At left, Council Member Leroy Comrie with Queens Library's President/CEO Thomas W. Galante.
NY City Council Member Leroy Comrie toured the new Cyber Center at Queens’ Central Library, with President/CEO Thomas W. Galante. The new Cyber Center has 72 computer workstations, printers, a scanner, and computerized scheduling. The new facility is more than double the size of the previous Cyber Center. All workstations are for customers to use, free of charge with their Queens Library cards.
Council Member Comrie siad: “Libraries play a critical role for communities throughout Queens and I am pleased to help them continue to educate future mathematicians, computer scientists, and web developers” Council Member Leroy Comrie said. The Cyber Center will be a bridge that helps traverse the digital divide for the less tech-savvy and also provide more access and resources for the computer literate. Queens libraries have provided educational resources for generations and this new Center will help ensure their place in the future.”
“Giving the community free and open access to technology, along with guidance on how to use it, is among the most important functions public libraries serve. Without free library access, people in Queens would be literally unplugged from education and information. We are grateful to Council Member Comrie for his unwavering support of strong public library service,” said Thomas W. Galante, President and CEO of Queens Library.
“Council Member Comrie, who provided significant funding for the project and has been an ongoing supporter of Queens Library, is touring the new facility.” Access to technology at the public library is crucial in Queens, where many people do not have their own equipment and/or access to broadband. More and more routine business relies on online access. Library customers use the workstations for job searches, filing for benefits, school work, access to health information, email and general research.
This is the first phase of a total renovation of the Central Library. The renovation is being done in phases so the library is able to remain in service throughout. When complete in 2013, it will be much more serviceable for the informational and educational needs of its millions of annual users.
Queens Library is an independent, not-for-profit corporation and is not affiliated with any other library. Queens Library serves a population of 2.3 million in one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the U.S. and has among the highest circulations of any public library system in the world. For more information about programs, services, locations, events and news, visit the Queens Library web site at www.queenslibrary.org or phone 718-990-0700. Queens Library. Enrich your life®.
