Blog posts

Every year from September 15 to October 15, we honor Hispanic Heritage Month. On September 15, several Latin American countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua – celebrate their independence. In addition, Mexico celebrates independence on September 16 and Chile’s independence day is September 18.

This past weekend, customers enjoyed a kickoff celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at Langston Hughes Library. Activities included crafts, cooking, and a flamenco demonstration. 

More events are coming up as the month continues through October 15! We have several concerts for you to enjoy.

This weekend, join us for the all-children’s mariachi band on Saturday, September 28 at 4pm at Langston Hughes. Enjoy the freewheeling style of Los Cumpleaños on Saturday, October 5 at 2:30pm at East Elmhurst. Revel in guitar tango on Saturday, October 5 at 2:30pm at Woodhaven. Join us for a concert with Mariachi Loco of NY on Tuesday, October 8 at 6pm at Central. On Saturday, October 12, celebrate with Edwin Vazquez’s heartfelt Gypsy Latin soul at 12pm at McGoldrick. 

In addition to concerts, we have more cooking and children’s programs as well as ongoing dance lessons. 

For a complete listing of events, visit our calendar page.

HUNTERS POINT LIBRARY OPENS IN QUEENS

Featuring a Stunning Design, Views and Prominent Location on the Long Island City Waterfront, Hunters Point Is Queens Public Library’s First New Branch To Open Since 2007

(Long Island City, NY – September 24, 2019) Queens Public Library (QPL) President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin, New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Lorraine Grillo, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, New York State Senator Michael Gianaris, New York State Assemblywoman Catherine T. Nolan, New York State Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas and hundreds of customers, QPL staff and volunteers, community leaders and members of the public today celebrated the grand opening of Hunters Point Library.

Located at 47-40 Center Boulevard and designed by Steven Holl Architects, the $41.5 million library brings to 66 the total number of QPL locations across the borough. It is the first new branch since the completion of Long Island City Library in 2007, and New York City’s 217th branch library.

The opening ceremony held this afternoon featured students from PS/IS 78 greeting guests in several languages plus the Hunters Point Community Middle School band entertaining guests inside. A boat from the New York Fire Department (FDNY) provided a water show from the nearby shoreline before the traditional ribbon cutting at the library’s main entrance.

The children’s area of the new Hunters Point Library is finished in bamboo and offers spectacular views of the East River and Manhattan skyline.

The 22,000-square-foot building is 82 feet high and oriented vertically, with interior stairs that rise from an open-spaced entry through six levels up to a rooftop bleacher-style seating and reading area. The building’s concrete shell is load-bearing to allow for a large open atrium in the interior, with cantilevered floors extending from the ends of the building containing adult, teen and children’s reading areas, as well as a cyber center and a ground floor meeting room that can seat up to 140 people.

The concrete structure of the building is exposed and aluminum painted, giving the exterior a subtle sparkle. Inside, warm bamboo creates an inviting social space, open to the community and offering engaging spaces for all ages. Natural light enters through the large irregularly shaped glass cut-outs in the sides of the building offering spectacular views of the East River, the United Nations and the east side of Manhattan on one side and the growing community of Long Island City on the other. The project also includes a separate structure for New York State Parks staff, plus landscaping along North 47th Road adjacent to the site. The building is located on a redeveloped brownfield site and is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification for environmental sustainability.

“Hunters Point now has a library that matches the vibrancy of the community. With an early childhood play area, environmental center, and books in many languages, it will serve as a resource for generations to come,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. (Watch the video of Mayor de Blasio's remarks at Hunters Point Library.)

“We are incredibly grateful for the teamwork, talent and tenacity of library staff, government agencies, elected officials and the community that brought this spectacular building to life,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “As remarkable as this building is, there is far more to a library than its design and physical structure that makes it soar. It is the experience of coming to a place that welcomes you, no matter who you are or where you are from, and interacting with other people who are striving for something more, and staff who want only to help. That is the promise we are committed to fulfilling not only at Hunters Point Library, but also at every location across our system.”

“This beautiful new library will serve as a cornerstone for New York City’s waterfront and the Queens community for generations,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin. “With its breathtaking exterior and awe-inspiring interior, Hunter’s Point Library reflects the diverse community it represents and will serve as an inspiration for public buildings across the country.”

Hunters Point Library takes its place on the shoreline of Long Island City "It is incredible to see the Hunters Point Library, an architectural gem that is home to more than 50,000 books, rise from a brownfield site," said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. "Long Island City is fast becoming a thriving cultural scene that draws visitors from across the City and world. We're thrilled to deliver our promise to the LIC community to bring a state-of-the-art library, providing residents a place to gather, learn, and connect with their community.”

“We’re thrilled to be part of the expansion of the Queens library system to a new area, a growing and thriving community that will now benefit from one of the country’s greatest library systems,” said NYC Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Lorraine Grillo. “This building is an example of outstanding design in public architecture and will be a notable landmark for decades to come.”

“The new Hunters Point Library is both a stunning architectural marvel and a state-of-the-art hub of much-needed library services for the residents of western Queens,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. “Today’s opening of this imaginative facility in this fast-growing neighborhood finally gives Hunters Point families a beautiful new beacon of learning, literacy and culture to call their own.”

“Our new Hunters Point Library is a magnificent addition to our Queens Public Library system and a resounding victory for our Long Island City community. We have had the vision for this aspirational design for nearly 20 years, since I was a staffer at the Queens Public Library. We never gave up hope or settled for second best. And we refused to shortchange quality design. I am proud to have allocated over $10 million toward this state-of-the-art library,” said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. “This is the single most important project of my life so far and it will forever serve as a source of civic pride. It is incredible to know that generations of children and families will benefit because of our hard work. We have built one of the finest buildings in all of New York City right here in Queens. I want to thank everyone who made this moment possible, including those like Fausta Ippolito, who are no longer with us, but whose love for this library sustained me in this fight.”

“It is so important for our communities to have access to their local public libraries to foster their imagination and envision infinite possibilities. I’m overjoyed that the Queens Public Library at Hunter’s Point is now open, and I hope that as the Hunter’s Point community continues to grow, this library becomes a staple for generations to come,” said Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney.

Mayor Bill de Blasio (right) joins Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis Walcott, DDC Commissioner Lorraine Grillo, elected officials, QPL staff and architect Steven Holl to cut the ribbon on the new Hunters Point Library in Long Island City.

“At long last, Hunters Point Library will finally open as the jewel of our neighborhood we envisioned when we first drew the plans. I’m proud to have provided support to make this project a reality and look forward to our community enjoying it for years to come," said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris.

“I am happy to have secured some state funding for this library as I have for all the libraries and adult learning centers in my district” said Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan. “Today the Hunters Point Library will finally become a long-promised resource for all. My thanks to leaders who advocated for this over many years, including former CB#2 Chairman Joe Conley and all CB#2 members, former Queens library trustee George Stamatiades, former Port Authority Chair Chris Ward, former Borough Presidents Claire Shulman the late Helen Marshall, former city councilmembers Eric Gioia and the late Walter McCaffrey, current trustee Debbie King and of course Mark Christie, President of the Friends of the Hunters Point Library. Many hands were involved with this complicated project. A big thank you also to local advocates and of course to Commissioner Lorraine Grillo who finally got our library completed. It has been an honor to play a small part in seeing this finally open.”

“Libraries provide vital entry points to civic engagement and upward mobility,” Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas said. “That is why, I was proud to allocate $10,000 to support the Queens Public Libraries programs and mission to serve and inspire the community of Queens. It is this organization’s vast efforts that will change the future of Queens.”

“Long Island City is a neighborhood with tremendous strengths, and today we are thrilled to celebrate the opening of an incredible library that will offer dynamic jobs, and provide programming for residents in this community,” said NYC Economic Development Corporation President and CEO James Patchett. “I would like to acknowledge our city partners Queens Public Library, DDC and Council Member Van Bramer for their commitment to bringing this project to fruition.”

“Queens is a geographical gateway for generations of Americans and libraries are an essential entryway for an individual’s future personal and professional achievement,” said Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and CEO & President-Designate Eric Gertler. “They are more than places to borrow books — they are community meeting points and educational spaces that provide a wealth of resources to all New Yorkers. The new Hunters Point Library is the branch this community has long-deserved, and with its opening today, the Queens Public Library is declaring itself ready to meet the 21 Century needs of the customers it serves.”

“It is an honor to imagine and realize this community library, a free open public building where people can interact across generations. We hope it is a gift to this great city and its future children,” said Steven Holl, Principal of Steven Holl Architects.

It's Back-To-School Week at all NYC libraries! Visit any public library across New York City to find everything you need to succeed this school year—from millions of books to programs, computer access, educational resources, and more—all for FREE.

Here's NewYork-Presbyterian's Dr. Shannon M. Bennett with some advice from our Back-to-School Guide for how students can deal with stress and anxiety as they head back to school.

While some students embrace the end-of-summer return to the classroom, for others, heading back to school causes feelings of stress and anxiety.

“Back-to-school jitters are very common, and a mild to moderate amount of anxiety and excitement about going back to school is normal and should pass relatively quickly once the new school year becomes routine,” says Dr. Shannon M. Bennett, the site clinical director for NewYork-Presbyterian’s Youth Anxiety Center and the director of the psychology division of the Child Psychiatry Outpatient Department at Weill Cornell Medicine. “If the anxiety persists or becomes more interfering in the child’s or family’s life, that’s when we would recommend seeking out an assessment or additional support. For youth who have an anxiety disorder, going back to school can be challenging.”

“Common triggers for anxiety are transition, changes in routine, or starting something new, and back to school incorporates all three,” she adds. Dr. Bennett says anxiety disorders are the most common type of childhood mental health diagnosis, affecting 8 to 10% of school-age children (ages 5 to 12 years). Some studies suggest as many as 1 in 3 adolescents has an anxiety disorder before age 18.

How can parents help soothe first-day jitters in their school-age kids?
Touring the school before the school year begins and meeting your child’s teachers could help familiarize students with their surroundings once school starts. Talk to your kids about what the routine will be like. If there’s a new schedule, go over what’s involved and discuss what classes they will be taking, so they can have some sense of knowing what’s to come. Finally, focus on the things that can be exciting about going back to school and starting a new year. This might be learning new things, getting new school supplies, new clothes, new books, and making new friends.

What treatment is available to kids for whom these tactics don’t work well enough to offset their anxiety?
The type of therapy we recommend for youth with anxiety is called cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. It’s an evidence-based treatment that focuses on teaching youth strategies for managing anxiety and not avoiding situations that cause them to feel anxious. One strategy is deep breathing. Deep breathing can be done anytime, anywhere by taking a few slow deep breaths to help to calm one’s body down and regulate the nervous system. Kids can practice it in the evening, in the morning before school, and in the classroom.

The C, or the cognitive part of CBT, has to do with our thoughts and focusing on realistic thinking. This involves challenging the worries we might have and replacing them with more realistic thoughts and expectations. For example, if a child is worried about failing a test, being laughed at on the first day, or that something bad happened to their parent while they were at school, we ask them to estimate the actual probability of these events happening.

The most powerful method we encourage kids to do, the B, in behavior therapy, is what we call exposure therapy, which is not avoiding the people, places, or things that trigger anxiety. We teach kids that it’s OK to do something that makes you feel nervous, and that it is likely that the more times you try it, the easier it will get.

What else can kids do on their own to cope with their anxiety?
Youth and parents can put together a list of what we call positive coping statements or positive self-statements that are grounded in evidence or realistic thinking. This could be “I can do this, there are people there to support me,” or “I’ve tried new things before and it went OK.” These realistic coping statements can be helpful for kids to have in a list to keep in their pocket so they can look at that on the first day of school if they’re feeling nervous.

When should parents get their kids extra help in dealing with anxiety?
When anxiety is making life difficult for a child or for their family, or has persisted for several weeks, I recommend meeting with a psychologist, child psychiatrist, social worker, or other mental health professional for an assessment and potentially for treatment if recommended. If anxiety progresses to the point of panic attacks or is really impacting a child’s mood, I recommend seeking help sooner rather than later.

I’d also seek help quickly for a child who is refusing to go to school. The longer a child stays out of school, the harder it becomes to return. Similarly, if a child doesn’t want to go on play dates or is avoiding after-school activities or other positive social and academic activities, this can be a sign that additional help is needed. The avoidance caused by anxiety robs children of the opportunity to learn that they can handle a healthy dose of stress.

Shannon Bennett, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of psychology in clinical psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and the director of psychology for the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry outpatient department at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Bennett also serves as the Weill Cornell site clinical director of the NewYork-Presbyterian Youth Anxiety Center and as the director of the Weill Cornell Medicine Center of Excellence for Tourette Syndrome.

This was adapted from an article that first appeared on NewYork-Presbyterian’s Health Matters.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Queens Public Library’s Hunters Point Branch Selected as Site of Environmental Education Center

Environmental Initiative Is a First for QPL and Will Offer Learning Opportunities at Its Newest Branch About the Area’s Soil, Pollution, Plants and Marine Life, Among Other Topics

LONG ISLAND CITY _ Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott today announced that the Queens Public Library Foundation has secured a nearly $1 million grant—$995,993 over the next three years—to operate an environmental education center at the new Hunters Point Library, scheduled to open to the public for the first time on September 24. Funding for the Hunters Point Environmental Education Center (HPEEC) was made possible by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Newtown Creek Environmental Benefits Fund (NCEBF), that is administered by the City Parks Foundation.

Modeled after the Children’s Library Discovery Center (CLDC) at QPL’s Central Library in Jamaica, HPEEC will offer STEM classes and workshops to children, teens and adults using interactive carts that address topics such as trees, plants, flowers, marine life, pollution, composting, recycling, climate change and water purification. The center will open this fall.

“The environmental education center is a first for Queens Public Library, and will offer members of the community and beyond a unique opportunity to understand, study and appreciate the natural surroundings of Hunters Point and Long Island City,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “With STEM programs for children, teens and adults, the center will add an exciting new learning dimension to Hunters Point Library. I want to congratulate the Queens Public Library Foundation and the library’s staff for their outstanding work in obtaining this generous grant. I also want to gratefully acknowledge the City Parks Foundation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for collaborating with us to bring this center to life, and thank the Newtown Creek Environmental Benefit Fund for funding it.”

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Steve Zahn said, "We are thrilled that the Queens Public Library’s Hunters Point branch is receiving funding for the new Environmental Education Center through the Newtown Creek Environmental Benefit Fund. Investing in environmental education is critical for providing communities with the tools and information needed to understand what is going on in their backyards, the city, and the world. We commend the efforts of the City Parks Foundation for making this grant a reality.”

The center will be presented in partnership with the New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection, the New York Hall of Science and the Queens Botanical Garden and the New York Botanical Gardens, among other organizations. It also will serve a professional audience that includes librarians and library administrators who can replicate environmental programming elsewhere in the QPL system, museum professionals who want to develop closer ties with libraries and educators who are interested in hands-on learning.

The NCEBF was the result of a 2008 settlement between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York City for water quality violations stemming from the City’s operation of the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.

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 multiple languages, technology and digital resources, and more than 87,000 educational, cultural, and civic programs annually. Each of QPL’s 66 locations is a safe, trusted, center of community life where everyone is welcome and can expect an experience that will help them get them where they want to go in their lives, no matter who they are, where they come from or what they want to learn.

About City Parks Foundation
At City Parks Foundation, we are dedicated to invigorating and transforming parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through sports, arts, community building and education programs for all New Yorkers. Celebrating our 30th anniversary this year, we program in more than 400 parks, recreation centers and public schools across New York City and reach 300,000 people each year. Our ethos is simple: thriving parks mean thriving communities. The Newtown Creek Environmental Benefits Fund (NCEBF) is administered by the City Parks Foundation. The NCEBF was the result of a 2008 settlement between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York City for water quality violations stemming from the City’s operation of the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Contact: Elisabeth de Bourbon, edebourbon@queenslibrary.org or 718-990-0704

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It’s almost here! We’re celebrating the grand opening of Hunters Point Library on September 24—and we can’t wait to welcome you to our new, 22,000 square foot space with panoramic views of the East River, Manhattan, and Queens, abundant natural light, and more than 50,000 materials for you to check out!

Join us for the ribbon cutting at 2:30pm and the library’s official opening at 4pm.

Hunters Point was designed by Steven Holl Architects and has garnered numerous awards and recognition, including:

• 2010 NYC Public Design Commission Award for Excellence in Design
• 2014 NYC Public Design Commission Award for Excellence in Design (Percent for Art Component)
• 2017 Progressive Architecture Award Citation
• 2018 Metropolis Magazine, Most Anticipated Buildings

Come see artist Julianne Swartz’s Percent for Art installation of four viewing portals!

The library features:

• A collection of more than 50,000 items including travel and test prep, science fiction, and romance
• International Language Collections of more than 2,000 Spanish materials and more than 2,800 Chinese materials including adult & juvenile books as well as DVDs
• Percent for Art installation by artist Julianne Swartz titled Four Directions from Hunters Point, comprised of four viewing portals
• Multi-level adult fiction section with reading counters and device charging stations
• Children’s area with 12 computers, board books, picture books, chapter books, nonfiction, graphic novels, and more
• Teen area with reading space, teen collections, and 12 laptops
• Quiet Room
• Cyber Center with 20 computers
• 24/7 returns machine
• Rooftop terrace (awaiting completion)

Come explore Hunters Point with us—we’re excited for you to enjoy this magnificent space!

To get a sneak peek of the library and meet its children’s librarians, watch these videos:

Welcome to Hunters Point

Meet the Children’s Librarians

We hope you will visit Queens Public Library as you head back to school and throughout the school year!

Our library staff members are here to help you find what you need, including resources that can help you with your homework and school projects.

Free Books And Materials
Discover millions of free books at the Library and enjoy reading and learning all year. Use your library card to check out books, eBooks, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, and more!

Computers and Wi-Fi
You can use the free public computers available at every library for up to an hour each day, and if you bring your own Internet-ready device, you can access our free wireless network at every QPL location.

Free Tablets & HotSpots
You can borrow Samsung tablets from the Library for one month with three renewals (for a maximum total of four months). Bring your tablet to the Library or anywhere with Wi-Fi for a full Internet and educational experience. The families of eligible New York City public school students can also borrow free hotspots from the Library and use them to get Internet service—and access to online educational resources—at home.

Educational Programs
Children, teens, and families can participate in programs that are educational and fun, like tech classes, hands-on science workshops, author talks, parent workshops, and more. Visit our online calendar or pick up a calendar brochure or a copy of Queens Public Library Magazine for more details.

Online Libraries and Resources
Young children and teens can access our TumbleBook online libraries—which include animated talking picture books, early reader chapter books, children’s classics, graphic novels, YA/Teen novels, educational videos from National Geographic, and more. They can also visit the Queens Public Library website and find resources specifically for kids and teens, including booklists, databases, dictionaries, and more.

Welcoming Spaces
Your local library is a great spot for kids and teens to do homework and research and for families to spend time reading and learning together.

STACKS After-School
STACKS is an after-school program for children ages 6-14 and operates during the school year Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 5:30 pm. STACKS offers children structured and unstructured programming every day. Each session begins with homework help, facilitated by qualified and caring staff supervised by a children’s librarian. Children can also participate in a variety of enrichment activities and projects that are informative, hands-on, and fun, complement the school curriculum, and allow students to use all the resources Queens Public Library has to offer. STACKS is not available at all QPL locations. Check with your librarian to find out if STACKS is available at your local branch.

Connections With Teachers
Queens Public Library can arrange class visits to local branches to get students familiar with their neighborhood library and sign them up for library cards. Queens teachers can also create Assignment Alerts that take advantage of the materials available at their local library for student projects and assignments. There is also MyLibrary NYC, a partnership between QPL and the NYC Department of Education that empowers school libraries and school librarians. For more information about all these resources, visit the QPL website.

Queens Public Library is devoted to recognizing, documenting, and celebrating the history of hip hop culture, and we’re bringing a new six-month exhibit to Central Library this fall that honors three hip hop pioneers.

A Cypher in Queens features nine-foot-tall “audio sculptures” of three Queens artists who have died in recent years: Prodigy, from the Queensbridge duo Mobb Deep; Phife Dawg, from the St. Albans supergroup A Tribe Called Quest; and Jam Master Jay, the legendary DJ and member of Run-DMC who grew up in Hollis.

Each sculpture consists of a bust of the artist that sits atop stacked speaker boxes, inspired by Carnival season on the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. Visitors will be able to listen to the music of each artist with wireless headphones from the Library’s Media Center.

“These three hip hop icons were chosen for their individuality, unique style of delivery, excellence, and contribution to the art-form of hip hop,” writes artist and creator Sherwin Banfield. “Each audio sculpture celebrates not just the artistry of hip hop culture, but also serves as a memorial for the genius of each artist representing Queens.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019
Contact: Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska (Queens Public Library), ekern@queenslibrary.org, 718-990-0706; Shavone Williams (NYCEDC), swilliams@edc.nyc, 212-312-3523

QUEENS PUBLIC LIBRARY NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR QUEENS FEASTS
Offering Training to Queens Food Entrepreneurs at Four QPL Locations, FEASTS Has Seats for 250 Students over the Next Two Years

QUEENS, NY—Queens Public Library is now accepting applications for Queens FEASTS, a free program that offers training and mentorship for food entrepreneurs seeking to start or grow their food businesses in Queens. The program offers students helpful tips on how to be successful in today’s highly competitive food industry.

Those interested can apply on QPL’s website for any of the 12-week courses offered at the following QPL locations:

• Central (89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica) – Fall 2019, Winter 2019, Spring 2020
• Long Island City (37-44 21 Street, Long Island City) – Fall 2019
• Flushing (41-17 Main Street, Flushing) – Winter 2019
• Queens Library for Teens (2002 Cornaga Avenue, Far Rockaway) – Spring 2020

The applications are due two weeks before classes start.

“QPL is thrilled to assist people looking to build their food business,” said Monique Hector, Manager of Queens FEASTS. “This program helps them meet their aspirations, while contributing to one of New York City’s most vital industries.”

Initially known as Jamaica FEASTS (Food Entrepreneurship and Services Training Space), the program was developed by QPL in partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). It was offered in Central Library in Jamaica and expanded in March 2019 to serve 250 students over the next two years at four QPL locations, addressing the high need for similar resources across the city.

The expansion followed a spike in the number of interested applicants, roughly 60 percent of whom lived outside the greater Jamaica area.

Queens FEASTS provides knowledge, tools, and resources to those who are interested in starting their own food business. Participants learn the fundamentals of the food industry through interactive workshops and training, gain insight from industry experts, and receive one-on-one individualized assistance from counselors. The Flushing course will offer training in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

Since the program’s inception in 2016, more than 100 students have graduated and nearly 50 percent have launched successful food businesses. Alumni have received Vendy Awards and Good Food Awards, have been showcased at the NYC Wine and Food Festival, and have participated at major events including the Brooklyn Army Terminal Centennial Celebration and the Queens Night Market.

Queens FEASTS is part of the Jamaica NOW Action Plan, a $153 million neighborhood initiative announced in 2015 by the de Blasio Administration, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, and NYCEDC. The twenty-one-point strategic action plan aims to economically revitalize Jamaica, Queens by providing workforce training and small business support, initiating new mixed-use development anchored by affordable housing, and improving the livability of the neighborhood through investments in safety measures, green spaces, and more.

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 multiple languages, technology and digital resources, and more than 87,500 educational, cultural, and civic programs a year. It consists of 65 locations, including branch libraries, a Central Library, seven adult learning centers, a technology lab, two universal pre-kindergartens, and two teen centers.

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is the City's primary vehicle for promoting economic growth in each of the five boroughs. NYCEDC's mission is to stimulate growth through expansion and redevelopment programs that encourage investment, generate prosperity, and strengthen the City's competitive position. NYCEDC serves as an advocate to the business community by building relationships with companies that allow them to take advantage of New York City's many opportunities. Find them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, or visit their blog to learn more about NYCEDC projects and initiatives.

Pictured: Queens FEASTS graduate Chef Nellie presents her concept for her Spice Shanty food business.

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Ensuring free access to books and fostering a love of reading are central to the Library’s mission, and this summer, visitors not only could borrow books but could also take books home to keep. Thanks to JetBlue’s Soar with Reading initiative, Central Library hosted a book vending machine outside of its Children’s Library Discovery Center, featuring new titles every two weeks.

The vending machine was full of brand-new children’s books, which customers could take home to build their own libraries. There were books for children ages 0-14, ranging from picture books to young adult titles, as well as titles for adults. Individuals were invited to take as many books as they would like.

JetBlue’s Icema Gibbs, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, explained that the program gives kids the opportunity to let their imaginations soar while owning books themselves. She recalled reading a story as a child and later having the experience of reading the same book with her daughter–she wants everyone to have moments like that. She also described the pleasure of filling bookshelves with new books for her daughter and continuing to add to them. The Soar with Reading vending machine gave Queens Public Library customers the chance to do the same–and not only did customers respond enthusiastically to the opportunity, they set a new record for the program’s first five days.

In the first five days the vending machine was operational, approximately 4,000 books were given away, showing how much QPL customers love books and reading. The previous high for the same time period in past years in other locations was approximately 2,000 books. This record pace continued at the library throughout the summer, with JetBlue crewmember volunteers on hand to help customers use the vending machine. At JetBlue’s Soar with Reading locations throughout the five boroughs, children and families took home a total of 100,000 books.

JetBlue’s educational advisory board research has shown the program to be impactful. As Gibbs understands, children who are reading during the summer don’t experience the summer slide, the loss of learning progress that many children experience over the summer months. Summer reading also increases children’s vocabulary.

The machine was launched at a special storytime in July featuring local author David Erza Stein. Stein, the author and illustrator of 17 books, read three of his books, including Dinosaur Kisses, which was available from the vending machine and is available for check out at Queens Public Library. He also read Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise and Hush Little Bunny. The enthusiastic audience of children and parents enjoyed the storytime, lining up afterwards for autographs from the author and to select books from the vending machine. After storytime, children went to the Children’s Library Discovery Center to make a dinosaur craft.

JetBlue’s Executive Vice President for People Mike Elliott talked about the company’s desire to inspire. Several elected officials, including Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, and Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman, attended the kickoff event. Borough President Katz said that reading can take you anywhere, while Council Member Van Bramer told the crowd there is nothing more important than education and reading. Assembly Member Hyndman reminisced about coming to the Central Library most weekends as a child.

The creators of Peg + Cat, the popular PBS television show and book series, came to Central Library for a special storytime today as the last event of JetBlue’s Soar with Reading initiative at Queens Public Library.

JetBlue’s BookDrop book vending machine, which dispenses free books for kids ages 0-14, has been in front of the Children’s Library Discovery Center this summer, and has given away thousands of free books to library customers. As part of the Soar with Reading initiative, the library held three storytimes, including a reading of an Avengers book by major league baseball player Todd Frazier and a kickoff event with children’s author David Ezra Stein. In addition, the library hosted a careers panel for teens that featured JetBlue’s CEO Robin Hayes as well as crewmembers including a pilot, a recruiter, a manager of crewmember experience, and an infight team leader.

Today’s guests, Peg + Cat creators Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson, met when both were working on the show Wonder Pets. They teamed up to create the award-winning show about a girl named Peg and her cat who solve problems using math. At the storytime, about 200 people listened as the two read Peg’s Messy Room and sang songs accompanied by a ukuele, including the show’s theme song and the problem-solving song. Peg’s Messy Room was available during the first wave of vending machine books; many Peg + Cat books are available now at the library.