Blog posts

Queens Public Library Opens New Teen Center at Long Island City Library and Reopens Three Renovated Teen Centers at Cambria Heights, Central and Flushing Libraries 

Each Site, Funded Through a Substantial Investment from Mayor Eric Adams, Features New Computers, Gaming Systems, AV Equipment and More

Dedicated Staff Are Available To Guide Teens and Provide Tech-Focused Instruction 

Queens, NY_ Queens Public Library this week will open four state-of-the-art, tech-focused spaces dedicated exclusively to teens and supporting their unique needs, thanks to a $20 million investment from Mayor Adams and private foundations for teen center upgrades at public libraries across the city. This funding is part of his administration’s citywide strategy to help young people recover from the educational and emotional setbacks they experienced during an extended period of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Publicly accessible youth services to inspire, educate, and upskill are critical to the development of not only our teenagers but New York City as a whole,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “I am thrilled to see this $20 million public-private partnership and City investment come to fruition with more teen spaces and programming across the vibrant communities in the World’s Borough thanks to the Queens Public Library.”

These inviting, safe spaces – modeled on QPL’s Far Rockaway Teen Library, which was refurbished in 2022 with funding from Google – will start welcoming teens this week with open house events from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12 at Central Library (89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica) on Wednesday, September 13, at Cambria Heights Library (218-13 Linden Boulevard) on Thursday, September 14, at Long Island City (37-44 21st Street) and on Friday, September 15 at Flushing Library (41-17 Main Street). There will be food, music, demonstrations and gift card raffles at each open house.

Last October, Mayor Adams announced a public-private partnership with Google, the Joly Family Foundation and Best Buy to award approximately $20 million, including $15 million from the City, towards opening teen spaces at New York City’s public libraries. All three library systems – Queens Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and the New York Public Library - developed new or updated existing teen centers in underserved communities throughout the five boroughs, providing programming and enhanced learning opportunities to support skills and career development, allowing young people to connect with friends and neighbors and helping them find a path for success.

“Teens need dedicated spaces where they can connect with peers, lean on caring adults, learn new skills, experience state-of-the-art technology, and develop their interests,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “We are so pleased to offer our young people new, welcoming, safe places they can call their own, and we are grateful to Mayor Adams, his administration and Google.org for funding our teen centers and for being tremendous supporters of public libraries.”

Written by Clara Ontal

Antoinette Jamilah Ali-Sanders was an accomplished landscape architect and community activist. She broke barriers in her academic and professional career, paving the way in urban planning, landscape architecture, and education advocacy. At the intersection of Seagirt Boulevard and Beach 17th Street in Far Rockaway, Queens, a street is co-named in her honor.

Born on February 19, 1958, Ali-Sanders was the eldest of three children of Shaykh Abd'Allah Latif Ali, an activist who was instrumental in the Islamic community and Marcus Garvey movement. In an autobiographical essay written in 2015, Ali-Sanders embraces her heritage and family. She notes the significance of being a third-generation college graduate while simultaneously having dark skin. It meant her parents and grandparents had to overcome the exclusion of Black people who were “darker than a brown paper bag” from most colleges, with only colleges started by Black people, such as Tuskegee University, being the exception. Growing up in Teaneck, NJ - the first town to integrate schools - Ali-Sanders had experiences that were “sensitive and responsive to civil rights issues of the 1960s,” such as being involved in a fundraiser for Rosa Parks, which was influential in shaping her interest in social, political, and community activities. In high school, she participated in the Black Student Union, cheer squad, gymnastics team, and dance team, all while maintaining stellar grades. Thanks to her good grades and strong work ethic, she graduated high school a year early in 1975 and attended Rutgers University, where she majored in Landscape Architecture and minored in Civil Engineering. During her college years, members of the KKK broke into her car and threatened her, but Ali-Sanders persevered. In an act of solidarity, fraternity members from Kappas and Ques would walk with her to class. In 1980, Ali-Sanders became the first Black woman to earn a bachelor's degree from Rutgers’ Landscape Architecture program.

After graduation, Ali-Sanders pursued a career as a landscape designer and developer, while firmly rooted in her belief in revitalizing, not gentrifying, communities in New York and New Jersey. In 1981, Ali-Sanders began working with the New York City Parks Department. She was among the first group of women landscape designers, and she continued at the Parks Department for 35 years. During her tenure, she oversaw the construction of parks, playgrounds, and structures, and the restoration of monuments. As a union delegate, she organized against racial and gender discrimination in the workforce.

In 1982, she founded the Metro Skyway Construction Company to build affordable housing in Jersey City, NJ. Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, she built nearly 100 affordable housing units and oversaw sweat equity programs to help community members remain in their neighborhoods in Jersey City.

As a resident of Far Rockaway, Queens, she engaged with elected officials, community groups, and residents to raise awareness about ongoing gentrification in an effort to keep residents from being pushed out. Her aim was to revitalize Far Rockaway to serve the needs of the local community. She was inspired by Martha’s Vineyard as a “beautiful beachfront community that has a thriving Black community,” and wanted to apply this model to Far Rockaway. She achieved this vision through her restoration of O’Donohue Park. Her design of a stage and seating area overlooking Rockaway Beach allows residents to gather for community events and enjoy a meal from the waterfront restaurant, DredSurfer.

Ali-Sanders also advocated for various causes related to civic empowerment and educational opportunities, and was actively involved in city politics. In the 1990s, she began volunteering with the All Stars Project, working on the Committee for Independent Action - a community organizing initiative that trained people to advocate on behalf of the city’s poor. In 1994, she was involved with the New York State Black Political Convention and was a member of the National Action Network. She attended legislative and policy conferences in Washington, DC, where she advocated on behalf of the Black community. She also met with national leaders, learning firsthand about upcoming legislation, which she would then relay back to the network for further action.

During this time, Ali-Sanders played an active role in advocating for improvements in Black education. She joined the Association of Black Educators of New York (ABENY) and hosted her own cable access show, “Jamilah Ali Community Affairs Program,” an advocacy platform for advancing Black education and wellness in the community. (Spencer, Christian. “A Street for Jamilah.” The Wave, 03 October 2019, paragraph 14.)

Compassion was an impetus for her community activism and was just as present in her relationships with family and friends. Safiah Ali-Jenkins, Ali-Sanders’ younger sister, fondly recalls, “As my oldest sister, she always had time for me and would allow me to tag along with her and her friends. My fondest memories were when she went to college when I was only seven, and I would spend weekends with her in her dorm. She would take me to basketball games, campus functions, and parties. Those were some of the best times of my childhood.” Ali-Sanders’ stepdaughter Nzinga Cerrice Dawson, who refers to Ali-Sanders as Jamilah, said “Jamilah taught me so much about life and parenthood. Her example influenced many of the choices that I made when I had my children (i.e. only giving them homemade baby food and only having Black characters in their books/toys). The way she loved me became the blueprint for when I became a stepmother myself.”

Malik Sanders, Ali-Sanders' son, continues to be inspired by the way his mother “fought for her family and community, no matter what the odds against her.” He recounts how she had battles of her own and still found time to give to others, teaching him “to remember that everyone we meet may be facing personal battles, and we should try to extend the same grace we would like to have extended our way.”

To this day, she is remembered fondly for her kind nature and compassion towards her community. At her favorite local eatery, the DredSurfer restaurant on Rockaway beach, workers Mercedes and Charles remember her as a dear kind friend who enjoyed good conversation along with her meals, while overlooking the water. Mercedes remembers how Ali-Sanders and Charles’ young niece, Justice, would play together on the beach. When Justice was informed of Ali-Sanders’ passing, she cried a lot at the loss of a friend. Mercedes said Ali-Sanders was not one to boast of her many accomplishments. Mercedes found out only after her passing that the landscape surrounding the DredSurfer was designed by Ali-Sanders.

Following her passing in 2019, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards co-named Beach 17th Street after Ali-Sanders to honor her achievements and contributions to the community. At the time, her son, Malik, was working on land use at the Borough President's Office and launching an environmental initiative with his colleague, Katherine Brezler. He describes the initiative as a continuation of her legacy: “My mom is definitely looking down smiling…That is a program after her own heart.”

Thank you to Malik Sanders and the family of Antoinette Jamilah Ali-Sanders for their contributions to this article.

It's time for the 2023-2024 School Year!

School is back in session, and you and your family will be ready, with help from Queens Public Library!

Back-to-School Guide

QPL is here for kids, parents, caregivers, and educators with our extensive Back-to-School Guide in four languages: English, Bengali (বাংলা), Chinese (中文), and Spanish (Español)!

This year's Back-to-School Guide includes:

• Library Resources and Databases for Students
• Early Learning, School Aged, and Young Adult Booklists (which you can also find below)
• Articles about Your Child's School Sleep Schedule, What to Do When Your Child is Hurting, and Family Communication
• The 2023-2024 NYC Public School Calendar
• and much more!

You can download QPL’s 2023-2024 Back-to-School Guide here:

• English
• Bengali (বাংলা)
• Chinese (中文)
• Spanish (Español)

STACKS Afterschool

Do you know anyone who might need help with their homework this Fall? If so, point them to STACKS!

Developed by Queens Public Library, STACKS is a free afterschool enrichment program for children in grades K-5. STACKS was created to enhance children’s learning experiences through age-appropriate activities in a safe, welcoming environment.

All programs are held in-person at nine locations across Queens. STACKS operates throughout the school year (including school holidays), Mondays-Fridays, 3pm-5:30pm. For Fall 2023, classes will begin Monday, October 2.

Registration will be open from Monday, September 18 to Friday, October 6. Each location will be hosting information sessions and enrollment kickoff days. We encourage parents to attend to receive more information.

Learn More about STACKS: queenslib.org/qplstacks

Kick Off to Kindergarten & Toddler Learning Centers

You’re never too young to start your educational journey!

QPL’s Kick Off to Kindergarten (K2K) program enables young children (ages 3-5) to develop their early literacy skills—and begin a lifelong love of reading! Meanwhile, their parents and caregivers receive guidance to become confident in their ability to support their child’s development. Classes are offered virtually and in-person, with translation support in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.

Designed to serve the needs of toddlers (approx. ages 18-38 months) and their caregivers, QPL’s Toddler Learning Centers (TLCs) are hosted at multiple Queens Public Library locations across the borough. While your children play in a safe, nurturing environment and participate in guided activities, early learning professionals will offer you advice about speech development, nutrition, early literacy, gross motor development, and much more.

Our Fall 2023 K2K and TLC programs are starting soon; visit our Early Learning Services webpage for more information and to register.

Back-to-School Programs

Join us in-person at the Library for our upcoming programs and get ready for the new school year.

Back-to-School Booklists

Here are some books from the Library for early readers, school-age kids, and teens that will help kids deal with first-day-of-school anxiety, and get them excited for the classroom and beyond!

Early Learning

The Queen of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Bitsy Bat, School Star by Kaz Windness
Book | eBook

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López (Illust.)
Book | eBook | Español

Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim
Book | eBook

El Cucuy Is Scared, Too! by Donna Barba Higuera and Juliana Perdomo (Illust.)
Book | eBook

Time for School, Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry (Illust.)
Book | eBook

How to be Confident in Kindergarten by D.J. Steinberg and Ruth Hammond (Illust.)
Book | eBook

Giant-Sized Butterflies on My First Day of School by Justin Roberts and Paola Escobar (Illust.)
Book | eBook

School Aged

Finally Seen by Kelly Yang
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Twins vs. Triplets: Back-to-School Blitz by Jennifer Torres and Vanessa Flores (Illust.)
Book | eBook

New Kid by Jerry Craft
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business by Lyla Lee and Dung Ho (Illust.)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

The First Day of School by Margaret McNamara and Mike Gordon (Illust.)
Book | eBook

Attack of the Black Rectangles by A.S. King
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Join the Club, Maggie Diaz by Nina Moreno and Courtney Lovett (Illust.)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Just Right Jillian by Nicole D. Collier
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Young Adult

Study Break: 11 College Tales from Orientation to Graduation by Aashna Avachat (Editor)

Surviving High School by Lele Pons and Melissa de la Cruz
Book | eBook

The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes
Book | Audiobook

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks
Book | eBook

Begin Again by Emma Lord
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Throwback by Maurene Goo
Book | eBook

The High School Survival Guide by Jessica Holsman
Book | eBook

The Next New Syrian Girl by Ream Shukairy
Book | eBook

New York City is officially going through a heat wave, and Queens Public Library is here to help!

If you don’t have air conditioning in your home or your apartment, or if you are at risk for heat-related illness, please visit your local library.

Public libraries in New York City serve as official “cooling centers” during a heat emergency. Cooling centers are places where you can enjoy air-conditioned comfort. They are free and open to the public, even if you are not using their services.

NYC Emergency Management will let the public know when a heat emergency happens, such as an unusually hot day, or several hot days in a row.

If you need a cool place to visit, stop by your local QPL branch for great books, programs, and events—and stay for the air conditioning!

All open Queens Public Library locations except Glen Oaks and Mitchell-Linden will operate as NYC Cooling Centers during this heat emergency. Visit https://www.queenslibrary.org/about-us/locations for our hours of operation.

To check for any changes in the status of the air conditioning at your local library, please contact them directly.

If you need to find another Cooling Center closer to you, please call 311 or visit the NYC Cooling Centers webpage.

QPL's Teen Committee has come up with these great steps to help you make the most of your upcoming school year.

Don't miss the Grand Reopening of QPL's newly renovated Teen Centers, and the debut of our new Teen Center at Long Island City Library, starting Tuesday, September 12! Learn More.

5 Steps to a Successful School Year!

Step #1: Build a Healthy Sleep Routine

It's important to build a healthy sleep routine so you can feel mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared for the school year.

Build your sleep routine by:

• Turning off your phone and any other devices an hour before bedtime, to lessen mental stimulation before bed.
• Getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep.
• Setting your alarm clock at night to wake you up early enough to get prepared for your school day. (You can even do some of your preparation the night before, like making your lunch or packing your school bag.)

Step #2: Make a Meal Plan

Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day.

The word "breakfast" broken up means to break the fast. Your body needs nourishment after sleeping for hours.

The night before, plan out your meal options for the morning:

• Do you have enough time to make a warm meal, or only time for a quick bowl of cereal?
• Does your school offer breakfast services?
• Are you sticking with a New York classic and getting your bacon, egg, and cheese from your local deli?

The options are endless; just be sure to plan your morning meal according to your needs.

Step #3: Create a Schedule

After the first day or first week of school, you should know what classes you are taking this year and the assignments that are due in the first few weeks of the semester.

Each semester, plan accordingly and schedule out what needs to be done during the school year, and at what time.

You can do this by:

• Buying or creating your own yearly planner, or
• Creating a schedule on your phone’s calendar by color-coding your subjects and assignments.

Step #4: Know Where You’re Headed

Starting a new grade or a new school can be scary.

But if you plan beforehand, you can lessen your anxiety.

• Check the average time it takes for you to commute from your home to your school.
• If you're not riding a school bus, see what public buses or trains are the best ones to use to get you to school on time.
• Use the time before school to make sure your train or bus is running on schedule.
• Have a back-up plan. If you miss your school bus, or the train or bus you normally take isn't running properly, what are some other ways to get to school?
• Once you’re at school, do you know where to enter and where your first class is? (Especially important if you're at a new school.)

Planning all of this ahead of time will lessen your anxiety.

And keep in mind that it’s okay to ask for help!

Step #5: Set Your Intentions for the School Year

Do you want to make new friends?
Join new clubs or activities after school?
Do you want better grades or test scores?

Set your intentions for this school year right before school starts, and make a plan of action to succeed. Success starts with you!

If you are not sure where to start or how to make a plan of action, remember that it is okay to ask for help.

And Here's an Extra Step!

Visit one of our 5 Teen Centers (Cambria Heights, Central Library, Flushing, Long Island City, and the Far Rockaway Teen Library), where our staff can help you plan out all the steps on this list.

Queens Public Library is here to help you have a successful school year!

Gardening is a fun and engaging hobby for children and adults, with many benefits!

The benefits of gardening include:

• Doing good for the planet.
• Reducing stress and anxiety.
• Bonding with family, friends, and members of your community.

You can get into gardening with a little help from QPL’s Seed Library!

You might ask…

What is a seed library?
Just like books, you can check out packets of seeds from QPL. You can plant, grow, and harvest the seeds. Any leftover seeds, or new seeds harvested at the end of the growing season, may be brought back to the library.

How does it work?
Check out seed packets—this is the same process used for taking home other library materials like books and DVDs.

Where can I check out seeds?
Seeds are available at the following QPL locations:

• Corona
• East Elmhurst
• Queensboro Hill
• Rochdale Village

Seed packets are available while supplies last, with a limit of 3 packets per person.

Queens Public Library To Celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary With a Star-Studded, Two-Day Summit August 3-4 at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center

Lineup Features Conversations With Hip Hop Greats, Hands-On Workshops, Interactive Exhibits, Augmented Reality Experiences, DJ and Open Mic Sessions, and More

Guest Speakers Include Rappers KRS-One and Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC, the Singer Lumidee, VIBE Magazine Editor-in-Chief Datwon Thomas and Universal Hip Hop Museum Founder and Executive Director Rocky Bucano

QUEENS, NY_Queens Public Library will celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip hop with its Hip Hop 50 Summit, featuring two days of panel discussions, interactive workshops, exhibits, augmented reality experiences, open mic sessions and DJ sets, and including appearances by hip hop legends Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC and KRS-One, the singer Lumidee, Universal Hip Hop Museum Founder and Executive Director Rocky Bucano, and VIBE Editor-in-Chief Datwon Thomas, and many others on Thursday, August 3 (from 9:30 AM to 5 PM), and Friday, August 4 (from 9:30 AM to 4PM), at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, at 45-50 Van Dam Street in Long Island City.  

“Recognizing, celebrating and preserving hip hop, as well as exploring its roots, influence and impact, are critical to understanding the history of New York City, our nation, and entire generations that connect and express themselves through this cultural phenomenon,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “We are thrilled to host the Hip Hop 50 Summit in the borough of Queens, which has played a significant role in hip hop's rise from a local art form to a global movement.” 

QPL Hip Hop Coordinator and Video Music Box Founder Ralph McDaniels, along with co-host DJ G$Money, will emcee the summit, which is designed to explore the origins of hip hop and its transformation into a global phenomenon that endures to this day.

“I am very excited about the Hip Hop 50 Summit,” said QPL Hip Hop Coordinator Ralph McDaniels, also known as “Uncle Ralph.” “The conversation and agenda will cover all five decades of hip hop culture and its core elements - DJing, MCing, breakdancing, graffiti art and knowledge. The summit will celebrate hip hop legacy, but more importantly, it will create a space to exchange ideas, while also becoming a lasting resource on the subject for the future.”

The summit’s interactive workshops will be led by DJs, break dancers, and graffiti artists. Hip hop pioneers, performers, and scholars will headline panel discussions about the history of hip hop and its cultural, social and economic impact.

Hip hop fans will also get to explore digital hip hop archives and have the opportunity to digitize their own hip hop memorabilia.

In addition, attendees will be able to sign up for a QPL Special Edition Hip Hop Card, featuring artwork by the legendary streetwear trailblazers the Shirt Kings. The New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library will also be distributing their special edition hip hop cards.

The summit will kick off with a series of programs tailored to young people. One of them will be “Hip Hop History, Science, Technology & Innovations” (Thursday, Aug. 3,  10:30 - 11:15 AM), an immersive workshop, moderated by young entrepreneur Aaliyah Duah, that combines education and entertainment. Rappers Phresher and Young B as well as American data scientist and CEO of DataedX Group Dr. Brandeis Marshall will provide insights into various aspects of the entertainment industry. Youth from across New York City are invited to learn about hip hop culture and engage in various hands-on activities. 

The following panel, “The Business of Hip Hop, Careers and Activism,” (Thursday, Aug. 3, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM) will feature rapper Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC, singer Lumidee, and media personality AV Perkins who will explore the power of hip hop, from opportunities to making money to changing minds, how it raises awareness about important issues and its impact on the economy, social issues, culture, and politics. While it wasn't the intention at the inception of the genre, hip hop artists have led the way in building business empires based on their music and style.

Other highlights include “Paving the Way: Pioneers of Hip Hop” (Thursday, Aug. 3, 2-3 PM), a program featuring pioneer rappers KRS-One and Darryl McDaniels, as well as MC Sha-Rock, one of the first female MCs in hip hop history, and DJ Hurricane, best known for his work with the Beastie Boys. They will focus on the past generations who have paved the way, while also encouraging cross-generational dialogue between various artists. 

“Switch the Style Up: Fashion in Hip Hop” (Thursday, Aug. 4, 3:30-4:30 PM), a discussion hosted by fashion historian and archivist Tianni Graham, will feature the Shirt Kings, Black fashion designer Malik Dupri, PowHerful Apparel CEO Dave Huie and FIT Professor and hip hop fashion expert Elena Romero. They will examine how the different brands, styles and looks all played a big part in the overall hip hop culture, while having a profound impact on mainstream culture and fashion as well.

On Friday, August 4, from 10 to 11:15 AM, Rocky Bucano, the founder and executive director of the Universal Hip Hop Museum, will moderate “The Message: Media, Technology and the Future,” a conversation with VIBE Magazine Editor-in-Chief Datwon Thomas, YouTube Black Music & Culture Director Tuma Basa, Microsoft Senior Attorney Bruce Jackson and DJ TedSmooth about the intersection of hip hop, the media and technology.

The summit will close with “Fight the Power: Social Justice and Education,” (Friday, Aug. 4, from 2:30 to 3:45 PM), a panel featuring Dr. Christopher Emdin, the founder of the #HipHopEd social movement, DJ and Co-Founder of Hip Hop Blvd NYC Al Pizarro, hip hop artist and criminal justice reform activist Mysonne Linen, and Lennox Yearwood Jr., President and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus, a nonprofit that connects the hip hop community to the civic process. They will discuss hip hop as a legitimate vehicle for social change and how artists have traditionally responded to violence and injustice within their communities.

DJ Wiz and DJ Chuck Chillout from WBLS 107.7 FM will provide the soundtrack for the summit, and there will be several interactive performances, a fashion slideshow and a graffiti exhibit. 

Throughout the summit, The Gates Preserve, a multimedia hip hop archiving and preservation firm, will be running a Pop Up Archive featuring digital activations and augmented reality experience where participants can explore hip hop magazines, tributes to late hip hop legends, and view hip hop programs from across the nation via the TRACE phone app. Attendees are also invited to bring their cell phone and printed photos as well as memorabilia from hip hop concerts, such as ticket stubs/passes and concert swag, and learn how to digitize them with the help from professional archivists. To schedule an appointment for the Pop Up Archive, go here. 

The programs presented during the summit will be livestreamed on QPL’s Instagram, recorded and cataloged in QPL’s Digital Hip Hop Archive to serve as learning tools about hip hop for educators. 

The summit culminates “Collections of Culture: 50 Years of Hip Hop Inside Libraries, Museums and Archives,” a six-month celebration of hip hop funded through a $342,760 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) that began in February, when Queens Public Library partnered with New York City’s libraries and other institutions nationwide to host dozens of in-person and virtual programs. 

To see a full list of panels and events, visit HipHop50Summit.eventbrite.com. The event is free to attend, but tickets are limited and required for entry.

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 center located in the nation’s largest public housing complex, two teen centers, two bookmobiles, and two book bicycles.

Contact:  Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, ekern@queenslibrary.org, 917 702 0016

NYC Libraries and the New York Life Foundation to Give Away 15,000 Books in Summer Book Giveaway on July 28 and 29 at Select Locations in All Five Boroughs

JULY 19, 2023—New York City’s three library systems—Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), New York Public Library (NYPL), and Queens Public Library (QPL) in partnership with the New York Life Foundation—are giving away 15,000 books for families to keep. The giveaway is part of the libraries’ annual summer reading and learning programs, which encourage children and teens to read books to develop and maintain critical thinking skills over the summer.

“Summer Reading programs promote children’s literacy and academic skills and help prevent learning loss during the summer months. This is especially important for low-income families that have limited access to affordable and quality summer programs,” said Marlyn Torres, senior program officer, New York Life Foundation. “With a goal of combating summer learning loss in children who are at the greatest risk of experiencing the "summer slide," the libraries’ annual summer reading and learning programs help young people stay excited and engaged in learning so they can begin the school year in September on-track and better prepared to learn.”

Books for children and teens will be available at select branches on July 28 and 29. Throughout the weekend, while supplies last, young readers can pick up books to keep at home and sign up for a library card to continue reading all year long. Books will be available in English and Spanish. In select locations, books will be available in Chinese as well. The initiative builds on the Libraries' efforts to support New Yorkers in need and includes locations near Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (HERRC) or shelters, which have seen an increase in residents, particularly asylum seekers. 

 A complete list of locations is below.

This is the fifth summer the New York Life Foundation has provided support for Summer Reading and Learning programs for New York City’s Libraries. It is estimated that summer breaks cause the average student to lose up to two months of instruction per year, with students from low-income families disproportionately affected.

The importance of reading to young children is well documented. Children who have books in their homes and are read to by parents and caregivers are more likely to succeed in school. Conversely children who enter school behind often stay behind. In addition, children in low-income households are less likely to have age-appropriate books at home or adults who support early literacy through reading or singing.

“At The New York Public Library, we are dedicated to ensuring every New Yorker has access to the transformative power of books," said Anthony W. Marx, President of The New York Public Library. "It is a unique privilege to support children and teens on their reading journey, providing them with wonderful stories that inspire and educate them. We are grateful to the New York Life Foundation for partnering with New York City’s libraries to giveaway thousands of books for young readers to take home, which will encourage them to read more and to visit their local library, where our dedicated staff can offer even more recommendations and new worlds to explore.”

“We know that growing up reading and with access to books has a powerful impact on an individual’s future success, and we are excited to help families build their own libraries at home,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “And we are grateful to the New York Life Foundation for their generous support as we work to instill a lifelong love of reading in children and teens and ensure they continue to develop their literacy skills during the summer months.”

“We are grateful to the New York Life Foundation for their continued and generous support of New York City’s young readers,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library. “Summer is the perfect time to escape with a good book, and reading at home prepares children for a successful school year.”

GIVEAWAY LOCATIONS AND HOURS
(While supplies last)

Brooklyn Public Library

Friday July 28, 12 to 3 p.m.

Kensington Library, 4207 18TH Ave

Crown Heights Library, 560 New York Avenue

Saratoga Library at Saratoga Park, 112 Howard Avenue

Park Slope Library, 431 6th Avenue

Saturday July 29, 12 to 3 p.m.

East Flatbush Library, 9612 Church Avenue

McKinley Park Library, 6802 Fort Hamilton Library

The New York Public Library

Friday and Saturday July 28 and 29, 12 to 3 p.m.

Manhattan

53rd Street Library, 18 W 53rd Street

Columbus Library, 742 10th Avenue

Epiphany Library, 228 E 23rd Street

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, 455 5th Avenue

Staten Island
Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library, 2550 Victory Blvd

Bronx

Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Road

Sedgwick Library, 1701 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd

Wakefield Library, 4100 Lowerre Place

Queens Public Library
Friday July 28 12 to 3 p.m.

Arverne Library, 312 Beach 54 Street

Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd

Corona Library, 38-23 104 Street

Flushing Library, 41-17 Main Street

About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. As a leader in developing modern 21st century libraries, we provide resources to support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.6 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We provide nearly 65,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.

About The New York Public Library
For over 125 years, The New York Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars. The New York Public Library receives approximately 16 million visits through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. 

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 center located in the nation’s largest public housing complex, two teen centers, two bookmobiles, and two book bicycles. 

Contact: Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, ekern@queenslibrary.org

Main image photo credit: Lefrak City Pool. Long Island Daily Press, ca. 1975.

How hot is your summer? What do you do to cool down? Where do you go? What do you love (or hate) about summer in the city?  

Explore these “hot topics” while enjoying an exhibition of historic photographs from the Queens Public Library’s archival collections and see how New Yorkers have found ways to keep cool when temperatures rise, on display through Friday, August 4. 

The exhibit’s curators are working on a new project called “Melting Metropolis.” Over the next five years, the project’s researchers will be working with community groups and artists in Queens, New York, as well as London and Paris, to explore how lived experiences of heat in cities have changed from 1945 to the present day.  

Follow Melting Metropolis on Instagram: @meltingmetropolis and #howwedosummerinQueens, and on Twitter: @MeltingMetrop.  

Recommended Books 

Ready to welcome summer weather with a book? Check out these curated items from our librarians.  

• Handling The Heat: Books For Adults List 1
• Handling The Heat: Books For Adults List 2
• Handling The Heat: Books For Teens And Children
• Handling The Heat: Books For Children

Queens Public Library and New York Public Library Release Special Edition Library Cards at Branches on July 14 to Celebrate 50 Years of Hip-Hop

The two library systems will also celebrate the birth of hip-hop in a series of special events August 3–5.

For QPL, early access for cards will be available at Central Library on Thursday, July 13 at a Hip-Hop Card Release Party with the Shirt Kings and special guests.

NYPL to release playlists in partnership with TIDAL featuring archival material and song selections from staff at the Library for the Performing Arts.

Visual Assets:

Links to images of NYPL and QPL cards

July 7, 2023 — In recognition of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, The New York Public Library (NYPL) and Queens Public Library (QPL) will each release a limited edition library card that celebrates the genre and New York City’s central role in its rise as a global cultural movement that endures to this day. The cards will be available at each system’s respective branches in the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Queens starting July 14. 

The NYPL card features the iconic “Wild Style” mural from the original soundtrack of the 1983 film by the same name. That film, directed, written, and produced by Charlie Ahearn and set in the South Bronx, is considered the first ever hip-hop film, with appearances by some of the most formative figures of the genre, including Fab 5 Freddy, the Cold Crush Brothers, Lady Pink, and Grandmaster Flash. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture acquired Fab Five Freddy’s archives in 2019.

The New York Public Library chose the “Wild Style” mural image because the soundtrack’s original cassette is part of NYPL’s extensive hip-hop research collection at the Schomburg Center. The distinct “Wild Style” mural created by artists Zephyr, Revolt, and Sharp serves as the art for the front of the library card, while the back of the card depicts the original soundtrack cassette. Other items in the Schomburg’s hip-hop collection include Hip-Hop Archive Project files, the James Topp art collection and the Talib Haqq pictorial history of hip-hop.

The special edition QPL card features art by the legendary streetwear trailblazers, the Shirt Kings. Starting in 1986 from a booth at the Colosseum Mall in Jamaica, Queens, their graffiti-inspired custom clothing designs drew some of the biggest names in hip-hop as well as everyday fans, made their way to album covers and music videos, and helped lay the foundation for hip-hop fashion as a global force. The card reflects the Shirt Kings’ trademark style, while reinforcing the importance of reading, writing, positivity, and fun. 

QPL’s special edition hip-hop cards will be available at all QPL branches starting on Friday, July 14. On Thursday, July 13, at 11:30 a.m., Queens Central Library (89-11 Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica) will host an official card release party with the Shirt Kings, special guests and Ralph McDaniels, Queens Public Library’s Hip Hop Coordinator.  Early access to the cards will be available at the start of the release celebration. 

In addition to the release of the limited edition library cards, both Queens Public Library and The New York Public Library will be hosting activities to mark the anniversary of hip-hop, which commemorates the moment on August 11, 1973 when, at a house party in the South Bronx, DJ Kool Herc switched, repeated, and isolated tracks through record breaks—creating one of the first instances of the genre as people would come to know it. 

Hip-hop Events To Be Held August 3–5 at Both Queens Public Library and The New York Public Library 

As part of a six-month celebration that began in February, Queens Public Library partnered with New York City’s libraries and other institutions nationwide to host dozens of in-person and virtual programs. Titled “Collections of Culture: 50 Years of Hip Hop Inside Libraries, Museums and Archives” and funded through a $342,760 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the initiative has featured dozens of panel discussions, author talks, educational forums, and workshops. 

The initiative will culminate in a two-day summit on August 3–4 at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Long Island City, Queens, which aims to further explore the history of hip-hop and its expansion into different sectors of society, including higher education, marketing/advertising, other genres of music, social justice, civil rights, and economics.

The summit’s interactive workshops will invite visitors to learn hands-on from artists who specialize in various elements of hip-hop, including DJs, break dancers, and graffiti artists. Hip-hop pioneers, performers, and scholars will lead panel discussions about the history of hip-hop and its cultural significance. To register for the summit, click here.

The following day, on August 5, New Yorkers can celebrate hip-hop culture at two corresponding events at The New York Public Library’s historic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. “The Rap Up”— an immersive experience that will take you back in time to hip-hop’s early years featuring a series of panel discussions and hip-hop exhibits — will begin at 10 AM and feature VIBE Magazine Editor-in-Chief Datwon Thomas, Wild Style director Charlie Ahearn, Fab 5 Freddy, award-winning hip-hop artist Mickey Factz, fashion icons 5001 Flavors and April Walker, acclaimed author and journalist Vikki Tobak, music by DJ Spinna, and more. 

The party will continue outside on the Fifth Avenue plaza where NYPL will conclude the celebration with a special hip-hop–themed edition of the Library’s annual Dance Party NYC, an intergenerational citywide dance party with a special guest DJ, hosted in partnership with the New Victory Theater and Bryant Park. The dance party begins at 3 PM. More information about all hip-hop anniversary activities at NYPL can be found at www.nypl.org/hiphop50.

Curated music playlist inspired by archival material in partnership with TIDAL

In partnership with NYPL’s Library for the Performing Arts, global music and entertainment streaming platform TIDAL has created three staff-curated playlists featuring music by decade inspired by the research library’s expansive VIBE magazine collection. This hip-hop playlist will be on “Live on TIDAL,” which is a feature on the TIDAL app, on Monday, August 7, at 4PM. 

The playlists, a joint effort between NYPL and TIDAL, were designed to showcase the Library’s extensive hip-hop research archive, which includes the entire collection of VIBE magazine print periodicals. Each playlist is 30 songs, in recognition of VIBE’s 30th anniversary this year, and is largely inspired by artists featured in the celebrated magazine, which captured the golden age of hip-hop and was founded in 1993 by Quincy Jones and David Salzman. Over the years, VIBE profiled rappers like Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, TLC, Queen Latifah, and the Notorious B.I.G., and captured the raw feelings and differences of opinion underpinning the East Coast vs. West Coast hip-hop battles of the late 90s.

About The New York Public Library

For over 125 years, The New York Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With over 90 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming, and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars. The New York Public Library receives approximately 16 million visits through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support. 

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 center located in the nation’s largest public housing complex, two teen centers, two bookmobiles, and two book bicycles.

Media Contacts

QPL: Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | ekern@queenslibrary.org

NYPL: Leah Drayton | leahdrayton@nypl.org