Dear Friends,

As many of you are aware, today marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. In the span of a few hours, the horrific plane crashes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, PA changed our lives forever, none more so than the people who were directly affected. They will always be in my thoughts.

Many of the victims of 9/11 and their loved ones as well as the first responders and other heroes lived or still live in the borough of Queens. Some continue to suffer, either physically, emotionally, or both. Please know that Queens Public Library shares their grief and is here for them.

To observe and honor the anniversary, today on our social media channels and the homepage of our website, we will have a day of silence.

I hope you will join the Library in reflecting on all that we lost on September 11, 2001, and on what we have learned and how we have changed since then. Now, as our society confronts the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, I know we can draw from the determination and spirit we summoned 20 years ago to recover and rebuild once again.

Please stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

With my best,

Dennis M. Walcott
President and CEO, Queens Public Library