Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council Member Linda Lee Announce Over $9 Million in Funding for the Renovation of the Queens Village Public Library
Queens Village, NY_On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council Member Linda Lee announced that Queens Village Public Library, located at 94-11 217th Street, will receive $9,587,000 million for capital renovations in the Fiscal Year 2023 NYC Budget. In attendance were Assembly Member Clyde Vanel, Assembly Member David Weprin, Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott, and various community leaders and residents.
“I am proud to join Speaker Adrienne Adams to allocate these funds to give the Queens Village Public Library a much-needed overhaul and provide the community a modern and accessible facility,” said Council Member Linda Lee, Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addictions. “Libraries are more than just a place to read your favorite book; they serve as community centers for residents to socialize and engage with one another and access the internet and essential services. Residents deserve to feel a sense of pride in their neighborhood, and this investment will make an impact on young people and seniors throughout Queens Village. I thank Speaker Adrienne Adams for her leadership and for supporting this initiative that will benefit the residents of Eastern and Southeastern Queens.”
"Libraries are vital community centers and hubs of opportunity that serve all New Yorkers, regardless of age or background,” said City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “Working together with Council Member Lee and the Women’s Caucus, the City Council has invested more than $9 million in the city budget to renovate the Queens Village Library. This funding allocation will have an immense impact on this neighborhood and all users of this library branch. I commend Council Member Lee for her advocacy and leadership on behalf of District 23, and I look forward to seeing the completion of this critical project.”
"This allocation will ensure the transformation of the Queens Village branch into a modern, vibrant and accessible space that meets the changing needs of the community," said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. "We are grateful to NYC City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Council Member Linda Lee, the New York City Council Women’s Caucus, and its co-chairs, Council Members Amanda Farías and Farah Louis, for their financial support as we work to provide educational resources and opportunity to all."
NYS Senator Leroy Comrie said, “From family storytime and game days, to painting, summer readings, and access to tablets, WiFi, and hotspots, our public libraries play a critical role as educators and community builders. That’s why I’m so pleased to join in celebrating this $9 million investment in the Queens Village Public Library. Thanks to Speaker Adams, Council Member Lee, and the Women’s Caucus for their continued leadership in ensuring our community institutions have the funding they need.”
"We are excited about the investment in our library. With the improvements, the library will continue its vital service to the entire Queens Village community," said Assembly Member Clyde Vanel.
"I applaud this crucial funding allocation for the Queens Village Public Library, which will provide much-needed improvements to the building,” said Assemblyman David Weprin. “Our public libraries have been fantastic partners and are important places to promote lifelong learning and provide community services. I’m so pleased that this historic investment will yield an improved, accessible building for current and future generations to enjoy."
"I am glad to share the neighborhood of Queens Village with Council Member Lee,” said Council Member Nantasha Williams. “Although the public library is geographically in her district, many of my constituents frequent the location because of its proximity to my district. The library is going to greatly benefit from this investment. I am excited to see the upcoming renovations and to have a state-of-the-art facility that Queens Village residents can enjoy. I want to thank Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council Member Linda Lee for securing the funding for this project."
“This is a very happy day for me and the residents of Queens Village,” said Mo Ishamel, President of the Queens Village Civic Association. “Firstly, I want to thank our Council Member Linda Lee and Speaker Adrienne Adams for spearheading the approval of this budget item! Our new CM Lee and our new Speaker Adams, you guys have really hit the ground running! Renovating and upgrading the Queens Village Library is long overdue. The residents and especially the children will really appreciate an upgraded facility.”
The Queens Village branch of Queens Public Library was built in 1952 and has not received major renovation since its construction. The funds, totaling $9,587,000, will provide for a full renovation of the library, including interior and exterior improvements, as well as HVAC installation, and roof repairs.
Additional pictures available below:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VvJLdq_LbXh8S1hvi2xX9zSh5lzNbZNX?usp=sharing
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Contact: Walter Chi, WChi@council.nyc.gov, 646-901-7409 (Speaker Adams)
Daniel Sparrow, DSparrow@council.nyc.gov (Council Member Lee)
New York City is officially going through a heat wave, and Queens Public Library is here to help!
If you don’t have air conditioning in your home or your apartment, or if you are at risk for heat-related illness, please visit your local library.
Public libraries in New York City serve as official “cooling centers” during a heat emergency. Cooling centers are places where you can enjoy air-conditioned comfort. They are free and open to the public, even if you are not using their services.
NYC Emergency Management will let the public know when a heat emergency happens, such as an unusually hot day, or several hot days in a row.
If you need a cool place to visit during the next few days, stop by your local QPL branch for great books, programs, and events—and stay for the air conditioning!
All Queens Public Library locations except Cambria Heights, Langston Hughes, and Rochdale Village will operate as NYC Cooling Centers during this heat emergency. Visit https://www.queenslibrary.org/about-us/locations for our hours of operation.
To check for any changes in the status of the air conditioning at your local library, please contact them directly.
If you need to find another Cooling Center closer to you, please call 311 or visit http://www.nyc.gov/beattheheat.
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QPL Teams Up This Summer With the American Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and the Museum of the City of New York To Offer Learning Clubs for Kids on Summer Break
Limited Spots Remain Open
Queens, NY_Spaces are still available in Queens Public Library’s new summer learning clubs, developed in collaboration with three leading New York City cultural institutions: the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, and the American Museum of Natural History. The clubs aim to help inspire budding ocean and urban explorers, while keeping school-age children engaged during summer break.
Parents and caregivers have until Monday, July 4, to sign up their children for one of the clubs, called “STACKS Summer Reading Clubs.” The clubs evolved from the Library’s popular STACKS enrichment program, offering children both homework assistance and programming to enhance their learning experiences during the school year.
The clubs will convene throughout July and in early August and kids can attend remotely or at four QPL locations: Briarwood, Laurelton, South Jamaica, and Jackson Heights. These locations also provide free lunch for children and teens as part of the New York City Department of Education Summer Meals Program. Children are invited to eat a free meal between 1-2PM, before the club “meeting” starts.
Open to students in grades K through six, the clubs will offer structured activities, designed to stimulate creative thinking, develop educational skills and help children learn and explore their interests.
The subjects that will be covered in the clubs align with this year’s Summer Reading theme – Oceans of Possibilities.
Students in the “Ocean Exploration and Beyond” club will learn about the world beneath the oceans from a representative of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Recommended for grades 3 and up, the club will meet on Tuesdays, July 5, 12, 19, 26, between 2-3PM.
Children participating in the “Art and Creativity in NYC” club will travel virtually throughout New York City with the Museum of the City of New York, exploring art, transportation, and more - both past and present. The club is recommended for grades K through six and will meet on Wednesdays, July 6, 13, 20, 27, August 3, between 1-2PM.
Aspiring marine biologists who join the “Ocean Explorer’s Club with the American Museum of Natural History” will learn about different underwater habitats like coral reefs, and how to use recycled materials to recreate them. Recommended for grades K through six, the club will meet on Thursdays, July 14, 21, 28, between 2-3PM.
“We are thrilled to partner this summer with the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, and the American Museum of Natural History – three leading New York City institutions dedicated to making scientific and historic knowledge accessible,” said QPL Director of Programming Franny Kent. “Through our collaboration, STACKS students will have unique opportunities to engage in fun and inspiring activities designed by reputable researchers, developing their interests and learning even when school is out.”
To register, parents and caregivers should fill out release forms (you can find them here: The Ocean Exploration and Beyond Club, The Art and Creativity in NYC Club, and Ocean’s Explorer’s Club), and email the signed forms to stacks@queenslibrary.org by Monday, July 4, to receive a confirmation email with more information, including a link to sign on to each virtual club.
In addition to the clubs, QPL also offers numerous activities, storytimes in multiple languages as well as arts and crafts for children throughout the summer months. For more information go here.
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 126 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: Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, ekern@queenslibrary.org
Tuesday, June 28, 2022 is Primary Election Day, and several of our branches will serve as polling sites.
Queens residents will cast their votes at the Briarwood, Central, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens Hills, Lefferts, North Forest Park, Peninsula, Richmond Hill, Seaside, and St. Albans branches, from 6AM to 9PM.
Is your library where you should vote? Please visit https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc or call 866-VOTE-NYC (866-868-3692) to confirm the correct location for you to vote in your neighborhood!
(Left to right) QPL President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott, Jelani Cobb, Gary Shteyngart, and R.J. Palacio
Queens Public Library Honors Jelani Cobb, Min Jin Lee, R.J. Palacio and Gary Shteyngart at Its Annual Fundraising Gala, Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Benefit Was Held in Person for the First Time Since 2018
QUEENS, N.Y. _ Queens Public Library celebrated four renowned Queens-raised writers – the journalist and historian Jelani Cobb and the novelists Min Jin Lee, R.J. Palacio and Gary Shteyngart – at its annual gala on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at The Foundry in Long Island City.
“The four distinguished authors we are honoring embody the dreams and the drive of the people of Queens,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “Their experiences growing up in our diverse borough and using Queens Public Library mirror those of so many people who come through our doors each year, and they exemplify our mission to transform lives and build strong communities. It is as thrilling to us as it is inspiring that they may have discovered their love of new ideas, reading and words at our branches.”
Jelani Cobb grew up in Hollis, R.J. Palacio spent her childhood in Flushing, Min Jin Lee moved from South Korea to Elmhurst and Gary Shteyngart from the Soviet Union to Kew Gardens Hills, both when they were 7 years old. They all frequented their local library branches, developing their passion for reading and writing.
During the gala, each honoree received a Queens Public Library Award, established this year to recognize individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the arts and letters.
“As a kid who grew up doing homework in the Queens Public Libraries, I’m deeply humbled and honored by this recognition. Our libraries are our most invaluable resource,” Jelani Cobb said.
“I’m humbled to be included with this distinguished group of honorees,” said Min Jin Lee, who unfortunately was not able to attend the gala after testing positive for COVID-19. “That said, I am very proud to be a product of the Queens Public Library System.”
As New York reemerges from the pandemic, Queens Public Library continues to serve the public not only through books, arts and culture, job and career support, and educational programs, but it is also integral to the overall health of our borough by providing cooling centers in the summer, COVID-19 testing sites, vaccination sites and distributing at-home COVID-19 tests.
For 126 years, Queens Public Library has been dedicated to building resilience and unity in Queens, knowing that the borough’s communities are counting on library services now and for the years to come.
The 2022 Gala will be recorded and available for viewing virtually on the QPL website on July 11, 2022.
Proceeds from the event will go towards funding the Library’s free public services, including materials, programs, classes, computers, tech equipment and more, at 66 locations across Queens.
For more information about the event, go here.
Min Jin Lee was not able to attend the gala after testing positive for COVID-19.
This year’s honorees:
JELANI COBB
Jelani Cobb is the incoming dean of Columbia Journalism School. He is currently the Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism and Director of the Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights. Cobb is also a staff writer at The New Yorker and, in 2018, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in commentary. He has written or edited six books, including “The Matter of Black Lives: Writing from the New Yorker.” His 2020 film, “Whose Vote Counts?,” received the Peabody Award for News Documentary.
MIN JIN LEE
Min Jin Lee is the author of the novels Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko, which was named a finalist for the National Book Award and a runner-up for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Her writing has been featured in The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, One Story, The New York Times Book Review, and The Wall Street Journal. She is the recipient of fellowships in Fiction from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study at Harvard, and the New York Foundation for the Arts. In 2019, she was inducted into the New York Foundation for the Arts Hall of Fame. She is a Writer-in-Residence at Amherst College and serves as a trustee of PEN America and a director of the Authors Guild. She is at work on her third novel, American Hagwon and a nonfiction work, Name Recognition.
R. J. PALACIO
R. J. Palacio is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Wonder, which has sold over 13 million copies worldwide. The book's message inspired the Choose Kind movement and has been embraced by readers around the world, with the book published in over 50 languages. Wonder was made into a blockbuster movie starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jacob Tremblay. Palacio’s other New York Times bestselling books include Pony, 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Book of Precepts, Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories, the picture book We’re All Wonders, and the graphic novel White Bird, which is currently being filmed as a major motion picture starring Gillian Anderson and Helen Mirren. Palacio lives in Brooklyn with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.
GARY SHTEYNGART
Gary Shteyngart is the New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Little Failure (a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist) and the novels Super Sad True Love Story (winner of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize), Lake Success, Absurdistan, and The Russian Debutante’s Handbook (winner of the Stephen Crane Award for First Fiction and the National Jewish Book Award for Fiction). His books regularly appear on best-of lists around the world and have been published in thirty countries. His latest novel, OUR COUNTRY FRIENDS, was an instant New York Times bestseller and was named one of the best books of the year by the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Time, Kirkus Review, and others. New York Times critic Molly Young called it “the perfect novel for these times and all times, the single textual artifact from the pandemic era I would place in a time capsule as a representation of all that is good and true and beautiful about literature. I hope the extraterrestrials who exhume it will agree.”
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 126 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: Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, ekern@queenslibrary.org
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Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. Check out our reading lists and resources and join us for in-person and virtual programs to learn more about this important day in U.S. history.
Join Queens Public Library at the 2022 "Juneteenth in Queens" Festival at Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans on Sunday, June 19 from 12-7pm; learn more about the festival at https://www.juneteenthinqueens.com.
All Queens Public Library locations will be closed on Sunday, June 19 and Monday, June 20 in observance of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth Booklists
Juneteenth Resources
Learn About Juneteenth (Virtual Brochure from QPL, Langston Hughes Library, and Queens Memory)
Juneteenth - All About the Holidays (PBS Kids Video)
What Is Juneteenth? (HISTORY)
Juneteenth: The History of a New Holiday (The New York Times)
The History Of Juneteenth (NPR Fresh Air)
Special Series: Juneteenth (NPR)
DIY Confetti Poppers for Juneteenth (Crafting a Fun Life)
4 Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth with Your Kids 2022 (Indy's Child Magazine)
Great Ideas for Celebrating Juneteenth (HGTV)
Here are 50 Quotes to Better Understand Juneteenth (Parade Magazine)
How to Celebrate Juneteenth as a Family (Verywell Family)
How to Celebrate Juneteenth This Year (PureWow)
Juneteenth Printables (Primary Treasure Chest Resources)
25 Ideas to Help You Celebrate Juneteenth (The Cubicle Chick by Danyelle Little)
Ways Your Family Can Celebrate and Find Joy Together on Juneteenth (PopSugar Family)
Upcoming QPL Programs
click on the links below for more information
For an up-to-date listing of all our Juneteenth events, visit the QPL Calendar!
Juneteenth Family Storytime & Craft Activity
Monday, June 13, 10:30am, Glen Oaks
Wednesday, June 15, 3:30pm, Baisley Park
Thursday, June 16, 4pm, South Jamaica
Saturday, June 18, 2:30pm, East Elmhurst
Juneteenth: Write Your Own Story
Monday, June 13, 2pm, North Forest Park
Wednesday, June 15, 2:30pm, Cambria Heights
Queens Rising: Juneteenth Forum: History, Traditions, and A Case for Reparations
Monday, June 13, 8pm, Virtual
Juneteenth Drum Circle and Craft
Tuesday, June 14, 4pm, Woodhaven
Queens Rising: Black Dolls, A Virtual Presentation with the New York Historical Society
Tuesday, June 14, 6pm, Virtual
Juneteenth Painting Activity
Monday, June 13, 3pm, North Hills
Wednesday, June 15, 3pm, Woodside
Wednesday, June 15, 4pm, Far Rockaway Teen Library
Thursday, June 16, 6pm, Douglaston/Little Neck
Friday, June 17, 4pm, Forest Hills
Saturday, June 18, 3:30pm, Rochdale Village
Good For Your Soul Cooking: Juneteenth Meal
Wednesday, June 15, 6pm, Virtual
Juneteenth Teen Movie
Thursday, June 16, 5pm, Queensboro Hill
Family Juneteenth Storytime
Friday, June 17, 3:30pm, Rochdale Village
Juneteenth: Trivia Day
Friday, June 17, 4pm, Far Rockaway Teen Library
Juneteenth Freedom Walk
Friday, June 17, 5pm, Rochdale Village
Juneteenth Storytime
Saturday, June 18, 11am, Richmond Hill
Juneteenth Craft
Saturday, June 18, 11:30am, McGoldrick
Langston Hughes Library Juneteenth Festival
Saturday, June 18, Langston Hughes
Dance Performance and Class by CarNYval Dancers, 1pm
Reelblack Films Presentation and Discussion, 3pm
Painting Activity, 3:30pm
Juneteenth Family Movie
Saturday, June 18, 2pm, Queensboro Hill
Juneteenth: The Legacy of Black Greek Organizations
Sunday, June 19, 6pm, Facebook Live & YouTube Live
Juneteenth Crochet with Ms. Junelle
Thursday, June 23, 4:30pm, East Elmhurst
This June (and beyond), Queens Public Library is taking a stand against censorship and the growing national trend of book bans.
The American Library Association recently announced that it tracked an “unprecedented” number of challenges to library, school, and university materials in 2021. The books being challenged often focus on race, LGBTQ+ issues, religion, and history.
Here’s how QPL is joining the fight against censorship and book banning.
NYC Banned Books Challenge
QPL is partnering with Brooklyn Public Library and the New York Public Library for the NYC Banned Books Challenge!
Our expert librarians have created a list of 10 banned and challenged books that we recommend all New Yorkers borrow and read.
To get New York started, we’re making the digital version of one of the books from the NYC Banned Books Challenge—National Book Award winner Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo—available with no waits through June 30!
Additional physical copies of Last Night at the Telegraph Club will also be available systemwide.
Here are the 10 titles featured in the NYC Banned Books Challenge:
- 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 & 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 & Jillian Tamaki
Pride Month: LGBTQ+ Banned Books
The pressure to ban books featuring LGBTQ+ themes and content has increased nationwide, and QPL is standing by our commitment to promote queer liberation and representation across our borough and beyond.
In addition to the NYC Banned Books Challenge, and in honor of Pride Month, Queens Public Library will make a list of LGBTQ+ challenged and banned books, featuring titles for readers of various ages, “always available” in their digital versions throughout the month of June.
Those books are:
- Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
- Queer: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens by Kathy Belge & Marke Bieschke
- This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
- Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
- I Am Jazz by Jazz Jennings
- Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
- 10 Things I Can See From Here by Carrie Mac
- Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBride
- In the Role of Brie Hutchens... by Nicole Melleby
- The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus
- Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Prager
We hope that you will enjoy the books on both these lists, and remember: one of the best ways to fight book banning is to read banned books! Will you join us?
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