Dec. 5, 2016 By Hannah Wulkan
The East Elmhurst Library, located at 95-06 Astoria Blvd., will nearly be twice its current size by 2018.
A groundbreaking ceremony took place today officially kicking off the $8.9 million renovation of the library, which will add 4,500 square feet to the existing 5,200 square foot building.
“We serve roughly 83,000 customers a year here at this library and once we expand, that number will grow tremendously,” said Queen Library President and CEO Dennis Walcott at the groundbreaking.
The 4,500 square foot addition will bring a new community space that can cater to up 120 people, a new cyber center, an indoor reading court, and other general space.
“Queens Library is a crucial resource for seniors, students, immigrants and families in my district,” said Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, who helped fund the renovation. “We not only use the space for its collections but also as a place to bond with our children, learn new languages and immerse in cultural programming.”
The library closed on November 23 and will remain so for the next first four months. It will then open in parts for the remaining construction period, which is slated to last through the end of 2018.
While the East Elmhurst branch is closed, there will be mobile library service every Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and residents are encouraged to use the nearby Langston Hughes, Corona and Jackson Heights community libraries.
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One Comment
But nobody speaks english anymore. I feel it should be a latin library. People here do not speak English