I want to introduce myself to you and the residents of Queens. I started my library career as a children’s librarian trainee in Suffolk County, while pursuing my master’s of Library Science at St. John’s University. I served customers at the front desk for many years and then managed small and large public libraries in Iowa, Connecticut and New York.
After several years as director of the Buffalo and Erie County Library System, I came to Queens Library because of its reputation as one of the world’s best.
I’m a working parent, with school-aged daughters, and am also studying for my MBA at St. John’s.
I understand the personal and professional challenges that many of us experience every day, juggling work life with home life and trying to find a precious few minutes to read and relax.
Queens Library customers have told us repeatedly that they wish the library were open later in the evenings and earlier in the mornings to accommodate their busy schedules.
I am pleased to let you know that as of Jan. 5, we will be modifying customer service schedules so every library is open at least two evenings until 8 p.m., and at least two mornings at 10 a.m.
Central Library and Flushing Library will maintain their expanded hours (until 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday) and several of our libraries are open at 9 a.m. on Monday mornings.
We hope that many more people will find it convenient and enriching to come to the library.
We want to build on the powerful people, places, partners and programs that are the heart of your Queens Library.
Our goal is to surprise everyone in Queens with how much value they get from their library, whether they are downloading e-books, learning to code their own websites, attending a concert, borrowing a tablet to use at home or grabbing a great book to while away a rainy afternoon.
I look forward to seeing you at the library and wish you all a bright 2015.
Bridget Quinn-Carey
Interim President and CEO, Queens Library
