Flushing Library Auditorium Reopens After Five Years
Popular Venue Closed in 2020 Due to the Pandemic, a New Elevator Project, and a Comprehensive Renovation
July 12, 2025—Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott today welcomed Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Assemblymember Ron Kim, representatives from the office of Council Member Sandra Ung, and dozens of community members to Flushing Library to celebrate the reopening of its newly renovated auditorium. It had been closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic and to accommodate major capital upgrades, including the installation of a new elevator and HVAC system.
Improvements to the auditorium, located on the library’s lower level, include upgrades to the stage and lighting systems, reupholstered seating, new carpeting and curtains, fresh interior paint, and new audio-visual equipment.
“The auditorium has made it possible for Flushing Library to welcome thousands of people over the years for multicultural performances, community gatherings, celebrations, and more," said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “We are thrilled to offer this newly renovated, inviting space which will connect people to new experiences and to one another for years to come.”
“Our libraries are some of our most treasured democratic institutions in this borough, where residents of all backgrounds and cultures are welcome,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “With the completion of the Flushing library's renovated auditorium, we are doubling down on that belief and ensuring the families of this community have a high-quality space to enjoy all sorts of programming going forward. Thank you to Queens Public Library for prioritizing this work and congratulations to the many families who will benefit from it.”
“For so many in our community, the Flushing Library auditorium has been the backdrop to meaningful moments,” said State Senator John Liu, who was first inaugurated into public service as a City Council Member in 2002 in the Flushing Library auditorium. “Since its opening in 1998, the auditorium has played host to world-class performances, cultural gatherings, workshops, inaugurations, and a gathering place for all kinds of special events for our community. Looking forward to seeing the return of this cherished space that is sure to help boost the civic and cultural landscape of our community.”
“The Queens Public Library in Flushing has been a pillar of our community for countless years, and I am thrilled to join my colleagues in welcoming the reopening of its auditorium,” said Assemblymember Ron Kim, Chair of the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development. “This is an important communal space for numerous residents and groups in our neighborhoods. I look forward to seeing the newly restored auditorium being put to good use in strengthening ties and enriching the cultural life of our district.”
“After more than five years, we are finally able to welcome back one of our community’s most cherished public spaces,” said Council Member Sandra Ung. “Before it closed in March of 2020, the auditorium was a hub of activity, bringing together neighbors, artists, performers, and organizers from every corner of our incredibly diverse community. This newly renovated space is not just a return to what once was, but it’s an investment in what’s to come. With modern upgrades and a renewed vision for what the Flushing Library can offer, this auditorium is once again ready to be a vibrant gathering place for culture, creativity, and civic life in our community. I want to thank QPL President and CEO Dennis Walcott, the entire Queen Library leadership and staff, and everyone who worked so hard to make this reopening possible.”
The 220-seat auditorium hosts about 100 events each year, including music, dance and theater performances, and community meetings.
The library closed in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and HVAC system upgrades until April 2022. However, the auditorium remained closed to accommodate the installation of a new elevator, and for the renovation.
Flushing Library is one of QPL’s busiest locations. In Fiscal Year 2025, it circulated nearly 400,000 items and welcomed close to 900,000 people, many of whom attended English language classes, GED preparation courses, technology workshops, job readiness programs, among others. It also offers newspapers, magazines and books in dozens of languages and dialects, serving one of the most linguistically diverse communities in the world.
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 in 1896, Queens Public Library offers free access to a collection of more than 5 million books and other materials in 50 languages, technology, and digital resources. Each year, the Library hosts tens of thousands of online and in-person educational, cultural, and civic programs and welcomes millions of visitors through its doors. With a presence in nearly every neighborhood across the borough of Queens, the Library consists of 66 locations, including branch libraries, a Central Library, seven adult learning centers, a technology lab at the Queensbridge public housing complex, a community learning center at the Ravenswood public housing complex, and five teen centers. It also has four bookmobiles and two book bicycles.
Media Contact: Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, ekern@queenslibrary.org
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