By Daniel Massey
As libraries across the borough suffer from the citywide budget cutbacks since Sept. 11, new children’s programs are being added at many branches, thanks to a $500,000 grant from the Charles B. Wang Foundation.
The Mary Wang Center for Children’s Programs, named after computer magnate Charles Wang’s mother, was dedicated at a ceremony Nov. 19 at the Flushing Library.
In its first year, the center is to provide a variety of children’s programs at branches around Queens, including after-school programs, technology assistance, a Bayside cyber center, arts and crafts, family literacy and toddler learning centers.
Teen ’Net Mentors at the Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, McGoldrick and Bayside branches will offer one-to-one technology assistance to library customers while also providing part-time jobs for young adults.
Family literacy, parenting and coping-skills programs at the Elmhurst, Flushing and Jackson Heights branches, held in Chinese, are aimed at encouraging bilingual literacy and helping the new Americans adjust to life in the United States.
“Funding the Mary Wang Center at Queens Library is a wonderful opportunity to simultaneously support children’s educational programs and honor my mother,” said Charles Wang, chairman of Computer Associates and the benefactor of the foundation that bears his name.
Mary Wang joined the staff of the Queens Borough Public Library in 1953 and served the readers of Queens for 25 years until her retirement in 1978. She was among the system’s first branch managers of Chinese descent, a “true asset” to the library as Asians increasingly flocked to the borough, said library spokeswoman Joanne King.
“Literacy and reading have always been very important values to me, while raising my own children and in my career as a librarian,” Mary Wang said. “I am honored that this center will work toward that end.”
The grant comes at a particularly important time. Last week, borough library officials announced a plan to reduce the system’s Sunday hours to handle a 15 percent cutback in its budget.
Reach reporter Daniel Massey by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 156.
