After many chapters in its current construction, Elmhurst Library’s story will finally have a new setting.
The library, located at 86-01 Grand Avenue, will be closed effective November 7 and is moving to a temporary facility, located at 85-08 51st Avenue, while a new edifice is built on the existing site.
The original library has stood on Grand Avenue since 1906. Immediately following its initial construction, the building was deemed too small to adequately service the community. The edifice tripled in size during an expansion in 1930, and extensive renovations were also performed in 1965 and 1980.
The modern library, which will cost roughly $27.8 million, is expected to open in 2013. It will feature four levels and will be double the size of the current building.
“A library is one of the greatest resources for people of all ages in any community,” said Borough President Helen Marshall, who allocated approximately $23 million in capital funds for the new library. “Here at the Elmhurst Library, thousands of visitors comb its treasure trove of literary, musical, artistic and reference material. Now, it has become a victim of its own success and needs to expand in a new building double the size of the old one.”
Among the facility’s premier attractions will be a Cyber Center with 32 computers, a new Adult Learner Center, an interior reading atrium and front and rear community gardens. There will also be separate reading areas for adults, teens and children.
The modern structure will look towards the future while keeping a respectful eye towards the past by installing “memory features” throughout the building, which are designed to preserve the library’s legacy in the neighborhood. Original bricks will be used in the new façade, and the Children’s Room fireplace will be reinstalled during construction. There will also be a “1906 Memory Wall,” consisting of historical photos of the library and the Elmhurst community.
“Elmhurst is a thriving neighborhood that needs a state-of-the-art library to support education, job growth and intellectual development,” said Thomas Galante, president and CEO of Queens Library. “The current library lends a million books and DVDs a year, which is more than double the volume per square foot of Flushing Library, and Flushing is the busiest library in New York State. The new Queens Library at Elmhurst will be a community hub for generations to come, with its gardens and a wealth of resources.”
