Queens Public Library Opens New Teen Center at Long Island City Library and Reopens Three Renovated Teen Centers at Cambria Heights, Central and Flushing Libraries
Each Site, Funded Through a Substantial Investment from Mayor Eric Adams, Features New Computers, Gaming Systems, AV Equipment and More
Dedicated Staff Are Available To Guide Teens and Provide Tech-Focused Instruction
Queens, NY_ Queens Public Library this week will open four state-of-the-art, tech-focused spaces dedicated exclusively to teens and supporting their unique needs, thanks to a $20 million investment from Mayor Adams and private foundations for teen center upgrades at public libraries across the city. This funding is part of his administration’s citywide strategy to help young people recover from the educational and emotional setbacks they experienced during an extended period of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Publicly accessible youth services to inspire, educate, and upskill are critical to the development of not only our teenagers but New York City as a whole,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “I am thrilled to see this $20 million public-private partnership and City investment come to fruition with more teen spaces and programming across the vibrant communities in the World’s Borough thanks to the Queens Public Library.”
These inviting, safe spaces – modeled on QPL’s Far Rockaway Teen Library, which was refurbished in 2022 with funding from Google – will start welcoming teens this week with open house events from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12 at Central Library (89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica) on Wednesday, September 13, at Cambria Heights Library (218-13 Linden Boulevard) on Thursday, September 14, at Long Island City (37-44 21st Street) and on Friday, September 15 at Flushing Library (41-17 Main Street). There will be food, music, demonstrations and gift card raffles at each open house.
Last October, Mayor Adams announced a public-private partnership with Google, the Joly Family Foundation and Best Buy to award approximately $20 million, including $15 million from the City, towards opening teen spaces at New York City’s public libraries. All three library systems – Queens Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and the New York Public Library - developed new or updated existing teen centers in underserved communities throughout the five boroughs, providing programming and enhanced learning opportunities to support skills and career development, allowing young people to connect with friends and neighbors and helping them find a path for success.
“Teens need dedicated spaces where they can connect with peers, lean on caring adults, learn new skills, experience state-of-the-art technology, and develop their interests,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “We are so pleased to offer our young people new, welcoming, safe places they can call their own, and we are grateful to Mayor Adams, his administration and Google.org for funding our teen centers and for being tremendous supporters of public libraries.”
Each QPL site will feature a new tech lab, providing teens with access to a variety of equipment and software such as iPads, laptops, 3-D printers, Adobe Creative Cloud, and gaming systems. The labs will offer instruction on coding languages, the ins and outs of 3-D printing, podcasting, audio and visual recording, editing, beat-making, and robotics.
Tech mentors will be available to provide one-on-one guidance to teens, connecting their passions, interests and skills to career opportunities, preparing them for the 21st century job market. And dedicated staff will guide teens as they navigate the everyday challenges of adolescence and offer programs around peer-to-peer learning, mental health, college access, career exploration, community engagement, and social justice.
The mayoral funding will also enable Queens Public Library to expand the following critical initiatives:
Youth Justice Court: Through Queens Public Library’s partnership with Queens Defenders, middle and high school students will learn about neighborhood issues and all sides of the criminal justice system at weekly workshops held at the five teen centers. They will train to become peer judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and jury members, and participate in a mock trial.
College Access: At Queens Public Library’s five teen centers and throughout the borough, the library will offer counseling and resources to help teens and their caregivers navigate the college application process and identify a post-secondary path.
Young Adult Literacy Services: Trained staff at Central Library and the Far Rockaway Teen Library will prepare young adults, ages 16-24, to earn a high school equivalency diploma. They also will provide digital literacy support, workforce readiness and resume workshops, multicultural seminars, computer-assisted instruction, internships, and case management services.
Civic Engagement: Through hands-on volunteer opportunities, teens will gain an understanding of the impact of community service that will contribute to a lifelong commitment towards helping others.
The hours of the upgraded teen centers are as follows:
Central Library Teen Center and Flushing Library Teen Center: Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Far Rockaway Teen Library: Monday – Friday, 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Cambria Heights Teen Center: Monday – Friday, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Long Island City Teen Center: Monday – Friday, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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Contact:
Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, ekern@queenslibrary.org, 917-702-0016