Library Thanks Pols For Funds

At their annual dinner dance and networking event, Queens Library officials paid tribute to local politicians who allocated funds towards the library during the past year. Queens Library Executive Director Tom Galante praised politicos for their dedication to the borough’s library system, which has grown to include 63 locations, as well six Adult Learning Centers.
“Tonight we recognize our State Assembly and State Senate delegations for delivering record funding for the Queens Library in their Fiscal Year 2007 budgets,” Galante said during the event, held at Caffe on the Green in Bayside. “The State Assembly delegation allocated a $6 million capital grant last year - the single largest State grant [ever] earmarked for Queens Library.
“Tonight we recognize our State Assembly and State Senate delegations for delivering record funding for the Queens Library in their Fiscal Year 2007 budgets,” Galante said during the event, held at Caffe on the Green in Bayside. “The State Assembly delegation allocated a $6 million capital grant last year - the single largest State grant [ever] earmarked for Queens Library.
Over the past three years, the State Senate and Assembly, as well as City Council contributed $101 million to capital improvements at Queens Library. The City pays all of the operating costs for the Library, as well as staff salaries.
Last year, the City opted to avert an $11 million budget cut to Queens Library and baseline funding for a minimum five-day service at all of the libraries.
In turn, city and state politicians praised the Library for providing service to the estimated 2.2 million Queens residents.
“Everyday Queens Library works miracles in our lives and in our borough,” said Assemblymember Cathy Nolan, Chair of the Education Committee. While speaking to the crowd of 100 at the event, Nolan highlighted the Library’s Family Literacy Program at the Queensbridge branch, where immigrant families learn English together.
State Senator John Sabini called the library system, which circulated 20.2 million items last year, an “organic, living, breathing entity.”
“We’re happy that you’ve made it such an easy sell for us,” Sabini said.
For recently elected Assemblymember Ellen Young, Queens Library - as well as the City’s public school system - provided access to free education and support for her and her family after she emigrated to the United States 20 years ago. A former “Friends of Queens Library” president, Young explained that as she moved to several neighborhoods in Queens, she made sure to stay within close proximity to the Library, and she currently resides within a block of the Flushing branch. Now that she has been elected, Young added that she plans to follow in the footsteps of State Assembly and Senate members by supporting the library financially.