The new four-story building which is, several times larger in stature, and much sleeker in design than it predecessor, became necessary as the community filled the building daily, in numbers far beyond its capacity. But the new branch is more than a larger version of its predecessors, it represents a dramatic shift in the form, function, and philosophy of the library in our culture.

"It is a crossroads," said Gary Strong, director of the Queens Borough Public Library. "In a global community, it is a crossroads of cultures, languages, traditions, and all that is wonderful about Queens."

The new library, which was made possible by some $35 million in capital funds from Borough President Claire Shulman, is now the flagship of the largest public library system in the country.

The public library of the past had to contend with making limited resources accessible to the many. The public library of the future will be charged with helping the many to manage the seemingly unlimited resources of the information age.

But just as the new library looks toward the future, it to also hearkens back to the past.

When one thinks of libraries of old, they tend to conjure up images of dusty shelves, card catalogues, and stodgy librarians whispering, "quiet please."

What has been forgotten is the fact that the library is one of the bastions of democracy.

Knowledge is power, and at public libraries, knowledge is free — and not just in the economic sense.

When the Queens Borough Public Library was first created, books were still relatively scarce. They carried both practical and symbolic importance, that is hard to imagine in a time when books are as commonplace as bubble gum.

In fact, before most of the branches were built, "bookmobiles," would deliver books to children and adults at locations all over the borough.

The library has also always been a beacon for immigrants, in their efforts to both learn the language and customs of America, and in their efforts to retain their own. And as the times and population of Queens have changed, the library has made a point of changing with it.

The Adult Learning Center will assist immigrants in learning to read, speak, and write English, through seminars, and individualized programs.

The International Resource Center will provide information on cultures around the world, with an emphasis on international business. This is expected to draw people from all over Queens, and the rest of the city, because many of the holdings will be items unavailable anywhere else. The center is currently building its collection of Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Russian, Hindi, Gujarati, and Hebrew books and periodicals.

"We are driven to change because of the make-up of Queens," said Strong. "A library has to be relevant to its customers or it will not continue to exist. Many libraries continue to do things the way they did 20 years ago, but Queens changes every two weeks."

Essential to the design of the new Flushing library are wide-open spaces, including community meeting rooms, and a 227-seat state-of-the-art auditorium.

With its tall "glass curtain" facade, the new building is not only provocative, it beckons the passerby to look inside with wonder. In many ways it represents the end of years of neglecting the importance of public space.

At 76,000 square feet, the Flushing library is ten times the size of an average branch.

The building was designed by Todd Schleimann of Polshek and Partners as a new civic building prototype.

"We did not want a box," said Strong. "We want people to wonder what is inside of it."

In a time when public space is often confused with retail space, when children do their homework in the aisles of Barnes and Noble, the notion of a place for the community to get together and exchange thoughts and ideas sounds like an ad for a utopian fantasy. But in actuality, this is at the very heart of the purpose of the library — establishing a dialogue within the community.

The library’s facilities also include an expansive children’s section, with computer workspace designed specifically for them, a young adult section, two exhibition areas with kitchens, seating capacity for 300 people, and "quiet rooms" for research.

Another thing that makes the new Flushing library stand out from its predecessors is the preponderance of computers. The card catalogue has long since been replaced at city libraries, but at the new Flushing Branch, the all four floors are wired for the Internet.

In addition to the 80 computer stations, with high speed, T-1 connections, library users with laptops can plug right in from their desk. There are also connections to dozens of on-line databases, including WordLinQ, the library’s multilingual electronic delivery system.

Also, both the auditorium, and several of the smaller meeting rooms are wired for teleconferencing, so members of the library can participate in global seminars and discussions.

Critics of this new technology contend that the book gets lost in all of the wires. But the librarians at the new Flushing branch disagree.

"Actually, one of the positive things about technology is that it is a tool that helps people connect to books," said librarian Margaret Scrage.

The technology also brings to the library resources that would not otherwise be available. "With electronic media, we can provide current information much faster than we ever could, on paper," said Strong.

A parade will commemorate the opening of the branch at 9:15 a.m. on June 20. Then, throughout the day, dozens of performances, activities, and workshops will be held to welcome the community to their new library. Call 990-0705 for more information.