Queens Public Library Provides Invaluable Programming During the Pandemic
Founded in 1896, Queens Public Library is one of the largest and busiest public library systems in the United States, dedicated to serving the most ethnically and culturally diverse area in the country. With 63 branches, the non-profit organization offers free access to more than 5 million books and other materials in multiple languages, technology and digital resources, and more than 87,500 educational, cultural, and civic programs a year. It includes seven adult learning centers, a technology lab at Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City, a universal pre-kindergarten, two teen centers, and a Central Library.
For Sharon Myrie, former Executive Vice President of Programs and Services at NYCHA, her current role as Vice President of Programs and Services for Queens Public Library is a natural fit. Ms. Myrie has worked her entire career to further a singular mission: to bring much-needed programming and services to the low-income and underserved members of the communities she serves. Aware of the disproportionate need for assistance among senior, immigrant, and economically challenged populations throughout New York City, Ms. Myrie seeks to raise awareness of the many programs and services offered by Queens Public Library that are free and open to anyone who has a connection to the Internet.
“We offer senior programming, youth programming, community programming, and even cultural programming,” said Ms. Myrie. “My job is to help identify programming needs across all 63 Queens Library branches and provide support to get them up and running. Beyond providing the public with information, we fill many other needs in the Queens community, often by building partnerships. Our overreaching goal is always to engage families and individuals of all ages and at all stages in their lives to help them navigate what is often very unfamiliar territory.
“For instance, we offer homework help for students in an array of subjects, ESOL classes for recent immigrants who find themselves in a new country without the means to effectively communicate, resume writing and interviewing skills’ workshops, and workshops to improve tech skills and promote entrepreneurship. We help parents learn to read to their children so that their children develop a love for reading in their early years. We even host bilingual storytimes in Bengali and Spanish.”
Queens Public Library uses the latest technology to help attract new members, including younger students who may not have the tech resources at home to stay current with their classmates. “In many cases there are students who simply don’t have access to a computer in the home,” Ms. Myrie noted. “For those students the WiFi is turned on at all Queens Library Branch locations, and anyone can catch a signal outside of them using a smartphone or computer. Library cards are not needed for this, and the signal appears automatically.”
During the pandemic, Queens Public Library has continued to provide invaluable programming for all ages by staying virtually connected to the community. From April through October, QPL hosted over 5,700 virtual programs, drawing over 100,000 participants.
The full array of programs offered by Queens Public Library can be found here. As of November 30, 35 QPL branches are open for to-go service.
