Queens community members and leaders gathered outside the Queens Public Library’s new Far Rockaway branch Tuesday, July 30, to celebrate its reopening with a ribbon-cutting.
Located at 1637 Central Ave., the community was excited to get a first look at the newly revamped library after waiting six years for it to reopen. The library is now twice the size at 18,000 square feet.
The new two-story building features a unique glass exterior and a central space designed to bring in natural light throughout the library. Other design features include a glass pyramid entrance.
The 18,000-square-foot building is approximately twice the size of the previous library. The glass façade’s glazing reduces heat generated by the sun while also letting in ample natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting. Other energy efficient features of the library include daylighting and occupancy sensors that work with automated building management systems and an underfloor heating distribution system. Additionally, the structure also has a blue roof that releases storm water from the site at a slow speed.
The first floor of the library has a teen room, a computer area, library offices, a book sorting area and a staff lounge and lockers. There is also a rear yard open to the public. The second floor, accessible by an elevator, consists of separate adult and children reading areas and a dividable meeting room. Restrooms can be found on both floors.
“Today is a great day for the Rockaways, today is a great day for Queens, and today is a great day for all of the young people, and the adults who will be utilizing this important branch located strategically right here on the corner of Central and Mott Avenues,” Queens Public Library Board Chairman Earl Simons said.
Among the elected officials on hand to join the Far Rockaway community in celebrating the library’s reopening were Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks, Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers and Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato.
Richards discussed how the library is now much larger than it used to be and has more resources. “I’m reminded of my own journey, coming to this library to get some books to make it through college. The library didn’t have a lot of books back then. We had a lot of challenges, a lot of historic disparities that existed in this library among many other parts of this peninsula. But today I’m happy to say we’ve turned the page on that disinvestment,” Richards said. “You are worthy of this library.”
In addition to highlighting the efforts made to improve the Far Rockaway library, Richards discussed other plans in the works to improve southeast Queens. He said the renovation and expansion of the Arverne library has been fully funded and will be worked on soon. He also said a new NYC Health and Hospitals location will soon open in Rockaway Village, with the groundbreaking scheduled for October.
In addition to the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, the event also featured steel pan drumming and dancing from local youths.
“If you don’t give the children the beautification and the quality of what should be there, then they don’t know and understand what they can do,” Meeks said. “When they decided to make it a state-of-the-art library, what you are saying to those young kids who will walk in the library, as well as those who will walk around the block, is that they too can be anything and accomplish anything that they desire because they are getting quality.”
Brooks-Powers credited the old Far Rockaway library for helping her get in the position she is in today. Brooks-Powers said that when she was looking for a job, she used the free internet and printers at the library to complete job applications.
“Libraries provide not just books, but vital services and programs, from language learning to literacy training,” Brooks-Powers said. “Those open doors to economic advancement and better futures for all. This new library is more than just a building, it is a beacon of hope, of opportunity.”
Pheffer Amato said she spent a lot of time at the old Far Rockaway library as a child, as her mother worked across the street from the building. She said she was practically raised there.
“This investment moves our community forward,” Pheffer Amato said.
Additional reporting by Paul Frangipane.
