Great Public Libraries Tour II - USAQueens Public Library
New DC Library Buildings
YOUmedia at the Chicago Public Library
Queens LibraryEnrich your life
Strong service orientation and programming
• 2009 Library of the Year• 2010 ULC Award for Innovation for HealthLink
program
• 28,000 programs attended by 500,000
Structure and Funding• NFP Corporation governed by a Board of Trustees
appointed by Mayor of New York and Borough President of Queens for 5 year terms
• CEO and Library Director appointed by the Board
• Budget of 120 million – 85% City of New York- 7% State of New York- 2 % US Government- 6% Contributions /other sources
Vital Statistics• Population of 2.3 million with 47% overseas born and
160 languages spoken• 61 branches/community libraries (most between 650
and 1,400 sq m )• 1,100 FT staff, 750 PT staff and 800 volunteers• 7.7 million items / 60 community language collections• 23 million loans p.a.• 15 million visits p.a.• 835,000 active members• Approx 30 Friends Groups with 2,000 members
Central Library• 4,600 sq m• 1,300 sq m Children’s and Discovery Centre to open in
2010• 75 staff• 1 million items, 40 languages collections • 2.5 million loans– Closed stack for 2/3 of collection
• 48 PCs in the Cyber Centre plus 8 PCs for word processing
• Listed to undertake renovations in the near future
Flushing Library
• Opened 1998. Renovated 2010 (Teens, Media and Quiet Study areas)
• 7,000 sq m• 67 staff• 365,000 items– 40 language collections
• 1.8 million visit p.a.• 3.3 million loans p.a. (58% of loans are from community language collections)• 70 PCs
Programs
• Adult Learner• Employment • Health• Youth• New Americans• Services to Incarcerated people
New District of Columbia (DC)branch libraries
Sample of standardised requirements for all new DC library buildings
• a minimum size of 2,100 sq m• capacity for 80,000 items• provision for a minimum of 32 PCs, including PCs for
children• 4 to 6 study rooms• A meeting room for at least 100 people, to be also
accessible after hours• 2 ‘conference’ spaces for 8 to 12 people• a flat floor and as few floors as possible• space for children’s programs
Environmental Features• High emphasis on achieving LEED (Leadership in Environmental
and Energy Design) certification from the United States Green Building Council.
• Environmentally-friendly or green features included:– vegetative roofs to reflect sunlight and keep the building
cooler in summer – recycled materials in flooring, countertops and wood finishes – designated space for energy efficient vehicles– lots of natural light as well as energy-efficient lighting
New DC Libraries visited
• Georgetown Library (under construction, opening August 2010)
• Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library (under construction, opening July 2010)
• Benning Library• Anacostia Library
Recommended
