You are reading

While residents wait for Hunters Point library, a mobile service aims to fill the void

busMay 27, 2014 By Christian Murray

The Queens Library will be starting a mobile library service in Hunters Point this Saturday, which is expected to be in operation until a physical library is built on Center Boulevard.

The mobile library will be parked next to Gantry Plaza State Park (Center Blvd at 48th Avenue) each Saturday starting May 31 and will operate between 8:30 am and 5:30pm. The service will offer books and materials for all ages, as well as two computers for public use.

Residents will be able to borrow and return books in a similar fashion as if they were going to any other Queens Library.

The plan is to have the mobile library operate all year round– although it will not be in service July 5.  “We are likely to keep it there until the [Hunters Point branch] library is built,” said Joanne King, a library spokeswoman.

The Hunters Point Community library should have been completed by now. However, the project continues to face delays as builders have been unwilling to erect it for the $28 million on offer—and it could still be years before it is completed.

Library location

Library location

“The Hunters Point community deserves a world class library and we are very much looking forward to seeing that vision become a reality,” said Mark Christie, President of the Friends of Hunters Point Library, a local advocacy group that is working with the Queens Library. “While we wait on the bricks and mortar we are so pleased to have the mobile library service.”

The Friends of Hunters Point Library is launching a children’s “pop up” program that will start this Saturday and will run through August 23. The “pop-up”  will feature arts & crafts, story readings and a host of other activities between 11 am and 2 p.m each Saturday–except for July 5.

The “pop-up” will be located in the park near the mobile library.

Additionally, Food cellar, located at 4-85 47th Rd, is about to offer residents a “take a book, leave a book” service in partnership with Urban Libraries Unite. Residents will be able to go to the supermarket, take books out of a mini-library and return them based on the honor system.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

2 Comments

Click for Comments 
LIC Res

Doesn’t ‘library’ now mean “public building with free wi-fi?” Hopefully the design allows many uses, beyond the uses of traditional libraries.

Reply
Lic fan

Wonder how long it will be before they either give up on the design of this library that is so expensive it can’t be built or will they just plop a regular library in that beautiful empty lot? Frankly, my opinion is that the space could be so many other wonderful things, i.e. Performance space?

Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

May races in Queens: JFK Airport 5K, Forest Park trail classic and a Queensborough 5K

May. 16, 2025 By Paulina Albarracin

The energy of May is on full display across Queens, with a lineup of local races that invite runners of all levels to hit the pavement and the trails. With mild temperatures and sunny skies setting the stage, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the spring weather before the summer heat sets in. From the Forest Park 4 Mile Road and Trail Classic to the festive Great Hawaiian Luau 5K at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, these events offer more than just a workout—they foster community spirit and personal growth. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen before lacing up and heading out. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or new to the sport, these May races offer a chance to challenge yourself and connect with others in motion.

Mayor Adams marks one year of ‘Padlock to Protect’ with pizza and progress in Queens

Mayor Eric Adams marked the one-year anniversary of the launch of the city’s “Operation Padlock to Protect” initiative at a pizzeria on the Rego Park and Middle Village border on Wednesday and touted the significant progress in shutting down more than 1,400 illegal smoke shops across the five boroughs and seizing more than $95 million in illegal product since last May.

“The city was fed up. We heard it at every town hall. This time last year, there were thousands of illegal smoke shops plaguing our city with unlicensed cannabis endangering our children,” Adams said. “One year later, we are proud to announce that we have turned the tide. Thanks to the tireless efforts by our city’s law enforcement officers, we’ve padlocked thousands of illegal shops and created safer streets for children and families. But we’re not stopping there.”