic and truthful – in other words, useful – feedback? Your network should represent the future you are trying to build. Do they challenge you? 

Communication skills are also essential for networking, especially effective listening. Focus on the speaker, avoid interrupting, and show interest. You will convey more through nonverbal communication than you do through speaking so pay attention to your facial expressions, eye contact, body movement, gestures, and posture – even when networking virtually. It’s also key to be mindful of your tone of voice, to make sure your appearance is professional, and to be careful how you react in a conversation. 

Networking is a great way to find opportunities you might not know about on your own. Be prepared to network at any moment and on the spot because a casual conversation could lead to a new opportunity. Remember to keep networking a continuous process that you do not only when you are laid off or in need of a job, but in all situations to keep building your connections and knowledge. 

Join the Job and Business Academy for more opportunities to grow as you advance your career, including workshops on branding and interviewing. See other JBA programs on our calendar. 

Job Search Strategies for Mature Workers 

Mature workers can face a struggle when it comes to searching for and obtaining employment. This class will define the mature worker, describe obstacles such workers may face, and explain how and where to search for jobs. Join here: https://queenslib.org/2Z2OWuf Password: October2021

Thursday, October 28, 12pm 

Identifying Your Work Skills 

In this competitive job market, it is vitally important to know your work skills and market those skills to potential employers during a job search. This workshop will explain the benefits of knowing your work skills and identifying them. Join here: https://queenslib.org/3oUJvse Password: November2021

Tuesday, November 2, 12pm 

Reinvigorating Wise Lives: Golden Goal Setting

Discover, highlight, and set goals for 2022. Make the year ahead a memorable one.
Join here: https://queenslib.org/3A98zOJ Password: goals

Friday, November 5, 2pm 

Steps to Successful Interviews 

In this workshop, you will learn how to prepare for an interview, successfully deal with difficult questions, and follow up properly afterwards. Join here: https://queenslib.org/3vtINTO Password: November2021

Tuesday, November 16, 12pm

Reinvigorating Wise Lives: Personal Branding Workshop

Have you ever thought about how others perceive you? What is branding in 2021? In this workshop, we will discuss the four steps of branding and how to make them work for you. Join here: https://queenslib.org/3AbxIs7 Password: November2021

Tuesday, November 23, 2pm 

Queens Public Library Loans WiFi Hotspots through Grants from Sterling National Bank, National Grid and the Thomas & Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation To Help Bridge the Digital Divide in Underserved Communities

More Than 255 Devices Will Soon Be Available for Borrowing at QPL’s Lefrak City, South Jamaica, Astoria and Long Island City Branches

QUEENS, N.Y. (October 21, 2021)—Queens Public Library (“QPL”) President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott today announced separate donations from Sterling National Bank, National Grid and the Thomas & Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation totaling $85,000 to be used to provide QPL customers without internet access at home the opportunity to borrow more than 255 internet-enabled hotspots at select locations. Sterling National Bank’s grant also will cover the cost of 18 laptops for loan to customers without computer access.

The Queens Public Library Foundation secured the funding as part of QPL’s broader goal to grow its supply of internet-enabled hotspots. Many of the hotspots the Library has loaned in the past are either lost, damaged or no longer work. The devices can be checked out for two months and renewed up to five times.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus the need for reliable home internet access for so many individuals and families in Queens and elsewhere in New York City, and it is critical to position the Library to lend hotspots and other technology to them,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “We are extremely grateful to Sterling National Bank, National Grid and the Thomas & Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation for their partnership in addressing the digital divide in our communities.”

Sterling National Bank donated $50,000 for 18 laptops and 100 hotspots for circulation from the QPL Lefrak City location, which is closed until further notice for emergency maintenance. To meet the demand for computer and internet service, Queens Public Library will start loaning the devices at a special distribution event Thursday, October 21, 2021 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. outside the library, located at 98-30 57th Avenue.

“Now more than ever, Sterling believes in the importance of bridging the digital divide in underserved communities,” said Karina Saltman, Senior Managing Director of CRA Administration. “Supporting digital literacy programming allows parents to help their children with remote learning, prevents isolation with access to online communities, promotes workforce development opportunities and enables other essential services like telehealth and online banking. Sterling is proud to partner with the Queens Public Library to bring this program to fruition at their QPL Lefrak City location.”

QPL provided nearly 3 million free computer sessions in fiscal year 2019 prior to the pandemic. During the pandemic, when many of the system’s libraries closed to slow the spread of COVID-19, thousands of people stood outside its buildings to catch a Wi-Fi signal. The Library recorded 498,810 Wi-Fi sessions from March 2020 to May 2021.

National Grid donated $25,000 for the purchase of 75 hotspots that will be circulated to customers participating in workforce development programs at South Jamaica Library. “National Grid is proud to partner with Queens Public Library on this important initiative, which is core to our commitment of supporting local communities and workforce development. The hotspots will allow job seekers in South Jamaica to access the Library’s virtual workforce and job skills training, as well as search and apply for employment opportunities online,” said Mauri Myers-Solages, Corporate Citizenship Manager.

The Thomas & Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation gave a $10,000 award for 30 hotspots to be loaned out by the Astoria and Long Island City branches. "The Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation has been a long-term supporter of Queens Public Library and its programming," said Pooja Joshi O'Hanlon, Executive Director. "The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the need for many services, supports and resources for residents in Western Queens, access to technology being one of them. The hotspots provided by Queens Public Library will go a long way towards alleviating some of this."

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.

Contact:
Queens Public Library—Elisabeth de Bourbon, 917-499-0867, edebourbon@queenslibrary.org
Sterling National Bank—Karina Saltman, ksaltman@snb.com
Thomas & Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation—admin@elmezzi.org

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Happy National Friends of Libraries Week! It’s the annual celebration of library Friends groups and everything they do for their neighborhood libraries.

In honor of Friends of Libraries Week, we asked the staff at our branches to talk about the special relationship they have with their Friends groups, and how their Friends have supported them and their communities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read those stories below!

Click here if you would like to join an existing Friends group, or send an email to friends@queenslibrary.org to start your own chapter for your neighborhood library.

Join the new Friends of Queens Public Library Facebook Group!

Thank you again to all the Friends of Queens Public Library!

Glen Oaks Friends

Glen Oaks Friends members have been caring for library staff, customers, and each other during these uncertain times. It is a true testimony of the community spirit. Although the Friends members have not been able to meet in person, they continue to be true supporters of the library in their heart. Thank you, Glen Oaks Friends members. Without you, we would not have been able to achieve and maintain a high standard.

Younshin Kim, Community Library Manager, Glen Oaks Library

Kew Gardens Hills Friends

The Friends of the Kew Gardens Hills Library have a keen eye for bringing in very well-received programs. From music to crafts, the programs they've organized enrich our community's lives and keep the community engaged with the library.

During the pandemic, the Friends were able to shift their programming to benefit Queens residents and people all over the state as they supported QPL's Older Adults department to host a series of art programs. They've also been excellent at flagging our community's potential needs through their suggestion box and their connection to the greater Kew Gardens Hills neighborhood, as their ties to the community go deeper than we can make as staff members.

They are a tremendous asset, and we are thankful for all their hard work to help support the team here at Kew Gardens Hills.

Asher MacInnis-Call, Assistant Manager, Kew Gardens Hills Library

During this most difficult time, I thank you for your ongoing commitment and sharing wonderful program ideas to best serve our community at Kew Gardens Hills. Some have suffered and some were fortunate to not suffer any losses at all, but overall as a community we remain compassionate and dedicated to welcoming our neighbors back to the library. We look out for one another and we continue to do our best to meet each month, discussing possibilities for normalcy. We continue to move forward to a bright future. Thank you for spending time thinking of us and we hope for a everlasting friendship for Kew Gardens Hills.

Susan Paredes, Community Library Manager, Kew Gardens Hills Library

Rosedale Friends

The Rosedale staff would like to extend our gratitude to our Friends group for the work they do for our community and making the library visible to our community, even during the lockdown. The children at Rosedale were gifted with books on different occasions during the pandemic. As such, even though the Rosedale Library was closed, our customers still had feelings of being cared for. We are therefore very grateful to Mr. Pecoraro and his executives as well as to the general Friends membership. KUDOS to you all.

E. Patricia Eshun, Community Library Manager, Rosedale Library

Happy National Friends of Libraries Week! It’s the annual celebration of library Friends groups and everything they do for their neighborhood libraries.

In honor of Friends of Libraries Week, we asked the staff at our branches to talk about the special relationship they have with their Friends groups, and how their Friends have supported them and their communities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read those stories below!

Click here if you would like to join an existing Friends group, or send an email to friends@queenslibrary.org to start your own chapter for your neighborhood library.

Join the new Friends of Queens Public Library Facebook Group!

Thank you again to all the Friends of Queens Public Library!

Cambria Heights Friends

The Friends of Cambria Heights always come through! During the pandemic, the Friends put on a phenomenal effort, creating a new annual all-virtual Poetry Festival. They always help to create new and amazing programs. Just recently in September, the Friends helped organize our Author Festival, with more than 20 authors getting involved. Now it's October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the Friends put together a panel to discuss current issues. The Friends of Cambria Heights always do an amazing job and are not just our biggest advocates, but also our close partners to make sure Cambria Heights provides the highest level of service to the community!

Kacper Jarecki, Community Library Manager, Cambria Heights Library

Corona Friends

I can't imagine Corona without our Friends group. They are a vibrant, vital part of our Corona family and the Corona community; from holding awareness events (including focusing on eating healthy and recycling), to their incredible toy giveaways during the winter holidays, they truly make our world a better place. Thank you for all you've done, and all you've yet to do.

Rosemary Kiladitis, Assistant Manager, Corona Library

Flushing ALC Friends

The Friends of Flushing ALC support our Adult Learning Center in so many ways. Before the pandemic, through fundraising activities like card and craft sales, our ALC was able to purchase much-needed books and equipment for our classes and workshops. The Friends also volunteered during our registration for new students, offering much-needed translation services and support.

Since the pandemic we have counted on our members to help promote our online classes. In addition, they have become the model students for our teachers teaching online, helping to demonstrate or explain the activities for the other students. Now that we have started having some classes in person, the Friends have also assisted with recruitment and registration for these classes. In addition, they have represented our student populations at various virtual presentations for our library and community partners. With the help of our Friends, we were able to continue to provide much-needed services during these difficult times.

Gary J. Beharry, Flushing Library Literacy Center Manager

Flushing Friends

I am very thankful for the support from our Flushing Library Friends. Before the pandemic, the Friends used to sponsor a number of programs, such as “A Celebration of Asian-American and African-American Arts and Culture." They applied the grant “Diversity in Action” from Goldman Sachs, and worked with Goldman Sachs volunteers and staff to implement the STEAM program for kids.

For many years, the Friends had been taking good care of the plants throughout the entire building. Every week, members of the Friends would water the plants, clean the dust on the surface to give the plants a fresh look, and spray water on the leaves. Our staff often received compliments from customers on how nice and healthy the plants looked.

During the pandemic, they have continued to show support for the library. They inform staff if there are any unusual activities outside the building, to keep our library safe. Since Flushing is closed to serve as a vaccination site, the Friends plan to participate in street fairs organized by local organizations, to promote the library's virtual programs and other library services, and refer people in the community to use our nearby QPL branches. The members of the Friends of Flushing Library are the library’s eyes and ears. They are our connecting links to the community. I truly appreciate the support from the Friends.

Yang Zeng, Director, Flushing Library

As we continue our fall College Readiness series, Dr. P – Dominque Padurano, Ph.D, founder and president of Crimson Coaching – offers some tips on writing a great college application essay and why the essay matters so much. Dr. P writes: 

“For decades each fall, millions of high school seniors have written application essays in the hopes of earning admission into the universities of their dreams.  Recently, those essays have grown in importance. The Washington Post opined in 2017 that the number one myth in college admissions is that “essays don’t matter.” 

The global pandemic has made essays “matter” even more.  “Test-optional” admissions policies adopted in the wake of COVID-19 have rendered the essay even more “decisive” (to borrow The Post’s term).  With one fewer data point to evaluate applicants, admissions officers must now rely more heavily on the personal statement.

These higher stakes often induce higher levels of anxiety into teenage writers. But it doesn’t have to be that way.  

Read Two or Three Successful College Application Essays

You can find examples of strong college application essays in several places.  Try “10 Successful Harvard Application Essays” published annually by the student newspaper The Crimson, or Fiske Real College Essays That Work, published by the same folks responsible for the venerable Fiske Guide to Colleges.  Wherever you find them, keep in mind that these essays are finished products.  Those students revised their essays five, ten or twenty times before they became the polished gems that you’re reading.

As you peruse the essay, try to pinpoint what elements made it work.  Despite the variety of voices and forms, each effective essay conveys the author’s unique “personal brand.”  Rather than attempt to describe themselves with seventeen distinct adjectives, the author settled on one or two.  These adjectives form what I call the student’s “personal brand,” and they permeate all successful college application essays.

Identify Your Personal Brand

Before starting your own college essay, brainstorm as many adjectives as possible that describe YOU.  Go with your gut; a list of 5-10 adjectives is fine.  If you get really stuck, ask family and friends for words that best characterize you.

Group similar adjectives (e.g., “compassionate” and “empathetic”) into a single cluster.  Then, pick the one or two most important adjectives / clusters that are most important to you as a person and a student.  Write these adjectives – your own “personal brand” – on a post-it and stick the note above where you write.  This visual cue will help keep you on track, serving as a “North Star” toward which you write every time you open your laptop.

Writing a college application essay can be challenging: it’s a type of writing that most students have never done before.  With planning and the right guidance, however, this process becomes a joyful journey. Teens on the verge of adulthood can use the experience to make sense of their adolescence – and to look forward to the exciting college years that lie ahead!”

To read more tips on writing a college essay, visit Dr. P’s website. 

About the Author

Since 2014, Dr. P. has helped hundreds of students brainstorm, draft, and polish their college essays.  Her caring yet probing questions ensure that students craft personal statements that help them grow and learn, while appealing to admissions committees at the same time.  Dr. P.’s students have been admitted to Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and dozens of other highly selective colleges and universities.  In addition, Dr. P. assists families to build lists of colleges to apply to that are, in the words of one student’s dad, both sensible and “inspiring.”  
 

Header Image by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

Inside Image by Alex Conradt on Unsplash

Dear Queens Public Library Community,

During a visit to one of our libraries several years ago, I watched an eight-year-old boy, accompanied by his older sister, set down a stack of books on the circulation desk and hand his library card to a librarian to check them out. He looked as if he could not wait to go home, devour every one of them, and return for more.

I then overheard the conversation between him and the librarian, who was explaining the reason he could not borrow the books. He had accrued too many late fines on his account and could no longer use his card. As I walked away from them, I knew the librarian would find a way to help this child, but his disappointment was still heartbreaking.

So many stories like this one have played out in our libraries countless times over the years. I had always believed that the practice of placing fines on overdue books taught responsibility, accountability, and respect for others. On that day, I realized these fines instead tell certain people they do not belong. Late fines generate fear and anxiety among those who can least afford to pay, preventing them from opening library accounts, checking out books, or even coming through our doors. This is not only unacceptable, but totally inconsistent with our mission.

I could not be more delighted to share with you that today, after careful planning and consideration, Queens Public Library will permanently stop charging late fines and will clear all existing late fines on customers’ accounts. While you will still owe the replacement fees for lost or damaged items, those fees will be erased as soon as the items are returned.

Today is an outstanding day for New York City. I am grateful to our Board of Trustees for their leadership and vision, to our staff for their work in ushering through this landmark initiative, and to our partners at the Brooklyn and New York Public library systems for their collaboration in eliminating late fines as of today as well. I also thank all of you, the people we serve, for sharing in the great promise of public libraries—that anyone, no matter their circumstances, can have free access to sources of learning and ideas that will help them find success and joy in their lives.

For more information and answers to your questions about our new policy, please visit QPL's Say Goodbye to Late Fines webpage. We are thrilled to take this important step in our ongoing work to create a library system that is equitable and open to everyone, and we look forward to welcoming even more New Yorkers to take part in everything the Library has to offer.

Best,

Dennis M. Walcott
President and CEO
Queens Public Library

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 5, 2021

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

One Fine Day: New York City’s Three Public Library Systems Eliminate Late Fines

Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library announced the major policy change; combined, this is the biggest system in the country to eliminate fines

Removing this antiquated barrier to access allows libraries to better fulfill their mission: making knowledge and opportunity free and accessible to all

OCTOBER 5, 2021—New York City’s three public library systems will no longer charge late fines on books and other circulating materials, eliminating a barrier to access and ensuring that all New Yorkers have free and open access to knowledge and opportunity.

Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library (which serves the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island), and Queens Public Library have become the latest and largest public library systems to close the book on late fines, joining other major cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami-Dade, Seattle, and Dallas to go fine-free. Combined, New York City’s systems represent the largest municipality to eliminate fines.

New York City’s three systems have also cleared all prior late fines from patron accounts, allowing New Yorkers to enter a new chapter of recovery and renewal with clean slates.

In an effort to welcome patrons back or to libraries for the first time, the three systems are holding a week of giveaways and special programs at all branch locations beginning on Monday, October 18. During that week, New Yorkers are encouraged to stop by, reconnect with their local libraries, check out materials, and return anything they may have at home—fine free. For more information on the week, visit the individual system websites.

The goals of this major policy shift (fines have been in place since the three systems were created at the turn of the 20th century) include encouraging increased usage of the library systems, as well as creating a more equitable system that does not disproportionately impact high-need communities. Under the previous model with late fines, patrons would have their cards blocked if they accrued more than $15 in fines. At the time of the announcement, about 400,000 New Yorkers would fit into this category, more than half in high-need communities.

“This announcement is another major step towards making our public libraries, the heart of so many communities, accessible to all,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Eliminating fines will let us serve even more New Yorkers, allowing them to enjoy all of the resources and programs that public libraries offer to grow and succeed.”

In the NYPL system, branches in high-need communities (median household income below $50,000) account for 6 times the number of blocked patrons as others. The 10 branches with the highest percentage of blocked cards are all in high needs communities, and each have one in five cardholders blocked. In the Queens Public Library system, the communities with the highest number of blocked cards—Corona, Jamaica, Far Rockaway, and Elmhurst—all have median incomes well below the borough average.

Similarly, for Brooklyn Public Library, the branches with the highest percentage of blocked cards are in neighborhoods where more than 20% of households live below the poverty level and most have an average median household income under $50K.

This trend is more pronounced for patrons 17 years old and under: about 30% of blocked accounts would belong to children and teens; in Queens, 65% of blocked accounts would belong to this group. In 2017, when a full citywide assessment was done of blocked cards, 80% of blocked youth cards were located in low-income communities.

"Public libraries strive to be the most democratic institutions in our society, providing all people access to the resources they need to enrich their minds and improve their lives,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library. “Eliminating late fines means providing truly equitable access to everything the Library has to offer.”

“During the pandemic, it was clearer than ever that we live in a Tale of Two Cities, with our most vulnerable citizens too often left behind,” said New York Public Library President Anthony W. Marx. “We must work to ensure that we are adhering to our mission of making knowledge and opportunity available to all, and that means addressing late fines. They are an antiquated, ineffective way to encourage patrons to return their books; for those who can afford the fines, they are barely an incentive. For those who can’t afford the fines— disproportionately low-income New Yorkers—they become a real barrier to access that we can no longer accept. This is a step towards a more equitable society, with more New Yorkers reading and using libraries, and we are proud to make it happen.”

“For far too long, late fines have generated fear and anxiety among those who can least afford to pay, preventing them from opening library accounts, checking out books, or even coming through our doors. I vividly remember as a child having late fines on my card and hesitating about going to the library when I needed it,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “Until today, countless New Yorkers have been denied the opportunity to share in the great promise of public libraries – that anyone, no matter their circumstances, can have free access to sources of learning and ideas that will help them find success and joy in their lives. Late fines tell people they do not belong, and that shutting them out is simply the cost of doing business. This is not only unacceptable, but also totally inconsistent with our mission. It is time that we finally lift a significant barrier for hundreds of thousands of people to information and knowledge that are rightfully theirs.”
 
While the details are slightly different per system (and specifics can be found at bklynlibrary.org, nypl.org, and queenslibrary.org), generally, under the new fine-free policies:

• New Yorkers of all ages will no longer need to pay any late fines on overdue materials
• In the past, library cards were blocked if they accrued $15 or more in fines; that will no longer be the case
• New Yorkers will still need to pay replacement fees if they lose material. Materials are considered lost after being overdue for about one month. If materials are returned, however, no fees will apply
• Cards will be blocked from borrowing additional physical materials if patrons accrue replacement fees (thresholds differ per system); note that even with a block on their cards, patrons can still access computers, e-books, and other digital services.

New York City’s three library systems have been closely evaluating fines for over a decade, testing various models and programs to determine the best path forward. Since 2010, they have conducted several “Read Down Your Fines” programs and two amnesties for kids and teens, the most recent of which was held in 2017. One year after that latest amnesty program, there was an over 60% increase in the percentage of previously blocked children and teens who then checked out materials from their public libraries; this effect was most pronounced in the lowest income neighborhoods.

Additionally, as a case study, children and teens with fine-free MyLibraryNYC cards (special cards issued to participating New York City Department of Education schools) check out 30% more items on average than their non MyLibraryNYC counterparts but only have marginally higher loss rates (less than 2 percent difference).

The Urban Libraries Council estimates that over 270 libraries in North America have gone at least partially fine-free; while it is still too early to share results in many instances (due to the disruption of the pandemic), the response has been overwhelmingly positive, and early indicators are good: for example, the San Francisco Public Library reported a 53% increase in the number of items with fines that were returned post-fine elimination (September-November 2019) compared to the year before. Chicago Public Library reported that in the year following their fine-free announcement in 2019, 11,000 users who had at least $10 in outstanding fines renewed or replaced their library cards, returning to the system, and that about 1,650 long-overdue books were returned in each of the five months after fines were eliminated: an 83% increase in returns.  

And the San Diego Public Library system, which went fine-free in 2018, reported an 8% increase in library card sign-ups, a 4% increase in circulation, and no increase in lost items (the number remained at about 2%). Director Misty Jones noted that many children and teens got their first library cards without the fear of fines, and many formerly blocked patrons came back. “It was the best thing we could have possibly done,” she said.

“It is clear from all of our work and the work of our peers that fines are not an effective incentive for people to return their materials, but they do act as a true barrier to access, scaring families who simply cannot afford the fines away from public libraries altogether,” said Marx. “Some might say fines teach accountability and ethics. I disagree. We can teach New Yorkers to be responsible and return their items so others can use them without attaching a financial burden that excludes those most in need. That $5 is not stopping someone who can afford it from keeping that book out a few extra weeks, but it is stopping families from accessing the world of opportunity that we offer. If we’re talking ethics, it is clear to me that the real ethical conundrum lies with pricing our most vulnerable citizens out of using a free, public library system. No one can learn responsibility at the Library if they can’t use the Library.”

The library systems collected about $3.2 million in late fines revenue in Fiscal Year 2019, the last non-pandemic year. Since March 2020, the systems have suspended fines to accommodate patrons during the COVID-19 pandemic. As they have not collected late fines in over a year, they have found ways to absorb the lost revenue from fines.

“Considering the size of the three systems, it has taken time, thoughtful discussion, and careful analysis to take this important step towards a more equitable library system,” said Marx. “The time is now. We hope to see all New Yorkers at one of our branches soon.”

"Libraries are for everyone yet monetary fines create barriers to accessing library services for those who need it most. I want to thank our three Public Library Systems for taking this important step to advance social equity and bring more New Yorkers back to our great libraries," said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

“Eliminating late fines is a powerful step toward ensuring our unparalleled public library systems live up to their founding missions. No New Yorker should be denied the opportunity to access the library’s vast treasures because they’ve accrued late fees — especially when we know that these fees fall hardest on younger people and underserved communities, for whom public libraries are a lifeline. I thank the leadership of Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, and New York Public Library for this groundbreaking announcement, and ensuring all New Yorkers can enjoy our public libraries,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

"Libraries play a key role in communities as meeting places, education centers and public spaces at no cost to our residents," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. "Libraries are especially critical for our youth, to nurture their love of reading and create lifelong fans of literature. The news that New York City’s three public library systems will eliminate late fines is a great step towards making sure we continue to keep libraries affordable to everyone."|

"I commend the New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Public Library, and the Queens Public Library on eliminating their late fines," said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. "This is a groundbreaking move that will turn the page and improve equity and access to our library system for countless New Yorkers who may have avoided utilizing the library system in the past because of current and prior accounts that accrued late fees."

“Exciting day for Queens and New York City; goodbye late fines! Our libraries historically enriched the minds of the young and young at heart, and eliminating barriers like late fines gives us more opportunities for knowledge and enjoyment. The late fine elimination is the good news we needed during these trying times, and I thank all the library systems for making this happen,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.

“As an avid reader, it is encouraging to know that this effort may stop any hesitation Staten Islanders have to borrow books from our great public library system located across the borough,” said Staten Island Borough President James Oddo. “I want to thank the folks at the NYPL for removing any late fines of existing patrons, as well as prioritizing access to the world of books, especially for our youth. But who is going to break this news to Joe Bookman, Library Cop? (Seinfeld joke for the uninitiated)”

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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.

It’s back-to-school time, but not just for kids. Queens Public Library offers many learning opportunities for adults who want to finish their high school education, learn English, complete basic education, and more.  This fall, we will be offering ESOL from beginning to advanced levels, high school equivalency (HSE) and pre-HSE, HSE beginner and intermediate classes in Spanish, basic literacy skills classes, and a range of elective classes to students who are currently enrolled in classes. Electives include computer literacy class, citizenship study circle, civics/social issues, creative writing, and academic skills prep. This fall, classes will be both in-person and virtual. 

QPL’s Director of Community Learning Fatma Ghailan shared how the program’s team adapted during the pandemic shift to virtual classes. “The transition from in person classes to virtual classes required team work, planning, and flexibility. The Adult Learning team has been very hard working throughout this process...even though our team is dedicated, everyone went above and beyond and demonstrated acts of selflessness. The QPL ALP staff prioritized serving the community while simultaneously supporting their students and fellow colleagues.” 

What’s been most challenging has been “reaching out to every single student and serving everyone as well as facilitating with our community and community partners. In addition, another challenge was making sure that all staff have the technology needed for training and teaching online. The most rewarding part is how much closer the team has become as well as supportive of each other.” 

David Campos, assistant manager with adult learning, teaches English as a second language and adult basic education as well as assisting in administering the state TASC test, formerly known as the GED. He says the challenge for many of holding adult learning classes virtually was to “learn via a new medium under stressful circumstances with the presence of COVID-19.” This fall, he is looking forward to “meeting new students while watching our current students reach their personal goals one step at a time and just being positive members in our communities.” 

Jennifer Jaramillo, an assistant manager for the Adult Learning Center at Jackson Heights, says that students embraced distance learning and looked forward to joining class, “not just for learning but also to connect with others in different ways.” Many of her students were impacted by the pandemic, including those who lost relatives to COVID-19. Jaramillo shared a success story of a student who at first struggled with technology but eventually was able to increase her English language level. “We both laughed in happiness because she had finally made gains in speaking English,” Jaramillo says. 

Mangmang, an adult learning student, found out about the Library’s classes through the Queens Public Library’s website. Mangmang participated in virtual family literacy classes with their child. Mangmang shared that they have experienced “learning how to learn with my children like playing Kahoot together, doing crafts, doing homework, and having fun at the same time.” “I am so grateful to the teachers who are so patient to teach the new knowledge, not only in English but also the new technology,” Mangmang says. 

Yan Su, another adult learning student, learned about the Library’s classes from a friend. Su has participated in beginner, intermediate, and family classes. “We learned a lot of English idioms, American historical figures, and did interesting activities,” Su says. “We are grateful that the library gives us this opportunity to learn English. My English has improved a lot.” Su’s favorite moment from class is answering Kahoot questions. 

If you are interested in joining an adult learning class, complete the inquiry form here. Click the Learn More button under the Adult Education section. 
A staff member will reach out to you. 
Please email alpref@queenslibrary.org with any questions about courses and registration. 

Sign up your child for our STACKS enrichment program for grades K-5! STACKS is a virtual afternoon experience that involves fun and educational opportunities such as science workshops, sing-alongs, writing challenges, and art projects. This safe and welcoming environment helps school-age children build their social, emotional, and academic skills. 
 

Join today so your child can participate on a regular basis in as many activities as they would like! STACKS begins on Monday, October 4. 

Register here.

Amanda Aponte, QPL’s coordinator of out of school services, says students can look forward to new staff members joining the STACKS team as well as “launching some exciting new partnerships this year with outside vendors.”    

She describes STACKS as “an opportunity for students to participate safely in engaging programs and projects from anywhere! We provide daily programs, special club opportunities, and opportunities for interaction with caring staff and other students during program time.”