Queens Library at Astoria at 14-01 Astoria Blvd. (Google Maps)
July 19, 2019, Staff Report
Astoria residents looking for relief from this weekend’s heat wave can visit local Queens Public Library locations during special Sunday opening hours.
The Queens Public Library will open 11 branches around the borough that are normally closed on Sunday, to serve as City-designated cooling centers—including the Astoria branches at 14-01 Astoria Blvd. and at 40-20 Broadway.
Other branches in western Queens that will be open include Long Island City (37-44 21 St.) and Jackson Heights (35-51 81 St.).
The locations will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Astoria branches’ normal operating hours the day before, on Saturday, are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This weekend’s heat wave is expected to bring dangerous temperatures, with a heat index reaching up to 111 degrees, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office.
NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell said that “these temperatures are not to be taken lightly” and urged anyone who doesn’t have AC to visit a cooling center.
A map of all cooling centers throughout the city can be viewed at https://maps.nyc.gov/oem/cc/.
2 Comments
The city should do this is in the winter as well to use it as a warming center in the dangerous cold temps as well
Landlords are responsible for providing heat to tenants in the winter. However, I think warming centers during cold temperatures is a great idea especially for the homeless population and those living in housing with broken heating systems. As far as the heat is concerned I am very surprised that no one in NYC has suggested legislature to make it mandatory for landlords to provide cooling equipment to all rental apartments in the summer. It should be law.