Bayside Library to Reopen on July 20

The Bayside Library will reopen this weekend with a celebration that includes activities for children and musical performances.

The library, which is located 214-20 Northern Blvd., has been closed since December for renovations, including the installation of RFID self service check out, 24/7 check-in machines, handicap accessibility and new areas for adults, teens and children.

The branch will officially reopen at 5 p.m. on July 20, but a celebration will kick off earlier that afternoon.

From 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., children will be able to get balloon animals and take part in other activities.

Face painting will be offered from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and a flower-arranging workshop with Anna Kao will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Eddie Lee Isaacs and Friends will perform rock ‘n’ roll and blues music beginning at 3 p.m.

Renovations for the library, which was built in 1965, cost a total $1.3 million. Joanne King, a spokeswoman for the Queens Library, said the branch is one of the most highly utilized in the borough.

Northeast Queens leaders said the community has been anxiously anticipating the library’s reopening.

“Over the course of the past years, the community board has been hoping to make the library bigger,” said Susan Seinfeld, district manager of Community Board 11. “These renovations will revamp everything and bring the library up to date. People have been asking for a while when it was going to reopen.”