NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Councilmember Linda Lee present the Queens Public Library with a giant check. (Photo: Queens Post)
July 12, 2022 By Czarinna Andres
The Queens Village branch of the Queens Public Library is going to be getting a much-needed makeover.
The branch, which was built in 1952, will undergo a $9.6 million overhaul, Queens elected officials announced Tuesday. The library, located at 94-11 217th St., has not undergone a major renovation since its construction 70 years ago.
The funds, which were included in the city’s 2023 fiscal budget, will ensure that the branch undergoes a full renovation, including interior and exterior improvements, as well as HVAC installation and roof repairs. The dated building will be modernized and made to be more vibrant, officials said.
Councilmember Linda Lee and New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams held a press conference at the branch Tuesday to announce the funding.
“I am proud to join Speaker Adrienne Adams to allocate these funds to give the Queens Village Public Library a much-needed overhaul and provide the community a modern and accessible facility,” Lee said.
“Libraries are more than just a place to read your favorite book; they serve as community centers for residents to socialize and engage with one another and access the internet and essential services.”
Councilmember Linda Lee speaking to a crowd at the press conference outside the Queens Village branch library Tuesday (Photo: Queens Post)
NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams noted that the investment in the Queens Village branch was long overdue.
“Libraries are vital community centers and hubs of opportunity that serve all New Yorkers, regardless of age or background,” Adams said. “This funding allocation will have an immense impact on this neighborhood and all users of this library branch.”
Assemblymembers Clyde Vanel and David Weprin were among the speakers and expressed their gratitude to the NYC Council and Queens Public Library for their work.
“We are excited about the investment in our library. With the improvements, the library will continue its vital service to the entire Queens Village community,” Vanel said.
Weprin said that the $9.6 million investment will benefit residents for years to come.
“Our public libraries…are important places to promote lifelong learning and provide community services. I’m so pleased that this historic investment will yield an improved, accessible building for current and future generations to enjoy,” Weprin said.
The city has yet to come up with a timeline as to when the overhaul will take place and how long the project will take.
Queens Village Library (Photo: Queens Post)
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One Comment
Tremendous waste of money. Library’s will be obsolete within the next decade. They currently serve as makeshift homeless shelters or for the elderly to linger all day. The funds could be better served at schools or in other parts of the city that are in desperate need of funding.