Grants

Queens Library Foundation, Inc.

Project Title

For project support of English as a Second Language (ESL) programs for adult immigrants, and teen programming that supports economic & social mobility

Date

Sep. 12, 2024

Duration

24 months

Description

Founded in 1896, Queens Public Library (QPL) serves the most diverse county in the nation, Queens, NY, where 47.8 percent of its 2.4 million residents are foreign-born, and an estimated 180 languages are spoken. In 2023, QPL had over 5.6 million visitors, circulated over 7.7 million resources, and offered over 50,000 programs at its sixty-six library locations, including four Carnegie libraries (Astoria, Poppenhusen, Richmond Hill, and Woodhaven) for newcomers, young adults, and teens. Prior Corporation support enabled QPL to expand the number of teens served through its college readiness programs. With Corporation support, QPL will scale its programming over two years to provide an estimated 1,000 newcomers with basic English as a Second Language classes, 560 newcomers with workforce training for industry certifications, sixty-four young adults with instructionfor the high school equivalency exam, and 1,500 teens with college readiness programs. 

Project Title

For support of the design and implementation of postsecondary access programming

Date

Sep. 02, 2021

Duration

17 months

Description

A postsecondary credential has become increasingly vital to an individual’s ability to secure employment, yet resources and targeted tools to support students’ college access and success are insufficient. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the challenges facing students on their paths to and through college and accelerated the need for programs that meet the shifting needs of students, families, and educators. The Queens Public Library (QPL) has been a community resource and information hub for Queens residents throughout its 125-year history, providing access to books and media, educational programming, and services for English language learners and new immigrants. QPL is currently focused on helping the residents of Queens recover and rebuild from the pandemic, particularly young people who face barriers getting into and graduating from college. Corporation support will enable QPL to participate in the Corporation’s Focus NYC initiative and design and launch a college access program, Branches to Success, that will provide guidance to Queens students and families on college admissions, career exploration, and financial assistance.

Project Title

As a one-time only grant for support of its K-12 education and enrichment programming to students in the New York metropolitan area

Date

Sep. 17, 2015

Duration

12 months

Project Title

For a project to build the collection of the Queens Library

Date

Jun. 14, 2012

Duration

16 months