QUEENS
LIBRARIES By Azi Paybarah They say knowledge is power, and in Queens County, there’s an entity that has been helping people gain the skills and know-how they need to succeed for free for nearly 100 years – the Queens Borough Public Library.
The first documented public library in Queens opened in Flushing in 1858, and only residents who paid a subscription fee could access the books there. By 1890, a free alternative was created with the founding of seven library branches in Steinway, Hollis, Queens Village, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, Long Island City and Astoria. To increase access to the library’s books, the Traveling Library Department was established in 1910. This expansion led to the establishment of 63 library branches across Queens and the formation of the Queens Borough Public Library system – the busiest library system in the United States. The system offers free access to computers, books, newspapers, magazines, and videos to anyone who enters a public library. Residents may borrow books and videos free of charge from the library after obtaining a library card. To do so, proof of residency is required, such as a phone or electric bill showing you live within Queens County. Once you have a library card, you can borrow books for free, unless you return them after the due date – then you have to pay a fine. Different branches across Queens accommodate the borough’s diverse population.
Queens Borough Public Library Demographer Lacie Chan studies population changes in each neighborhood to help library officials decide what languages each branch should carry, and what special programs are needed to better serve the community. Reading material is available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, and six South Asian languages in many branches. Titles in Haitian Creole, Polish, and 17 other languages are available in select branches. But the library offers much more than just reading material. The library also offers free programs and reference centers that can help immigrants do anything from learn English to get tax help. There are programs for both kids and adults.
The New Americans Program Every week, a wide variety of free classes and workshops are held throughout the library system to help introduce immigrants to the network of resources available to them. Lawyers, educational experts, doctors and business strategists offer free advice and referrals to anyone in attendance. "I didn’t use a public library until I came to the United States," said Adriana Tandler, a Brazilian immigrant and director of the New Americans Program. She said informing immigrants that there are 63 locations in Queens where they can improve their English and speak directly to medical, legal, and housing experts is her number one priority. She said, "They’re not going to come looking for us because it doesn’t occur to most immigrants to come to the library for information that’s essential to their lives." The following is just a small list of some of the programs that have been offered by the Queens Borough Public Library as part of the New Americans Program. For a complete list of times, places and other information of future programs, head to www.queenslibrary.org or head to your local branch and ask. • "Adjusting to Life in America: Coping with the Stress of Immigration," offers coping strategies to new residents. Topics discussed include: signs and symptoms of depression; the effect of stress on family and children, and how to developing healthy coping strategies. • Noted Korean author Oun Mee Jo discussed ways to foster character and self-esteem in children in the seminar, "You And Your Child". Topics discussed included how mothers can be a child’s first teacher, and how to handle family conflicts. • Another seminar focusing on children was "College Funding: How to Finance a College Education." Here, they discussed sources of federal funding, student loans, investment options and the cost of a college education. • "How to Help Your Child In School" discussed the role parents can play in their children’s education. A question and answer period at this event focused on how parents can communicate with their children’s teacher, and what to expect from their child’s school. • Information on becoming a permanent resident and/or citizen is offered in various workshops. Previous guest speakers at these events include representatives from the Legal Aide Society, Refugee and Immigrant Services, and Russian Communications and Outreach specialist.
International Resource Center Although New American Program workshops are held at each branch, a focal point of activity is in the 76,000-square-foot International Resource Center (IRC) in the Library’s Flushing Branch, located at 41-17 Main Street.
More than 250 international newspapers and magazines are available for reading at the IRC, including a dozen Russian magazines, five Chinese daily newspapers, the Gujarati newspaper The Bombay Samachar and Jang, a daily Urdu newspaper. Educational and cultural events are also held at the IRC. Program topics include an introductory seminar on acupuncture, tips on succeeding in international trade, and a performance of traditional Indian Sitar music. For more information about the IRC, visit www.queenslibrary.org, or call (718) 661-1229.
English Classes A free four-month course is available for people looking to learn to speak and read English. The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teaches vocabulary and grammar for use in everyday situations. The courses are offered at several library locations, including: Central Library, Broadway, Flushing and Jackson Heights. See page 45 for more information on the classes.
Your Local Branch To take advantage of the various resources the library has to offer, take a trip to your local branch. They are all listed below.
For information about where material in other languages can be obtained, contact the Main Library, at (718) 990-0700.
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