Group grateful for saved library

On behalf of all the Friends of Queens Library, we, the group’s presidents, would like to thank Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City Council for adopting a budget this year that saves our library system and our staff.

Thanks to the Council’s leadership in this year’s budget negotiations, all Queens libraries will continue to be open a minimum of five days a week without any further reduction in service hours.

We would like to thank Bloomberg, Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) and all the Council members for the restoration of funding made to Queens Library in this year’s budget. We would like to especially thank Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside), our friend and chairman of the Council Cultural Affairs and Libraries Committee, for his leadership as well as Queens delegation leader Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) for his unwavering support.

We also recognize Councilman Vincent Gentile (D-Brooklyn), chairman of the Council Select Committee on Libraries, who has worked on behalf of all New Yorkers to preserve library service, and Councilman Domenic Recchia (D-Brooklyn), chairman of the Council Finance Committee, for delivering a sound budget.

Thank you for recognizing the importance of libraries in these tough economic times. The public library is primarily a community center that provides critical services for many people who might not be able to find them elsewhere, from free computer, Wi-Fi access and job placement assistance to after-school programs and tutoring.

In a variety of ways, the public library creates social capital and expands opportunities for many. We believe investing in our libraries is investing in the future of Queens and the city as a whole.

Thank you for speaking up for our library.

Emily Banks

Rochdale Village Branch

Jamaica

Geraldine Benfante

East Elmhurst Branch

East Elmhurst

Seelia Bogert

Steinway Branch

Astoria

Maria Concolino

Woodhaven Branch