Alex Hortis, the author of The Mob and The City, was born and raised in Minnesota, a couple of hours northwest of Minneapolis. He first came to New York City as a student at New York University School of Law. The Mob and the City is his first full-length book.
What inspired you to write about the Mafia in NYC?
When I was a student at NYU, I worked for Professor James Jacobs, the leading academic expert on the American Mafia. We wrote an article on the Trade Waste Commission, which was a new city agency that used the licensing process to purge the Mafia from the waste hauling industry. I had no idea that your garbage man could be under the influence of organized crime! Ever since, I wanted to write a fresh history of the Mafia’s rise to power. My goal was to use primary sources to challenge the most popular myths, and write a more authentic history of Cosa Nostra.
What is the biggest myth Hollywood has created about the Mafia?
The biggest myth that Hollywood has created was that is is somehow a special "band of brothers" in crime. It is true that the Mafia was America’s most powerful organized crime syndicate. However, they were not uniquely talented or especially loyal to each other.
Is there still an active contingent of the Mafia operating in NYC and the boroughs? Are there estimates of their numbers?
Yes, but, for all practical purposes, it is a shadow of its former self. At their heights, the Mafia Families together had roughly 5,000 “made men” in New York and the surrounding suburbs and Cosa Nostra dominated the heroin trade. They controlled major union locals in the Teamsters, the International Longshoreman’s Association, at the Fulton Fish Market, and in many construction trades in New York. However, in the 1980s and 1990s, Cosa Nostra was devastated by waves of law enforcement attacks led by the Department of Justice, the FBI, and later the Giuliani Administration.
What was/is mob activity in Queens County compared to Manhattan and the other boroughs?
The New York Mafia started out principally in East Harlem, Lower Manhattan and South Brooklyn. During the 1940s and 1950s, as members started making more money, they moved out to the surrounding boroughs and suburbs. Long before The Sopranos invented the “suburban mobster,” Queens was known for having enclaves of suburban mobsters in upscale neighborhoods. On September 22, 1966, there was an infamous meeting of high-level mafiosi in Forest Hills, Queens. There were leaders from all the New York families, including bosses. Their choice of this location reflected the growing presence of the Mafia in Queens.
At the time of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, the Greenwich Village bar Stonewall Inn was reputed to be owned and operated by the New York Mafia. What was the Mafia's relationship with the LGBT community prior to the Stonewall Riots?
Starting in the 1930s, New York essentially outlawed gay nightlife in the city in what amounted to a “Gay Prohibition.” Only organized crime had the cash and the clout to keep gay bars open by paying off the police. The worst aspect was the routine raid by the police to appease politicians and intolerant neighbors. The mob owners would be tipped off by the police that a raid was going to happen that night. The mob owners would then clear out the cash from the tills and warn their employees, but otherwise sacrifice their patrons for the purpose of a show raid. The Stonewall rebellion of 1969 was in large part a reaction against the Mafia-run system of gay bars.
Who are a few of your favorite authors? What was the last book your read?
William Faulkner, Philip Roth, Jonathan Franzen, and John Grisham, are a few of my favorite fiction authors. I would put Robert Caro, Edmund Morris, Michael Lewis, and David Simon, near the top of my favorite nonfiction writers..
I just finished Russell Shorto’s The Island at the Center of the World about the Dutch origins of New York City. The Dutch influence has really been forgotten. I enjoyed how Shorto managed to make 350-year-old history feel fresh and vital.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about writing their first book?
Before tackling a whole book, I would start out with nonfiction articles, short stories, and even poetry. It is important to know that you can actually finish a piece of writing. I would also recommend having a group of friends or fellow writers to critique your work. It can be very helpful to get feedback from people you trust. Then, to borrow a phrase, just do it. Too many people are paralyzed by their fears of inadequacy. If you are passionate about your topic, devoted to improving your writing, and committed to the hard work, you can probably write a book.
Find out everything you wanted to know about the Mob in NYC, and specifically in Queens, at our Author Talk with Alex Hortis, on Friday, September 19, at Central Library in Jamaica.
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David Ezra Stein is an author-illustrator whose previous books include LEAVES, winner of an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award. His most recent children's picture book, I'm My Own Dog was just released this month. He lives in Kew Gardens, New York.
I’m My Own Dog, started out as just a quick sketch — a dog walking himself, with a caption that read "The true master is master of himself".
I hung it on the bulletin board in my studio and left it there for about a year or two. The rest of the story didn't start to come to me until I was on the road promoting another book. I began to hear the voice of an independent dog character, and it was strong. I tried to write down as much as I could, and later showed it to my editor at Candlewick Press. After writing, rewriting, thumbnailing, and fitting the story into the right book shape and size, it was time to begin the illustrations.
First and foremost I had to decide what this wonderful dog would look like. I drew many, many different kinds of dogs. In the end, the bulldog seemed the most man-like to me so I chose it as a model. Then I needed to develop the design of the human’s character. I sketched and sketched until I found just the right look. 
Whenever I make art, I always begin with the feeling that I don’t know what I’m doing. I've created twelve children's books and, still, when I sit down to the drawing board, I have the sense that I am free-floating. Nevertheless, I keep on painting until, suddenly, the book begins to take shape. That’s where the real magic happens. I discover while doing.
I’m My Own Dog is available wherever books are sold and, of course, at the library!
-David Ezra Stein
Every month, Queens Library's expert staff will bring you the best of what's new in our collection. Check out these music recommendations for August.
Calle 13 - MulitViral
Calle 13 is a Puerto Rican hip-hop duo with very political messages. How political? WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is a guest vocalist and Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine brings his guitar work to the title track. It is a wonderful mash-up of international languages and styles, sure to appeal to a broad base. Listen to the track MultiViral here.
The Used - Imaginary Enemy
If the bass guitarist for The Used is to be believed, they made this album “backwards” by recording the vocals first and laying the instrumental parts on top. Unusual, but it may explain the heavier use of synthesizer than their fans are accustomed to hearing. This is a pop punk band that sounds more pop than punk, but that doesn’t make it bad. Listen to the title track here.
Dum Dum Girls - Too True
Dum Dum Girls is really only one woman, Dee Dee, who is responsible for most of the music on the record. The overall sound is reminiscent of Siouxsie Sioux or The Raveonettes, layers of guitar with ephemeral vocals. If “Goth-pop” is a genre, this would fit right in. Watch the video for the first single from the album, Lost Boys and Girls Club, here.
Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else
The Cloud Nothings are an indie-rock band from Cleveland who have gone from lo-fi scuzz to a more polished pop on their new album Here and Nowhere Else. The band is on an upward trajectory in popularity and with their embracing of better production standards, there is no reason to think they won’t soon be household names. Check out the video for the single I’m Not Part of Me here.
Trey Songz - Trigga
On his sixth studio album Trigga, Trey Songz is just trying to grow up, get responsible and find out what manhood is all about. It’s a blend of R&B, hip hop and personal writing that went straight to number one on the Billboard Top 200. The lyrics can get a bit lecherous, mechanical and obnoxious (according to the critics) but the melodicism is unparalleled. Watch the video for the first single Na Na here.
The Fault in Our Stars Soundtrack
Movie soundtracks of various artists usually include a lot of established acts and a few made-to-order hits. Not so with The Fault in Our Stars. Most of the artists were unfamiliar to even the coolest teens until the movie became a hit. Now we may actually look forward to more music by Ed Sheeran, The Radio Dept., Lykke Li and Charli XCX to name a few. It’s hard to pick one song to showcase, but try the Danish dream pop of The Indians’ song Oblivion here.
The Wizard of Oz Soundtrack
August 25 is the 75th anniversary of the release of MGM’s hit musical movie The Wizard of Oz. Queens Library Archives is having a month long celebration of this milestone with a special exhibit and screenings of various Oz movies at the Central library throughout August. Check the Queens Library website for more details. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy the classic Somewhere Over the Rainbow here.
The Rough Guide to the Best African Music You've Never Heard Of.
Rough Guide CDs are known for being good introductions to music from countries or regions from around theworld. The collections are usually pretty solid, but sometimes not very adventurous. That changes with this set of, really, the best African music you’ve never heard. The range of styles, instruments and artists from all over Africa is astounding. While no single track can convey the essence of this album, Ndinewe by Monoswezi is a fair representation. Watch the video here.
Every month, Queens Library's expert staff will bring you the best of what's new in our collection. Check out these music recommendations for July:
Juanes - Loco de Amor
Juanes is a performer from Colombia with a worldwide fan base. His latest release Loco de Amor (Crazy in Love) is less moody and more buoyant than his previous recordings. He apparently got bored with the electric guitar, picked up an acoustic and re-invented himself without losing himself in the process. His joy comes through the new sound, even if you don’t understand a word of Spanish. Watch the video for the first single La Luz here.
Miranda Lambert - Platinum
This fifth album from country-pop superstar Miranda Lambert went straight to number 1 on the Billboard charts when it was released on June 3. Many of the songs were written by Lambert regarding such topics as growing old, feeling blue and the color of her hair. Whether the songs end in tears or gunfire, there are a lot of hits here for country and Top 40 fans alike. Listen to the title track here.
Yanni - Inspirato
Yes, Yanni is back. The Greek composer often associated with “new age” music has gathered a team of opera singers to give his favorite compositions a new twist. Whether you’re a fan of Yanni or opera, you are sure to love (or perhaps be appalled by) Inspirato. Sit back, relax, breathe and sample some of the tracks here.
Shawn McDonald - Brave
Shawn McDonald may not be a household name yet, but his new CD Brave may get him there. The songs are infectious pop, full of uplifting and positive lyrics. It may be filed under “Christian music” but that shouldn’t stop it from finding a home in clubs or on the radio. Don’t be afraid, listen to the first single We Are Brave here.
The Roots - And Then You Shoot Your Cousin (Parental Advisory)
If you only know the Roots for their radio-friendly hits or their regular gig on the Jimmy Fallon show then prepare to be a bit confused by And Then You Shoot Your Cousin. It is a short concept album that even the group’s leader QuestLove can’t quite explain. Is it an indictment of hip-hop culture’s failures or is it satire? Yes seems to be the answer. In any event it is different, ambitious, and captivating. Listen to the track The Dark here.
Bombay Bicycle Club - So Long, See You Tomorrow
Bombay Bicycle Club are actually from London and seem to enjoy riding in taxis more than bicycling. Their indie-rock aesthetic includes elements of folk, electronica, and world music but it all centers around the guitars. They’ve played some shows in America but are huge in Europe where they are favorites on the festival circuit. It’s only a matter of time until they find their fans in the USA. Be among the first, watch their video for the song Luna here.
Mogwai - Rave Tapes
Scottish band Mogwai create textures and atmospheres with music. You may think that their songs are the soundtrack to some futuristic thriller, until the beats kick in and make it a party. They usually rely on analog instruments to create a digital sound, but Rave Tapes finds them using synths as well. This album would be great to listen to on the subway on your way to the club. Listen to the first single Remurdered, here.
50 Cent - Animal Ambition (Parental Advisory)
50 Cent has made more than a few enemies during his career. Just about everyone from his original crew has left the building and his standing in the industry has taken a hit because of it. His new CD, Animal Ambition, is the first step in the climb back to the top. Disappointing sales so far show that he has a way to go to win back his audience. However, his talent is still there and he can still bring the pain in tracks like The Funeral. Give it a listen here.
Jennifer Lopez - A.K.A. (Parental Advisory)
Did you know J-Lo had a new album out? Apparently not too many people did, sales of A.K.A. have been disappointing. It doesn’t mean it’s bad, though. She is definitely trying to expand her urban dance-pop sound with EDM, funk, hip-hop and R&B. Audiences might just need a little more time to get used to the new sounds. If you haven’t heard it on American Idol, listen to her first single, I Luh Ya Papi, here.
Lincoln Center Local
World-class entertainment from Lincoln Center Local, free at your library!
Lincoln Center Local 2014 is made possible by support from Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund, Disney, United Airlines, and Resorts World Casino New York City.
Saturday, September 20 at 2:00 and 4:00
Villalobos Brothers
Queens Library at Flushing
41-17 Main Street, Flushing, NY
Masterfully blending the indigenous rhythms and melodies of their native Xalapa in Veracruz, Mexico, with the intricate harmonies of jazz and classical music, the Villalobos Brothers, in a bi-lingual program, deliver an intoxicating brew of musical brilliant cadence and virtuosity that awakens the senses as it redefines notions of Latin music. For more information about Villalobos Brothers, please visit: villalobosbrothers.com. Suggested for ages 5 and up.
Encore performance
Saturday, September 27 at 2:30
David Rubenstein Atrium
Broadway between 62nd and 63rd Streets
***
For more information about Lincoln Center Local Live, please visit about.lincolncenter.org/lclocal.
Artists, dates and locations subject to change. Special seating policy at double sets may apply.
Due to varying seating capacities at each location all seating is first come, first served.
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Every month, Queens Library's expert staff will bring you the best of what's new in our collection. Check out these music recommendations for June:
Dolly Parton - Blue Smoke
Dolly Parton is country music’s most successful woman of all time. Blue Smoke is her 42nd album and it’s a mix of gospel, mountain music, bluegrass and even a little rock-n-roll. After half a century in entertainment, Dolly Parton is still selling out concert halls worldwide. Take a listen to the title track here!
Catherine Russell - Bring It Back
Catherine Russell should be no stranger to New York jazz enthusiasts. Her father worked with Louis Armstrong as a band leader and arranger while her mother had a 70 year career as a professional vocalist and guitar player. Ms. Russell’s 5th album plays like a history of jazz without sounding like a museum piece. All of the numbers feel fresh, earthy and honest. Hear a sampler of the album here!
Enrique Iglesias - Sex and Love
Enrique Iglesias’ 10th studio album is a bilingual treat of dance floor tunes and soulful ballads. Although his earliest fans are a bit critical of his commercial acclaim, anyone who enjoys anthemic beats and slow Latin grooves will find a lot to like with this CD. Guest artists include Pitbull, Kylie Minogue and Flo Rida. Listen to the Spanish language single Bailando here!
Nick Cannon - White People Party Music
Whether you know him as a comedian, DJ, TV host or Mariah Carey’s husband you can now add EDM artist to Nick Cannon’s list of talents. His new controversially named album can be a bit confusing to those who want to know if he is being serious or satirical, but the ravers will just dance. It doesn’t matter if you think it’s silly, that’s just part of the fun. Judge for yourself with the video for Me Sexy here!
Kaiser Chiefs - Education, Education, Education and War
Cynical, snarky and sarcastic, the Kaiser Chiefs are back in action. The court jesters of British rock have released their fifth album and if you liked the first four, you’ll be in for a treat that gets better with every listen. If you plan on watching the World Cup, this is recommended for background rally music when England takes on their opponents. Be careful though, hooliganism may result. Hear the track Misery Company here!
August Alsina - Testimony
The debut album from New Orleans native August Alsina is a mix of R&B and rap with a healthy dose of soul. It is gritty, honest music that draws you in and lets you hear his story without too many production tricks or vocal calisthenics. The fact that he sings more than raps has given him the label of “crooner”, but that’s a good thing. Get to know August Alsina in the part of his mini docu-series My Testimony here!
The Black Keys - Turn Blue
Following the critical and commercial success of their last album El Camino, the Black Keys return with Turn Blue. It is their eighth studio album and fourth collaboration with Danger Mouse. The songs on this album get a bit more psychedelic and soulful than their usual stripped down arena rock, but it is a direction that suits the band well. They set out to make “headphones music” and succeeded quite well. Watch the video for the first single Fever here!
Santana - Corazon Carlos Santana is getting more experimental and, surprisingly, his 37th record is being described as his first Latin album. No matter how you describe it, the guitar work is what keeps the music interesting and fresh, not the language of the lyrics. The songs are a mix of covers and originals and there is even an update of Santana’s standard hit Oye Como Va. There are guest vocalists from Pitbull (does he ever rest?) to Ziggy Marley and the mix of styles keeps the album from bogging down in jam band territory. Listen to the song Indy here!
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Statement by Bridget Quinn-Carey
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Queens Library
Testimony before the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and
International Intergroup Relations jointly with the Committee on Finance and the Subcommittee on Libraries
New York City Council Fiscal Year 2015 Executive Budget Hearings
June 3, 2014
Good Morning. I am Bridget Quinn-Carey, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Queens Library. I want to begin by thanking the City Council and these committees for the opportunity to testify today, including: City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito; Council Member Julissa Ferreras, Chair of the Finance Committee; Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, Majority Leader and Chairman of the City Council Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations; Council Member Costa Constantinides, Chair of the Subcommittee on Libraries; and Council Member Mark Weprin, Chair of the Queens Delegation.
We are incredibly grateful for your unwavering support, which has sustained the quality of public library service in this City over the last half a decade of very difficult budget cycles. Year after year, as annual proposed budget cuts threatened to dismantle the system of public libraries, as we know it, this council spoke up, stepped up, and made libraries a priority. It is only because of this support, and the very large restorations made each year, that we have maintained five-day-per-week service in every community we serve and maintained core services that our customers rely on.
Today, we have an incredibly exciting opportunity for the people of Queens. The Library opens the door to opportunity for all we serve; with your support we can deliver real results for young learners, young adults and for adults of all ages and backgrounds. Together, we can make a real difference tackling some of the biggest challenges we, as a City, are facing.
Just last week, I had the distinct honor of officiating at a ceremony celebrating the graduation of more than 50 of our Queens Library students. These adult learners had turned to the library for free adult education classes preparing for the High School Equivalency exam. They took advantage of classes, small group learning and access to resources and computers. Last week, we celebrated their graduation, as each of them achieved their High School Equivalency Diploma. I could not have been more proud of these students, and the library team that helped them along their way. One of the graduates told the audience that she was a new immigrant only 3-1/2 years ago. She came to the library to learn some English. Today she is enrolled in community college. She said, “I believe that my dream will come true because the Flushing Library gave me the confidence in the very first step.” To perform every day miracles like that, we must keep our doors open as many hours as possible.
In 2008, New York City public libraries were funded to be open 6 days a week in every community in Queens. Queens customers enjoyed a 45 hour per week schedule delivered by a full time workforce of nearly 1200. The materials budget was about twice what it is today. Since that time, a series of large budget reductions, spurred by a faltering economy, began and continued for the next six budget cycles.
Despite the very formidable work of the Council and the Mayor to restore the worst of the proposed cuts, reductions were sustained, both at budget adoption annually and through mid-year “PEGS” to meet budget gaps. Since 2008, the Queens Library has sustained a 17% reduction in funding. This has resulted in a loss of over 250 positions, the slashing of the materials budget by over 50%, and the reduction in average weekly hours to under 40 hours a week. For our customers, it means long wait-times to borrow materials. Today, roughly two-thirds of Queens residents do not have a library open on a weekend in their community.
Our goal, very simply, is to restore the funding lost since 2008, bring back employees, bring back full shelves, and open the doors in every community for customers to benefit from the critical resources they can only get when their library is open. One in four library customers comes to the library just to use the public access computers. When our doors are closed, they simply have no other alternatives.
The opportunities before us are only achievable with your support, and we are encouraged by the current budget proposal. We are grateful to Mayor de Blasio for proposing an Executive budget that sustains the baseline of the FY ‘14 council restoration. We are additionally grateful and encouraged by the council’s response to that budget, with a request for an additional $35 million to New York City public library funding this year, which gets us halfway there. This represents a significant turning point in that for the first time in many years, we can have a conversation about what more libraries can do in every community.
New City funding for Fiscal 2015 will translate directly into jobs, with the hiring of new employees to keep libraries open, and the purchase of materials. With a full, citywide addition of $65 million over the Executive budget proposal, we envision a vast increase in weekend service; meeting the community demand for 6 day a week service in every single Queens Library, facilitated by the filling of approximately 250 positions.
In addition, the materials budget would see a much needed increase. Since 2008, significant changes have occurred in the way that libraries deliver information. Increasingly, customers are demanding digital materials, such as e-books. The loaning of digital materials is up significantly. For libraries, this creates an additional challenge of providing both digital materials as well as print materials, in effect doubling the demands on the materials budget. Queens Library is also providing users with access to mobile devices on which to take advantage of digital materials, lending devices, including Google Tablets, for free, with a library card. This adds expense; but it is an important way Queens Library helps our users keep pace with the ever-changing digital information landscape.
Your investment in people, in jobs for children’s librarians, teen librarians, adult librarians, custodians, clerical staff, youth counselors, adult literacy teachers, case managers and all the staff who deliver high quality library service, will be returned many times over in your communities as library doors are open on weekends and residents gain more access to computers, resources, technology training, English classes, adult education, programs and so much more. The need for more access to all these resources the library offers is clear. The weekend hours are particularly critical for working families.
The library continues to innovate and deliver programs that meet the evolving needs of our communities. The Queens Library’s Job and Business Academy is a growing part of our programmatic offerings, responding to the urgent needs of job seekers and small business owners. Last year, we welcomed over 20,000 people to job search and small business support programs and 3.3 million free computer sessions. Every additional hour that the library is open presents an opportunity for thousands of job seekers to get online. This is especially important for people who do not have Internet access at home. While this program is successful, it is only available in 14 locations. Scaling it to make it available in every location is crucial.
Afterschool support also remains a top priority for the Library, providing an enriching environment for students assisting them along their academic path. In Queens, attendance for young adult programs doubled between 2002 and 2011. We are now welcoming nearly 450,000 students annually. Expanding this core service for children and teens after school requires funding to hire new Children’s and Teen librarians and Youth Counselors.
We are also expanding early learning opportunities. In addition to the traditional library offerings for the very young (such as Toddler Learning Centers and story hours and the STEM-learning focused experience of the Children’s Library Discovery Center), the Queens Library is proud to share with you today that we have been awarded the opportunity, through the competitive process of the Department of Education, to provide Universal Pre-Kindergarten classes as part of the citywide initiative. This initiative will tap into some of the great unrealized potential of libraries as community-based early learning centers.
Last year, Queens Library provided English Language Learning or Adult Basic Education to 7,900 learners. In addition, we are a pilot site for administrating the new online High School Equivalency exam. We know, however, that the need in these areas far exceeds what we can offer in a borough whose population is almost half foreign born. Beginning to restore six-day a week service will begin to make these objectives a reality. We are enormously proud of all our community libraries, their programs, and the value they deliver for the community. We also know it is imperative to protect the investment in the physical space.
The Queens library operates 62 community libraries, seven adult learning centers, the Children’s Library Discovery Center, the Far Rockaway Teen Library, and two Learning Centers.
The Queens Library is currently engaged in one of the most successful capital renovation and expansion plans in its history, delivering modernized, technology-equipped facilities for customers and staff. Currently, the library is underway with a series of expansions, renovations and new facilities that will better meet the needs of those communities. Key projects include the expansion of the Kew Gardens Hills Library, the expansion of the Rochdale Village Adult Learning Center and new library buildings in Hunters Point and Far Rockaway. In addition, the library continues to upgrade infrastructure as funding is committed. Ensuring that buildings are watertight and that the air conditioning and heating systems are functioning properly to allow libraries to serve as City heating and cooling centers, is critical. We are currently conducting infrastructure upgrades at several libraries.
However, many unmet capital improvement needs remain across the borough. These include both critical infrastructure such as roof replacements, elevator and ADA upgrades as well as expansions and renovations, which many communities have long sought. In total, the FY ‘15 capital needs for the Queens Library totals over $287 million. Critical infrastructure needs (that is, exterior envelope, ADA access and HVAC replacements) totals $18.6 million for FY 2015. This investment in the physical infrastructure is critical and valued in the community. We consistently see rises in usage as libraries are modernized and renovated.
Even a brand new library is useless if its doors are closed. Every single additional hour we are open means thousands of added opportunities for a customer to access information on the Internet, to ask a question, to prepare to take the High School Equivalency exam or to attend a community program. Every dollar invested in libraries creates dozens of new learning opportunities.
Public libraries have been, and will continue to be, the most democratic of institutions, offering free educational services and resources to every New Yorker. Now is the ideal time to reinvest in the people that make our City libraries great. We know you face some tough negotiations ahead. As you do, we urge you to remember the testimonials you heard today about how libraries literally change lives.
Again, I thank you for the support you have shown our institutions during the toughest of times. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
Queens Library and the Friends of Hunters Point Library are pleased to announce a special series of library services coming to the Gantries all summer long. All activities are free.
Beginning May 31st and continuing on Saturdays:
• The Mobile Library will be parked each Saturday at Gantry State Park, Center Blvd and 48th Ave., from 8:30 – 5:30 to offer books and materials for all ages for loan as well as digital downloads onsite and special library offerings. The Mobile Library will be on site, rain or shine, except July 5.
• The Friends of Hunters Point Library will be supporting a “pop-up” library on Saturdays in the Gantries park, offering reading and activities starting at 11 a.m. with children’s story hour and continuing to 2 p.m. The pop-up library will be on site, except July 5, if the weather permits.
• In partnership with Urban Libraries Unite and with the generous support of the Food Cellar, a mini library will be placed at the Food Cellar. It will be modeled on “take a book, leave a book.” Wifi will be available and there will be a free downloadable digital library.
On May 31st, a special kick-off of the series will take place 11 a.m. to 2 pm. featuring the Volunteer Library Brigade hosting reading hour and activities, book giveaways and more. Join the community in welcoming the Solar Powered Library to the neighborhood.
“Through this innovative partnership with the Friends of the Library and the community of Hunters Point, we can look forward to a summer of reading, enrichment and more resources that libraries have to offer. We thank the Friends for their leadership and look forward to building on this strong community foundation,” said Thomas W. Galante, President and CEO, Queens Library.
“The Hunters Point community deserves a world class library and we are very much looking forward to seeing that vision become a reality. While we wait on the bricks and mortar we are so pleased to have the Mobile Library service and excited to bring this sun and volunteer fueled pop-up library service. Everyone should become a Friend of the Library today!” said Mark Christie, President of the Friends of Hunters Point Library.
Note: There will be no service on July 5th; pop-up library is weather permitting; mobile library will be there rain or shine
