By George H. Tsai
The three-year-old Flushing Library at its present location is perhaps the most visible asset of this booming metropolis. It has a great wealth of good books, magazines and newspapers catering to just about every ethnic group in Queens.
The library had 350, 000 books when it opened in 1998. And new items are added to the bookshelves almost every day, according to the library staff. In addition, there are several hundred periodicals and about 50 local, national and international newspapers. No wonder it is crowded every day.
Of course, the building itself is an attractive landmark. It stands out like a polished, translucent gemstone glistening on a strip sandwiched by congested streets, beckoning people from all walks of life.
To reflect its multiethnic characteristics, the building’s rough marble steps are engraved with famous book titles or phrases (some in both English and native language) known to immigrants from Asia, Africa, Latin America and other parts of the world.
It seems people in this area, many of them new immigrants, have a burning thirst for knowledge, and this modern library is perhaps the only institution in Queens able to quench it.
Now readers can check out material through machines on each floor without having to go through the long line. But few people take advantage of them.
Barring fund shortages, the library plans to extend its Friday and Saturday office hours to 8 p.m. Also, like the Metropolitan Museum in Manhattan, the library should plans to open its doors on Sunday and close Monday. Many people, particularly new immigrants, in this area work six days a week, and Sunday is their only day off.
As a regular visitor, I take a great pride in this library, but not its surroundings. I wish it were situated at a relatively quiet area with lots of green.
The library is amid an environment of noise and litter. The sidewalks, fruit stands, vendors, mini-supermarkets and eateries across from the library always swarm with people. Fliers are among the culprits.
On almost every block near the library, there are two or three people giving out fliers, ranging from schools offering English lessons to merchandise discounts. But some passersby consider them an annoyance and throw them right away, not into the trash baskets though — the sidewalks are strewn with all kinds of fliers.
Recently, a group of people wearing “I am a volunteer” badge picked up litters on both sides of Main Street. Their volunteerism to make Flushing look good should be applauded. But they can’t do it every day.
Local authorities should map plans to impose heavy fines on pedestrians or merchants who generate litter on the sidewalk. Also, those grocery stores, restaurants and newsstands there should be responsible for cleaning up their storefronts after business hours or face fines.
There’s an additional measure that could be taken. Let those Flushing residents who are on workfare cleaning along the Whitestone Expressway, spend some of the work time cleaning the streets.
The gorgeous library can hardly change Flushing’s poor image as a town where vehicle thefts and vandalism surpass other areas of the city. For example, four decorative hubcaps on my car were stolen five minutes after I parked it on Prince Street.
It was reported that most of the stolen vehicles from Flushing end up in foreign countries. Obviously, there are smuggling rings here bent solely on illicit profits at the expense of innocent people. Local politicians and law enforcement authorities should find quick solutions to these lingering problems that have plagued Flushing.
But Flushing is still the fastest-growing town in the state of New York. To meet the growing demand, new apartment complexes have risen one after another.
Two similar mini-malls facing each other on Main Street opened recently. A new food mall on 38th Street is expected to open soon to the public. A spectacular town center project next to Sheraton Hotel is under construction. According to posters on the wooden wall around the site, a number of facilities providing quality-of-life services will be completed next year.
Speaking of development, however, one thing has puzzled me for the past two years. Why does the former Caldor department store building remain dormant? And another building occupying almost a one-half block on Northern Boulevard facing Main Street has stayed closed for a number of years. Both are in good business locations.
