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Queens Library Presents...Susan Choi and Cecily Wong

Join Susan Choi and Cecily Wong, two successful and acclaimed authors, for a fascinating discussion about their unique experiences, their journey to become successful writers and the challenges that they continue to face as Asian-American writers.

This event will be held at one of Long Island ...

It's #BookTuesday!

Every Tuesday, Queens Library will introduce you to a great book!

Our #BookTuesday choice for February 9 is NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson & Marshall Karp.

It's the latest installment in the bestselling series of novels about NYPD Red: the elite task force assigned to protect the ...

Hip Hop Comedy with Ray DeJon and Friends

Join us on Thursday, February 11, for an evening of comedy with Hip Hop comedian, Ray DeJon and friends at Central Library!

Get Your Free Ticket Here

Born in Brooklyn, Ray DeJon's career as one of New York's prominent hosts and speakers in the entertainment industry spans over 18 years. Ray ...

In the Mood For Love? Here Are Some Great Romantic Reads!

Valentine's Day is coming soon, and we asked our staff members to share their favorite tales of romance!

Do you have a love story to share with us? Email us today with your favorite romantic novels, poems, short stories and more—and we just might add them to this diverse ...

Upcoming Concerts to Mark on Your Calendar!

Our Culture Connection program has several upcoming concerts this February and March! Enjoy performances by singer and songwriter Charles Duke, jazz trumpet virtuoso Shareef Clayton, and more!

Click here for dates and free tickets. 

Our New Music For February!

Looking for new music? Look no further than your local Queens Library!

Every month, our expert staff will bring you the best of what's new in our physical and digital collections.

This month features music from David Bowie, Babyface, Hank Williams Jr., Tamar Braxton, Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap, G-Eazy, Young ...

Free Universal Pre-K at Ravenswood!

Registration is now open for Universal Pre-K at Ravenswood UPK in Long Island City!

FREE Queens Library Universal Pre-K offers:

  • outstanding pre-K education from 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
  • free nutritious lunches and snacks
  • warm, friendly, highly-qualified staff
  • the best learning ...

Get Free Help With Your Taxes!

Do you need help with your ‪tax return‬?

Queens Library, in cooperation with the New York State Tax Department, is offering free tax-preparation assistance at participating libraries from January to April!

If your income was under $62,000 in 2015, you qualify to e-file your taxes at no cost. Volunteers ...

Feb
10
10:30AM

--to--

11:30AM

Timeless Tales

Location: Central Library
Registration: Registration is not yet open for this program. Please check back closer to the program date.
Details: Customers are required to attend all sessions of this program. Registering for this session will reserve your spot for the entire program.

Children ages 3-5 and their caregivers are invited for stories, sing-alongs, fingerplays, and more! Online preregistration begins December 30. Space is limited.


Feb
11
6:00PM

--to--

8:00PM

Tech Thursdays

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Children ages 7-12 will learn to use Microsoft Word and Excel, create animations, print in 3D, and much more!

Additional Program Dates/Locations
This is a recurring program. If registration is required, you must register individually.

Additional Dates


Feb
12
4:00PM

--to--

5:00PM

Fun Friday

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Join us for board and video games, crafts, Jeopardy, movies, and more for ages 6-12.

Additional Program Dates/Locations
This is a recurring program. If registration is required, you must register individually.

Additional Dates


More...
Feb
13
11:00AM

--to--

12:30PM

Saturday Science Lab

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Learn about science through fun and interactive science experiments with our Discovery Team! Children age 12 and under with their families are welcome.

Additional Program Dates/Locations
This is a recurring program. If registration is required, you must register individually.

Additional Dates


Feb
16
2:00PM

--to--

3:00PM

Calling All Engineers!

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

It's National Engineering Week! Kids ages 6-12, along with their families, can join us for hands-on, fun activities, designing, building, tinkering, and testing their own creations.

Additional Program Dates/Locations
This is a recurring program. If registration is required, you must register individually.

Additional Dates


Feb
17
2:00PM

--to--

5:00PM

HAKS Engineering Presents: Discover Day Engineering Fair

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Children ages 6-12 enjoy lots of STEM activities such as building bridges and making domes and towers at this Engineering Fair.


Feb
19
2:00PM

--to--

3:00PM

African-American Stories

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Children age 12 and under and their families celebrate African American History Month with storyteller Christine Campbell. There will be stories, learning, and fun for everyone. Space is limited.


Feb
26
11:30AM

--to--

12:15PM

Mother Goose Time

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Please join us for for Mother Goose Time in the Early Childhood Area. There will be stories, songs, finger-plays, and all types of fun. Registration is not required. This program is for children from birth to 2 years old and their their caregiver.

Additional Program Dates/Locations
This is a recurring program. If registration is required, you must register individually.

Additional Dates


Feb
26
4:00PM

--to--

5:00PM

Amazing Readers Kids' Book Club

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Children ages 8-12 will discuss Jeff Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul" at this session of Amazing Readers. Participation will count toward the Read Down Your Fines program.


Mar
3
10:30AM

--to--

11:30AM

Family Place

Location: Central Library
Registration: Registration is not yet open for this program. Please check back closer to the program date.
Details: Customers are required to attend all sessions of this program. Registering for this session will reserve your spot for the entire program.

Children from crawlers to toddlers and their caregivers are invited to this early learning program featuring interactive play at the Children's Library Discovery Center. Preregistration is required beginning Thursday, February 18.

Central LibraryThu, Mar 10, 201610:30AM - 11:30AM
Central LibraryThu, Mar 17, 201610:30AM - 11:30AM
Central LibraryThu, Mar 24, 201610:30AM - 11:30AM

Mar
5
11:00AM

--to--

12:30PM

Documentary Premiere: "Mo's Bows"

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Children ages 5-12 and their families are invited to see a short documentary about 6th grade entrepreneur Moziah Bridges, the creative founder of Mo's Bows, meet the film's producers, and make their own bow tie!


Mar
7
6:00PM

--to--

7:00PM

Introduction to Laptop Computers

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Children ages 7-12 learn how to use a laptop computer. Space is limited!


Mar
11
4:00PM

--to--

5:00PM

Fun Friday

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Children ages 5-12 join us for arts and crafts, games, and general fun, learning through interactive play. Preregistration is required.

Additional Program Dates/Locations
This is a recurring program. If registration is required, you must register individually.

Additional Dates


Mar
14
6:00PM

--to--

7:00PM

Introduction to Microsoft Word

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Young people ages 7-12 learn the basics of working with Microsoft Word, along with a few tips and tricks. Make that school report look terrific! Space will be limited.


Mar
22
6:00PM

--to--

7:00PM

Online Laptop Games

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Children ages 7-12 try their skills at 8 Ball Pool, Tanki, and Agar.io! Space limited.

Additional Program Dates/Locations
This is a recurring program. If registration is required, you must register individually.

Additional Dates


Mar
25
4:00PM

--to--

5:00PM

Amazing Readers: Kids' Book Club

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Children ages 8-12 will discuss Gary Paulsen’s "My Life in Dog Years." Participation will count toward the Read Down Your Fees program.


Mar
28
6:00PM

--to--

7:00PM

Introduction to Excel

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Young people ages 7-12 learn the basics of using Excel. Space is limited.


Apr
2
12:00PM

--to--

2:30PM

Nano Days Festival

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Children of all ages are invited to discover awesome, tiny science. Explore our new Nano exhibits, and get your hands on some Nano science with the Discovery Team.


Apr
4
6:00PM

--to--

7:00PM

Typing Skills

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Children ages 6-12 learn how to type or practice their skills. Space is limited.


Apr
11
6:00PM

--to--

7:00PM

Introduction to the Internet

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Children ages 6-12 will learn how to surf the web, browse online, and find safe and useful information for that school report! Space is limited.


Apr
16
2:00PM

--to--

3:30PM

Spelling Bee Final

Location: Central Library
Registration: Not required

Welcome to the Queens Library Spelling Bee Final, where winners of the community library spelling bees in grades 4-6 will face off against each other. May the best speller win!


Free computer access is available at all the libraries.

The Central Library in Jamaica has:

  • 100 public computers in the Cyber Center
  •  
  • 18 computers in the Children's Library Discovery Center for children 12 and under
  • 4 computers for toddlers
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Limited free printing

Queens Library Public Internet Use Policy.

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

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The Central Library @ Queens Library contains nearly one million volumes of materials in comprehensive subject collections, and more than 800 titles of academic and professional journals and magazines, as well as professional indices and abstracts. For more information, see:


Child Care / Preschools
Community Board
Community Organizations & Services
Fire Department
Local Hospitals
Local Newspapers
Parks and Playgrounds
Police Department
Post Office
Private / Parochial Schools
Public Elementary Schools
Public High Schools
Senior Centers
Elected Officials
History
Special Services

Child Care / Preschools
A Special Place for Kids
89-14 163rd St
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 739-1601
Afro American Parents Day Care Center Incorporated
117-16 Sutphin Blvd
Jamaica NY , 11434
phone: (718) 322-2030
All My Children Day Care
175-44 Mayfield Rd
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 658-1563
All Our Children Family Daycare
148-07 111th Ave
Jamaica NY , 11435
phone: (718) 739-5930
Early Sunrise Daycare
187-08 Hillside Ave
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 736-9064
Head Start
161-06 89th Ave
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 523-1888
Kids Circle Daycare
164-04 Goethals Ave
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 380-1280
Queens Child Guidance Center
161-06 89th Ave
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 558-8657
Sensational Kids Incorporated
176-21 Wexford Terrace
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 883-0851
Allen Christian Pre-School
114-32 Merrick Blvd.
Jamaica NY , 11434
Gil-Blu Nursery - Kindergarten
120-02 Merrick Blvd
Jamaica NY , 11434
Kids Porta Bright Horizon Center
Bldg 350 JFK Airport
Jamaica NY , 11430
Little Flowers Early Childhood
23410 Merrick Blvd
Jamaica NY , 11422
Rochdale Village Nursery & Kindergarten
170-30 130th Ave
Jamaica NY , 11434
Treehouse Day Nursery
168-40 127 Ave
Jamaica NY , 11434

Community Board
Community Board District #12
90-28 161st Street
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 658-3308
fax: (718) 739-6997
  

Community Organizations & Services
Greater Jamaica Development Corporation
90-04 161st Street
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 291-0282
fax: (718) 658-1405
Jamaica Chamber of Commerce
90-25 161st Street, Suite 505
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 657-4800
Jamaica Business Development Center
90-33 160th Street
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 206-2255
fax: (718) 206-3693
Community Mediation Group
89-64 163rd Street
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 523-6868
BFFY Jamaica Family Youth Center
90-11 160th St
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 526-5151
Jamaica Center for the Arts and Learning
161-04 Jamaica Avenue
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 658-7400
fax:
York College Performing Arts Center
94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd.
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 262-3750
fax:
King Manor Museum
King Park, 153rd Street and Jamaica Ave.
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 206-0545
fax: (718) 206-0541
Afrikan Poetry Theatre
176-03 Jamaica Ave.
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 523-3312
fax:
Black Spectrum TheatreRoy Wilkens Park
177th St. & Baisley Blvd.
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 723-1800
fax:
Chung-Cheng Art Gallery St. John's University Visual Arts
Sun Yat Sen Hall
Jamaica NY , 11439
phone: (718) 990-6583
fax: (718) 990-1881
 

Fire Department
Engine 275, Battalion 50:
111-36 Merrick Blvd.
Engine 298, Battalion 50:
153-11 Hillside Ave.
Engine 315, Battalion 50:
Engine 315, Battalion 50:
Engine 315, Ladder 125, Battalion 50:
159-06 Union Tpke.
Ladder 127, Battalion 50:
153-11 Hillside Ave.
 

Local Hospitals
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
8900 Van Wyck Expressway
Jamaica NY , 11418
phone: (718) 206-6000
Queens Hospital Center
82-70 One Hundred Sixty-Fourth Street
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 883-3000
 

Local Newspapers
Jamaica Times
Queens Chronicle
Queens Tribune

Parks and Playgrounds
Rufus King Park
Jamaica Avenue from 150th to 153rd Street
Major Mark Park
Hillside Avenue, from 173rd to 175th Street
Captain Tilly Memorial Park
Bordered by Highland Ave, Upland Pkwy, Gothic Pkwy
Harvard Playground
179th Place, north of Jamaica Ave
  

Police Department
103rd Precinct
168-02 Police Officer Edward Byrne Avenue
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 657-8181
  

Post Office
Jamaica Post Office
88-40 164th Street
Jamaica NY , 11432-9997
phone: (718) 990-1090
  

Private / Parochial Schools
Allen Christian School
171-10 Linden Blvd
Jamaica NY , 11434
Archbisop Molloy High School
83-53 Manton Street
Jamaica NY , 11435
Bethel Mission Junior Academy
10615 154th St
Jamaica NY , 11433
Ideal Montessori School
87-41 165th St
Jamaica NY , 11432
Immaculate Conception School
179-14 Dalny Road
Jamaica NY , 11432
Jamaica Day School of St Demet
84 35 152nd St
Jamaica NY , 11432
Jamaica Montessori
90-01 Merrick Blvd
Jamaica NY , 11432
Jamaica Seventh-day Adventist Busy Bee Learning
88-28 163rd St
Jamaica NY , 11432
New Dawn Elementary School
90-34 161st Street
Jamaica NY , 11432
Nativity B V M School
92nd St & Rockaway Blvd
Jamaica NY , 11416
St Clement Pope School
120-27 141st Street
Jamaica NY , 11436
St Peter Claver School
149-18 Jamaica Ave
Jamaica NY , 11435
St Nicholas of Tolentine School
80-22 Parsons Blvd
Jamaica NY , 11432-1096
The Mary Louis Academy
176-21 Wexford Terrace
Jamaica NY , 11432
United Nations International School
173-53 Croydon Road
Jamaica NY , 11432

Public Elementary Schools
PS 086 Queens (Q086)
87-41 Parsons Blvd
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 291-6264
fax: (718) 297-0298
PS 131 Abigail Adams (Q131)
170-45 84 Avenue
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 739-4229
fax: (718) 658-5690
PS 095 Eastwood (Q095)
179-01 90 Avenue
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 739-0007
fax: (718) 658-5271

Public High Schools
Hillcrest High School (Q505)
160-05 Highland Avenue
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 658-5407
fax: (718) 739-5137
Jamaica High School (Q470)
167-01 Gothic Drive
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 739-5942
fax: (718) 739-4826
Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School (Q620)
165-65 84th Avenue
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 297-6580
fax: (718) 658-0365
Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School (Q680)
60-20 Goethals Avenue
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 969-3115
fax: (718) 969-3552
  

Senior Centers
Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults, Inc.
162-04 Jamaica Ave.,
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 657-6500
fax: (718) 523-7746
Robert Couche Senior Center
137-57 Farmers Blvd
Jamaica NY , 11434
phone: (718) 978-8352
Senior Citizens Center
123-10 143rd St
Jamaica NY , 11436
phone: (718) 657-6500
Senior Citizens Center
166-01 Linden Blvd
Jamaica NY , 11434
phone: (718) 658-0980
  

Elected Officials
NYC Council
Hon. I. Daneek Miller
IDMiller@council.nyc.gov
District Office 172-12 Linden Boulevard
St. Albans NY, 11434
phone: (718) 776-3700
fax: (718) 487-3580
Manhattan Office 250 Broadway, Suite 1810
New York NY , 10007
phone: (212) 788-7084
fax: (212) 788-7093
NYS Assembly
Hon. Alicia Hyndman
Hyndmaa@assembly.state.ny.us
District Office 232-06A Merrick Boulevard
Jamaica NY, 11434
phone: (718) 723-5412
fax: (718) 723-5465
Albany Office LOB, Room 820
Albany NY, 12248
phone: (518) 455-4451
fax: (518) 455-5522
NYS Senate
Hon. James Sanders, Jr.
Sanders@nysenate.gov
District Office Address 142-01 Rockaway Boulevard
South Ozone Park NY , 11436
phone: (718) 523-3069
fax: (718) 523-3670
Albany Office Room 508, Legislative Office Building
Albany NY , 12247
phone: (518) 455-3531
fax: (718) 523-3670
NYS Senate
Hon. Tony Avella
avella@nysenate.gov
District Office 38-50 Bell Boulevard, Suite C
Bayside NY, 11361
phone: (718) 357-3094
fax: (718) 357-3491
Albany Office Room 902, Legislative Office Building
Albany NY, 12247
phone: (518) 455-2210
fax: (518) 426-6736
NYS Senate
Hon. Leroy Comrie
Comrie@nysenate.gov
District Office 113-43 Farmers Boulevard
St. Albans NY , 11412
phone: (718) 454-0162
fax: (718) 454-0186
Albany Office Room 617, Legislative Office Building
Albany NY, 12247
phone: (518) 455-2701
fax: (518) 455-2816
US Congress
Hon. Gregory W. Meeks

District Office 153-01 Jamaica Ave., 2nd Floor
Jamaica NY , 11432
phone: (718) 725-6000
fax: (718) 725-9868
Legislative Office 2234 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC, 20515
phone: (202) 225-3461
fax: (202) 226-4169
Boro President
Hon. Melinda Katz
Info@queensbp.org
  
Mayor
Hon. Bill de Blasio
  

History

Community History

 

Jamaica was a former town and capital of Queens County. The first European settlers were probably New Englanders from Hempstead. They were granted a patent by Peter Stuyvesant, governor of New Netherland, on March 21, 1656. The settlement was initially called Rusdorf. After the English conquest in 1664 the name was changed to Jameco, after the Indians who were the earliest inhabitants of the area. In 1680, the present name was adopted.

On May 17, 1686, New York governor Thomas Dongan issued a charter to the landowners of Jamaica. The Dongan Charter consolidated the various hamlets into the town of Jamaica and set its boundaries. (The Dongan Charter is on display in the Long Island Division of the Central Library.)

In 1702 Jamaica briefly served as the capital of the New York Colony during a Yellow Fever outbreak in Manhattan.

Important to the history of Jamaica is Prospect Cemetery. The cemetery, which is the oldest cemetery in Queens, dates back to 1668 and includes the graves of some of the earliest inhabitants of Jamaica.

Two of Jamaica’s important landmarks are King Manor and Grace Episcopal Church. King Manor is named after Rufus King, a Massachusetts delegate to the Continental Congress, one of the two first New York Senators to Congress, a diplomat, and anti-slavery advocate. Grace Church was founded in 1702 and served as the official church of the British colonial government during the Revolutionary War. Rufus King is among those buried in the Church’s graveyard.

In 1898 Queens became part of the City of New York of which Jamaica was the county seat.

Jamaica owes its strength as a major shopping area to transportation. Jamaica Avenue was once a toll road between the ferry in Brooklyn and Hempstead. The Long Island Rail Road in Jamaica developed into a major hub. King Kullen, the first self service supermarket in the U.S., opened on Jamaica Avenue in 1930. In the 1960s, interest in Jamaica as a major shopping district began to decline. However, in recent years there has been a coordinated effort, through the work of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, to revitalize Jamaica.

Library History

The first Central Library was located on Parsons Boulevard. It opened in 1930 and was expanded with WPA funds in 1941. The current building on Merrick Boulevard was dedicated on April 11, 1966. The new building was the result of the unwavering efforts of Library Director Harold Tucker. It was designed by the architects York & Sawyer, Kiff, Colean, Voss and Souder. The new Central Library was the first major branch of an urban library to place all public services on one floor. The library cost $5,700,000 and contained 195,000 square feet of floor space. The library was renovated and expanded in 1989. Additional renovation and expansion has begun and is expected to be completed in the next few years, and will include the new Children’s Library and Discovery Center.

The Queens Library’s online catalog, InfoLinQ (Information online at Queens Library) was unveiled at the Central Library in October 1993. In January 1999 the Cyber Center opened at the Central Library. The Cyber Center has 48 computers for customer use, allowing access to the Internet and word processing. The Cyber Center, along with additional computers in the library, has helped to close the gap between the technology “haves” and “have-nots.”

Bibliography

“Libraries” by Phyllis Dan in The Encyclopedia of New York City.
Lighting the Way: The Centennial History of the Queens Borough Public Library 1896-1996 by Jeffrey A. Kroessler.

Suggested Reading on Jamaica’s History (available at the Central Library)

“Jamaica” by Vincent Seyfried in The Encyclopedia of New York City.
The Origin and History of Grace Church, Jamaica, New York by Horatio Oliver Ladd.
Recollections of Old Jamaica: 1655-1887.
Records of the Town of Jamaica Long Island: 1656-1751 edited by Josephine C. Frost.

Queens Poet Laureate 2007 – 2010

The Queens Borough President’s Office has announced the Fourth Poet Laureate to serve from 2007 to 2010:

Julio Marzan
Queens Poet Laureate

An honorary position, the Queens Poet Laureate promotes an appreciation of poetry throughout the borough and writes poetry that is inspired by, or relate to, the borough of Queens.

To learn more about the Queens Poet Laureate, go to http://www.queensbp.org/content_web/cultural_affairs
/cultural_poet2007.shtml
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