PHOTO: According to Borough President Katz’s office, $400,000 of the $13 million has been earmarked for the initial outfitting of the North Forest Park branch. Courtesy of Queens Library
By Forum Staff
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz last week announced a $13 million allocation of her Fiscal Year 2017 discretionary capital funds to pay for expansions, renovations, and enhancements at several borough Library branches.
The funds are based on needs assessments and requests made by the Library, Katz said. The allocation includes:
- $3.5 million for an exterior expansion and $92,000 for security cameras at Queens Library at Baisley Park (this comes on top of a $3.5 million allocation in FY 2016 for interior renovations);
- $3 million for the expansion of Queens Library at East Elmhurst;
- $3 million for an interior expansion of Queens Library at South Hollis;
- $1.4 million for interior renovations at Queens Library of Bay Terrace (this comes on top of a $96,000 allocation in FY 2016 for security cameras);
- $600,000 for window and door replacements at Queens Library at Forest Hills;
- $500,000 for an HVAC upgrade at Queens Library of Pomonok;
- $400,000 for the initial outfitting at Queens Library of North Forest Park;
- $385,000 to install an exterior self check-in system at Queens Library of Queens Village;
- $97,000 for a security system upgrade at Queens Library of Laurelton.
“Borough President Katz has put time, energy and resources into insuring a strong library system to serve the educational and informational needs of the borough,” said Library President and CEO Dennis Walcott. “This capital funding will help us move key library projects forward, so the community has expanded, updated facilities for reading and learning. Queens Library joins the community in thanking the Borough President for her support.”
In FY2016, Katz allocated $14 million for Library capital improvements, including security cameras at the South Ozone Park and Woodhaven branches, and a roof replacement at the Ozone Park library.
“Queens Library’s locations serve as centers of lifelong learning and enrichment,” Katz said. “These are substantial investments for not only renovations, expansions and enhancements, but also for the families of Queens. These funds are designed to help Queens Library continue to be a first-class library system of learning, literacy and culture.”
