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Community Corner

Newly Renovated Windsor Park Library Reopens

"It's wonderful to see this library re-opened," said the event's host, Queens Library CEO Thomas W. Galante, who thanked the crowd for braving at points torrential rain.

The dreary weather conditions didn’t stop a host of local politicians and community members from celebrating the grand-reopening of the Queens Library at Windsor Park early Friday afternoon.

“It’s wonderful to see this library re-opened,” said the event’s host, Queens Library CEO Thomas W. Galante, who thanked the crowd for braving at points torrential rain.

The speakers included New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Assemblyman David Weprin, City Councilmembers Mark Weprin and Vincent Gentile, the latter of whom is the chair of the Sub-Committee on Libraries.

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Performers included Lauren Dawson of the Manhattan School of Music, who serenaded the crowd with the National Anthem and “Over the Rainbow,” and Manhattan resident Margaret Gruen, who shared memories of growing up in Bayside with the library.

The brothers Weprin helped raise more $500,000 in funding for the renovations, which totaled over $2.8 million. Stavisky helped secure $600,000 in grants from New York State.

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“I want you to know I came prepared,” Stavisky said, holding up her library card as she addressed the crowd. All of the speakers recalled fond memories of taking their children, when they were young, to various story hours and puppet shows.

A consistent theme of the event was the need for more funding for libraries in general, so they can stay open longer during the week, and open on weekends. More funding would also help pay for more renovations. According to Galante, 35 out of the 62 Queens Library branches have been renovated completey in the past five years. Belfiore Architects have been responsible for about half of those projects.

“What we’re doing is renovations,” Dennis Belfiore said. “We’re expanding the capabilities of the building,” though not actually creating a new building from scratch. The upgrades in Windsor Park include a teen area, new furnishings for the adult area, a redesigned children’s area complete with a reading “cave,” new, indirect lighting, new carpeting, new heat and air conditioning equipment, and new self check-in and check-out technology in the vestibule. New self check-in machines have also been installed to allow 24/7 returns.

The project took about two years, including a one year hiatus when finding funding became a challenge. The library was closed during that time, though a book mobile helped the community with its needs.

“The customers are very excited,” said branch manager Julia Tan, whose great wish is to get the community’s new immigrants involved in events, so they, in turn, can pass it to the next generation.

Tan is ready for this library to help out the community. “I think we’re looking forward to moving ahead. We’ll make this community a better place. We’re here for it.” 

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