Queens Gazette

Friends Of The Queens Library





(L. to r.); Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, Queens Library CEO Thomas W. Galante, Queens Library Executive Director Diana Chapin and Councilmembers Karen Koslowitz and Vincent J. Gentile.

(L. to r.); Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, Queens Library CEO Thomas W. Galante, Queens Library Executive Director Diana Chapin and Councilmembers Karen Koslowitz and Vincent J. Gentile.

City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Committee Chair Jimmy Van Bramer, Councilmembers Vincent J. Gentile and Dominic M. Recchia Jr. were sworn in March 15 as the City Council Chapter, Friends of Queens Library by Borough President Helen Marshall.

“I am truly honored to be inducted into the Friends of the Queens Library,” Quinn said at the morning ceremony held at the Long Island City branch.

“Our city’s libraries are a great way for everyone to explore a whole new world without breaking the bank. And what a great way to continue this tradition by donating a newly purchased book to the library. By doing so, we’ll be sharing old memories of your favorite story while creating new ones for anyone walking through these library doors. I want to thank the Queens Library and the generous book donors who are making this possible.”

As their first initiative, the city council chapter joined their fellow friends in an emergency campaign to buy library books and other materials. The program, known as Buy A Book, hopes to remedy the effects brought on by the drastic drop in the library’s new materials budget, as public funding sources have fallen short.

Friends of Queens Library are determined to help enrich the educational and cultural lives of their neighbors, and to keep minds and library shelves full through their efforts. Since matching funds are available only through March 31, every book purchased by the Friends of Queens Library will be matched with another until that date. The community is also encouraged to buy a book for the library.

“The Buy a Book initiative is a great program for our community and I am thrilled to be standing here today with Speaker Quinn, Councilmember Gentile and my colleagues in the New York city council as we are inducted as official Friends of the Library,” Van Bramer said. “The formation of this Friends chapter is one more sign of the city council’s commitment to our libraries and I will continue to fight for Queens Library as I have for the past twelve years.”

The Friends of Queens Library consists of volunteers who strengthen Queens Library through legislative advocacy, community awareness and fundraising. There are more than 3,000 Friends of the Library throughout Queens.

“The city council has supported Queens Library time and again, and have always been true friends. We are delighted to welcome them now as official friends. With their activism, and the energy of Friends of the Library from all over, we know we can bridge the gap in our new materials budget,” Queens Library CEO Thomas W. Galante said.

The Friends of Queens Library are asking patrons to become donors by filling out an envelope available in the library or at local merchants or by visiting www.queenslibraryfoundation.org.


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