FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
CONTACT:
Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, Queens Public Library, ekern@queenslibrary.org, 917-702-0016
Queens Public Library, Elected Officials and Community Leaders Mark the Start of a Project to Renovate and Modernize Bay Terrace Branch
$5.7 Million Overhaul Will Add A New Multipurpose Room And A Designated Teen Area
(Bayside, NY – December 14, 2021)
Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott today held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of a $5.7 million project to renovate and modernize Bay Terrace Library. He was joined by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, State Senator John Liu, Assemblyman Edward Braunstein, Council Member Paul Vallone, community leaders and library staff.
The two-year project, expected to begin as early as March 2022, includes the expansion of the main entrance at 18-36 Bell Blvd. and improvements to the exterior garden area. In addition, the project calls for a full interior renovation, featuring updated furniture and technology to facilitate interactive learning. The building will also house a new designated teen area and a new state-of-the-art multipurpose community room with audiovisual equipment and access from the 23rd Avenue side entrance with a new ADA compliant ramp. A new HVAC system and energy-efficient roof will be also installed.
“With these renovations, the Bay Terrace branch will be more welcoming, inspiring and technologically efficient, and will reinforce its role as the center of community life,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “I want to thank Council Member Paul Vallone for his advocacy and financial support for libraries in his district and beyond, and Mayor Bill de Blasio, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and State Senator John Liu for securing the funds to modernize the Bay Terrace branch, helping ensure Queens Public Library can continue to provide free access to information, knowledge and opportunity for all.”
“The Bay Terrace community will finally have the first-class library they deserve, meeting and exceeding the educational, cultural, and occupational needs for decades to come,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “I am proud to have allocated capital funding for these critically necessary renovations and look forward to celebrating the completion of this work. Many thanks to Dennis Walcott and his great team at Queens Public Library for their work to enhance this branch’s service and programming they will provide to Bay Terrace residents.”
“Our libraries are essential to the lifeblood of a healthy community. This is where our children can go to discover Where the Wild Things Are, or find inspiration in the Little Engine that Could. The modernization of the Bay Terrace Library will provide even more opportunities for learners both young and old with new technology, reimagined spaces, and upgraded infrastructure,” said State Senator John Liu. “My office proudly contributed funding for this exciting project to ensure Bay Terrace will have a first-class library for generations to come. Looking forward to the grand opening!”
“Our Queens Public Libraries are treasured community centers, and the state-of-the-art improvements at the Bay Terrace Library will be enjoyed by local families for generations to come,” said Assemblyman Edward Braunstein. “I thank Queens Borough President Richards, Senator Liu and Councilman Vallone for helping to make this project a reality for the Bay Terrace community.”
“Bay Terrace deserves a state of the art library for all who use its services. A full modern renovation with upgraded technology and space for local teenagers will allow more residents to experience the wonderful programs the Queens Public Library has to offer,” said Council Member Paul Vallone. “I am glad to have funded this in partnership with so many of my colleagues in government who all realize the importance of libraries to our communities.”
The one story 7,500-square-foot structure was completed in 1981. Prior to the start of the pandemic, Bay Terrace Library served nearly 75,000 customers and circulated approximately 90,000 items a year. The branch reopened on July 12, 2021, after QPL temporarily closed the Library’s physical locations in March 2020 to help combat the spread of COVID-19. More than 15,000 customers have visited the branch since it reopened, borrowing more than 16,000 items.
Funding for this project was provided by Mayor Bill de Blasio, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, State Senator John Liu and Council Member Paul Vallone.
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About Queens Public Library
Queens Public Library is one of the largest and busiest public library systems in the United States, dedicated to serving the most ethnically and culturally diverse area in the country. An independent, non-profit organization founded 125 years ago, QPL offers free access to a collection of more than 5 million books and other materials in multiple languages, technology and digital resources, and more than 80,000 educational, cultural, and civic programs annually. QPL consists of 66 locations across the borough, including branch libraries, a Central Library, seven adult learning centers, a technology center, and two teen centers, and attracted more than 11 million visitors in 2019.