PHOTO: City Councilman Ruben Wills last Saturday celebrated the expansion of six-day library service at the South Ozone Park branch. Photo Courtesy of NYC Council
The Queens delegation of the City Council last Saturday fanned out across the borough to join constituents in celebrating the complete expansion of six –day Library service at every branch.
The expansion in service hours, according to a Queens Library spokesperson, was made possible by a $43 million citywide increase in operating funds for Fiscal Year 2016 that allowed the Library to hire more staff, open its doors on Saturdays, and support more programs, services and purchase more materials.
“Queens Library welcomes the community six days a week in every neighborhood. Your library has so much to offer – free books and videos, story times for children, chances to use the computers or borrow technology to take home, homework help, workshops to help adults learn English or work toward a high school diploma, author talks, live music and dance performances,” said Bridget Quinn-Carey, interim president and CEO, Queens Library. “It’s a great resource, six days a week.”
In addition to the kick-off Saturday, the Library will be scheduling additional programs throughout the year, including the new weekend hours, the spokesperson said. Branches will feature early childhood programs, more opportunities and more places for adults to work toward high school equivalency diplomas, English classes for speakers of other languages as well as cultural programs, author talks, and live performances.
City Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) marked the expansion in South Ozone Park.
“Our city’s public libraries serve different needs for each of our citizens,” Wills said. “Most use them as aides to help them fulfill their educational and research purposes; and others as a portal to a world of imagination. Some depend on our libraries for internet access to seek employment or apply for benefits. Immigrants use them to enhance their literacy and language skills, and seniors use them to stay engaged in a rapidly evolving age of digital technology. The Council consciously worked this year to provide the funding necessary for our libraries to preserve and expand these vital services, and today’s announcement is a direct result of that effort. I have always been a proud supporter of the Queens Library, and am gratified that the branches in my district will now be available to my constituents six days a week.”
Wills also pointed out that of the $43 million included in the FY2016 Adopted Budget for the city’s three public libraries, $12 million was apportioned to Queens system.
By Michael V. Cusenza michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
