Flushing Library goers now have four new areas to explore.
The Flushing branch of the Queens Library recently opened a new teen center, cyber center, media center and quiet room to offer customers – young and old – new reasons to visit the library.
“[They are] really unique dedicated areas that serve the vast variety of needs of those who come through the doors of this library, which is the busiest library in our system,” Queens Library chief executive officer Tom Galante said on Thursday, June 3, as he, along with City Comptroller John Liu and Councilmember Peter Koo, gave a tour of the new facilities.
The new media center houses the CD and DVD collections and is equipped with fast and efficient self-checkout technology, while the teen center features new carpeting, lighting and furniture and gives the youngsters a much more attractive space to work.
“We really needed this teen center because, although we had always had lots of programs for young children, we want to keep the teens engaged,” said Liu, who provided a $1 million grant for the work while he was a Councilmember. “We want our teenagers to be in the library as much as humanly possible.”
In addition, the new cyber center offers 38 brand new public-use computers and new technologies to support the free access to computer workstations.
Already, students like Jonathan Giron, who attends John Bowne High School, were taking advantage of the new facilities.
“I come here a lot; it’s a good place to relax,” Giron said.
In total, the enhancements came to $1.3 million, the majority coming from Liu. Assemblymember Grace Meng also provided funding through a grant.
The Queens Library system, which has the highest circulation of any public library system in the country, is facing nearly $17 million in proposed budget cuts in the upcoming budget, and supporters and legislators have been holding rallies and protests to denounce the cuts.
Koo, who has attended a number of the rallies in support of the library, believes it is critical for the libraries to be spared of the cuts.
“During economic downturns more people come to the library to use the computers,” said Koo, who also stressed that the libraries are also becoming more like community centers for customers.
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