2 Astoria, LIC Libraries Reopen For Browsing, Research

ASTORIA-LONG ISLAND CITY — After being limited for months to grab-and-go service amid the pandemic, two public library branches in Astoria and Long Island City are among dozens across the city that reopened Monday for expanded services.

The Queens Public Library branches in Astoria, at 4-01 Astoria Boulevard, and Long Island City, at 37-44 21 Street, are two of the borough’s 14 locations that now offer browsing and computer use for the first time since they shut down last spring.

The reopening isn’t complete, since patrons can only visit in half-hour increments, but it’s the first time that branches have opened their doors to patrons in over a year — which many are hailing as a victory, especially amid declining coronavirus rates and millions of vaccinations.

"This is another one of these turning point moments: to have the libraries back for everyone," Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a Monday news conference.

Long-time Long Island City Councilmember and former QPL library organizer Jimmy Van Bramer, who is running for Queens borough president, joined Astoria City Council candidate Tiffany Cabán outside the QPL Astoria branch on Monday to welcome back patrons and appreciate staff.

“Libraries and public knowledge resources are critical access points to opportunity for our communities that lack adequate access to education or books or the Internet,” said Cabán in a news statement, heralding the essential work of library workers.

Van Bramer, who also noted that library workers “provide a vital service for seniors, parents and their children, and immigrants striving for language access everyday,” said he was especially “thrilled” to welcome back library-goers, since building “a Queens that works for all… includes advocating for library and community services.”

Assemblymember Zohran K. Mamdani, who represents Astoria, celebrated the QPL return on Twitter as part of a “vision of a socialist future,” adding “as socialists, we believe everyone should have what they need to live a dignified life — this includes access to knowledge & resources free of cost — what our library system already provides.”

The reopened libraries were chosen for their size, proximity to public transportation and building condition, the QPL said.

More branches will reopen in the summer, and the city's libraries are hoping to fully reopen "as soon as possible in 2021," according to a news release.

The complete list of libraries open in the World’s Borough can be found on the QPL website here.