(Photo courtesy of office of Costa Constantinides)
Aug. 7, 2018 By Tara Law
Politicians and library officials held a ceremonial groundbreaking yesterday to mark the start of a $3.9 million renovation of the Steinway Library.
The revamp, which is expected to begin later this month, will include the installation of an elevator and a new roof, and repairs to the building’s exterior. The library will be closed temporarily between Aug. 13 and Aug. 18, and then be shut down for 12 months beginning this fall.
The branch, located at 21-45 31 St, is among the Queens Library system’s busiest, serving nearly 200,000 patrons last year, and is in need of modernization, according to library officials.
The modernization effort includes steps to make the building more environmentally friendly, such as energy efficient insulated glazing at the new entrance and an insulated roof.
The branch will be also be made fully ADA accessible upon the completion of the overhaul. An ADA accessible ramp will be installed by the library’s main entrance on 31st Street, and a new elevator will provide access to all levels of the building.
“With these renovations, Queens Library’s Steinway branch will be more technologically efficient, eco-friendly and accessible to everyone,” said Queens Library President Dennis Walcott in a statement.
Rendering (Photo courtesy of office of Costa Constantinides)
The revamp includes a new roof and other exterior improvements such as new brickwork.
Additionally, a new book sorting area will be installed near the main entrance and new staff offices will be built in the cellar. The building’s second floor will also be renovated.
Mobile library service will be provided while the the branch is closed.
The project is the second phase of a three-part overhaul of the branch. The first phase was completed in 2010 and included the installation of ADA-compliant bathrooms and self-check-in kiosks.
The timeline for the final phase of the overhaul will be announced after the completion of the second phase. The final stage will include the renovation of the children’s bathrooms, meeting rooms and staff rooms.
Among the officials who attended Monday’s groundbreaking were Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Astoria Councilmember Costa Constantinides, Community Board 1 Chairperson Marie Torniali, State Senator Michael Gianaris and NYC Department of Design and Construction Deputy Commissioner Tom Foley.
“Queens Library is one of our borough’s most treasured institutions, and this $3.9 million renovation will enhance Steinway Library’s long-term structural stability and accessibility to people of all abilities,” Katz said.
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20 Comments
How about giving your Pages more hours since you cut them? Minimum wage is supposed to be a living wage! The Pages gave the toughest job and still get paid nothing.
Too many negative comments..our libraries are needed for our community. Cant wait to see the finished product.
200,000 people used that library? That must include the scores of homeless and insane. Anything to justify excessive spending. Meanwhile there aren’t trash cans to be found, streets are filthy, bums everywhere.
Another waste of money. Watch the project go into overruns and delays while the city and tax payers are milked with cost overruns.
Riiight! Trying to educate people by encouraging reading is a giant waste of money. They might get some funny ideas like wanting to develop critical thinking skills. We can’t have that! ?
I am so happy that our
community is getting the upgrade for our Steinway Branch. I hope there will be a designated area for
patrons who want to relax and read on each floor. Thanks to everyone who made this possible.
I wish they also included a parking lot for library goers. The library is free but you end paying so much in parking meters and sometimes fines for visiting the library.
” It would of been nice if the library was turned into a public school for preschoolers in Astoria.”
WTF? Are you nuts?
When I had some time off before starting a new job I went to the library for a change of scenery to read or do work.
One thing I wished they had were lounge chairs so you could sit and read. I do not want to sit at a long wooden table to read. Also, it would be great to have small private rooms to reserve for tutoring…etc.
Finally, the internet was horrible and so were the computers. It is ridiculous I could get better internet using my cell phone as a hotspot then the library’s wi-fi
Lounge chairs so the homeless can have a comfortable space to sit their dirty asses while your kids try to read a book.
Don’t you just hate it when “the public” try to use public services? Things would be so much more pleasant if we could just hide society’s challenges and not deal with them. ?
Why not bring some of society’s challenges into your home then? Bathe and feed them while you are it. That way people won’t get head lice or other diseases while trying to look for a book or two
Yeah , Witheld. Let’s get just get rid of the library then so they don’t go there to read …up next parks then benches.
The library provides many oyher services to the community besides just holding books. My children have also been able to borrow or request many different materials for school projects and we have enjoyed participating in the libraries’ many different programs. I believe it is important to keep them in our communities and maintain them.
I bet this library will get finished before the Hunters Point one because there’s an actual community over there, not throngs of mouthbreathers who got priced out of Manhattan, yet desperately yearn to be back there at every chance they get.
Sounds wonderful. However, I notice that my three teenage children never need or want to go to a public library. They use the internet for school projects or help with homework like most of their friends do. The only time they been there was during schools trips in elementary school and when i would take them as infants and toddlers. It would of been nice if the library was turned into a public school for preschoolers in Astoria.
Your basing the entire community’s needs on what your 3 children do?
200,000 OTHER people a year use this branch. Did you read the article?
I hope they make the bathrooms nicer and bigger. There is no where to go on Ditmars. I am sure a good number of people enter it for that reason.
My children have many friends and thousands of friends and followers on FB and IG. I stand by what i said. Most of today’s youth including college students hardly use public libraries. I am glad this library is being renovated I just hope more free public programs with quality educational practices and services open up for preschoolers in the area. Day care is ridiculously expensive around here.
Isn’t the city already getting universal 3K, in addition to pre-K?