Library celebrates after-school program

Queens Library officials and The After-School Corporation (TASC) welcomed 76 librarians at Flushing Library to celebrate the first year of the after-school Best Out Of School Time (BOOST) program.
The BOOST program, offered free at all 63 Queens Library locations, was designed for drop-in students who are seeking a safe, high-quality after-school program to get their homework done, see their friends, befriend supportive adults, and take up a specific interest.
During the BOOST Expo, librarians as well as after-school activity assistants shared tips on how to enhance the academic and social skills of children ages 6 to 14 and promote their appreciation of the library community. Director of Library Services Maureen O'Connor and Leslie Taylor, the Library's BOOST program coordinator, along with TASC's Michele Haberland and Hannah Silverman, presided at the half-day Expo. Attendees enjoyed teambuilding games and improvisation skits presented by the lively ENACT troupe during the busy morning.
Students living in Queens have naturally been coming to the public libraries for years because they see libraries as safe havens.
Socially, they [the kids] learn a lot more on how to get along with their peers,” said Judy Close, who works for Marketing and Communications at Central Library. &#8220If a bunch of kids get together in an age group, I can see where they strike a friendship with others.”
Library staff supervise all BOOST activities and clubs every day after school from 3 to 6 p.m. Activities even include the innovative &#8220Read Down Your Fines” program, where patrons 17-and-under can repay late fee fines by receiving &#8220library bucks” for each half-hour they spend reading in the library or reading to children.
The Queens Library is an independent, not-for-profit library system and is not affiliated with The New York Public Library or any other library. Queens Library serves a population of 2.2 million in the most ethnically diverse county in the U.S. and has a record 20.2 million items in circulation, one of the highest circulations of any public library system in the world.
For more information about programs, services, locations, events and news, visit the Queens Library Web site at www.queenslibrary.org or phone 718-990-0700.
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