Libraries have often been considered temples of knowledge. But for the last several years, a public library in Richmond Hill was looking a bit more like an ancient ruin.
But thanks to the efforts of Councilmen Ruben Wills and Eric Ulrich, a renovation project will help to keep the Richmond Hill Library open by replacing its crumbling roof.
“I am a true believer in education and know how important it is to have a place for our children and adults to come and learn,” said Wills, who has allocated over $1 million to libraries in his district since he took office.
The Richmond Hill branch of the Queens Library, located at 103-34 Lefferts Blvd., was the recipient of an $885,000 roof makeover as cracks and leaks have plagued the location for quite some time. The city’s Department of Design and Construction (DDC) did the construction.
The library hosts all types of activates for children and adults that would not be possible without a roof.
“Getting the roof was just so important to us,” said David Booker, the community library manager. “This isn’t only a place for education but a place for people to come and feel safe when learning.”
Booker said the library branch hosts homework help sessions, computer classes, science projects and arts and crafts, among its many other amenities. It has a separate computer kiosk section and back room closed off from the rest of the library for classes.
Assemblyman David Weprin, who is also a staunch advocate of the Queens Library system, said he was happy to see the city’s money go toward such a crucial project. He described the diversity that he saw in the room and said it showed the true strength of Queens.
“I’ve been very involved with funding in what I think is the best library system in the country, if not the world,” Weprin said. “The diversity of Richmond Hill is present in here and our strength is in that diversity.”
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