By Michael V. Cusenza
The Queens Public Library on Monday lauded the expansion of Sunday service to four borough branches—but all of the South Queens locations will still operate six days per week.
The four branches that will soon operate every day are: Glen Oaks, Hunters Point, Jackson Heights, and Rochdale Village. The new Sunday hours will begin on Sept. 7. However, the Howard Beach, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Woodhaven, and two Richmond Hill branches will remain open six days per week. A total of eight borough branches offer seven-day service.
Founded in 1896, QPL is one of the largest and busiest public library systems in the United States.
“We are thrilled to offer full weekend access to our spaces, programs, and resources for more people in more places across Queens,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis Walcott. “We are incredibly grateful to our city leaders who made this investment — Mayor Eric Adams, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who led the effort to secure funding for expanded seven-day service, Council Finance Chair Justin Brannan, Council Libraries Committee Chair Carlina Rivera, and the entire City Council — for reinforcing the importance of our great institutions and for working with us to meet the challenges of our times.”
Eleven additional library branches across New York City will soon offer service on Sundays, thanks to new operational funding included in the City’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The expansion, which was championed by Speaker Adams and the New York City Council, is made possible by a $2 million investment specifically dedicated to growing weekend access to library service.
This funding is in addition to a broader $15 million increase in operating support for New York City’s three library systems—Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library—as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget negotiated by Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council.
Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said, “I proposed expanding seven-day library service across the city in my 2025 State of the City address, because libraries are among our most precious public resources, serving New Yorkers of all ages in every neighborhood. I’m proud that we have secured an additional $2 million in the city budget to deliver for more neighborhoods and ensure even more residents have access to economic and educational opportunities. The council will continue to prioritize support for our neighborhood libraries and the vital programs they provide for New Yorkers in our communities.”
“Our city’s public libraries aren’t just about books anymore,” said Chair of the Committee on Finance, Councilman Justin Brannan, chairman of the Committee on Finance. “They are tabernacles of freedom and democracy. They serve as a lighthouse for kids, parents, new immigrants, and seniors. An egalitarian city cannot exist without these sacred spaces that serve New Yorkers of all ages, all backgrounds, at every income level, with literacy programs, language and technology classes, homework help, career help, adult education, reading programs for kids, workforce development services, and more. Seven-day library service has always been a priority of this council and we are so thrilled to expand seven-day service to 11 additional neighborhood library branches across the city.”
