Sunday, April 10, 2016

Excitement over new library, apathy over history


From DNA Info:

The reconstructed library on Broadway, which was originally scheduled to open three years ago, should be ready in the fall, Queens Library officials said Monday.

Construction on the new site is "95 percent complete," according to Dennis Verriello, the vice president of capital projects and facilities.

Verriello spoke at a public hearing on the library's budget that took place at the Main Street branch in Flushing on Monday night.

Library officials anticipate that the Elmhurst library will open by the fall, once furniture and millwork is complete.

During construction, which began in the spring of 2012, the library has been operating out of a trailer across the street from its new location.


Meanwhile, the story of what's been going on across the street at the Old St. James Episcopal Church (built circa 1735, which the city refuses to landmark) continues to be ignored by the press, along with the fact that the Library is damaging its interior by using it as a construction staging area.

But hell this is Queens, so whaddowee expec?

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is no excitement over a new library.

What an outdated concept to have a brick and mortar building with stacks.

They should have made a community center with wifi and computer terminals instead.

It will be filled with asian students studying and old people, with random homeless people thrown in for good measure.

Anonymous said...

I thought the government was trying to shut down libraries.

Anonymous said...

Just provide free wimax to the hoods, no need for paper libraries any more

Ned said...

Quote "There is no excitement over a new library"

What ? Why are you New Yorkers so blind and cant figure out what this library faux REALLY IS, are you crazy ?
The illegals are PLENTY excited and having fiesta's now that the taxpayer will pay to babysit those 5+ kids in the neighborhood. This as they work off the books, get pregnant, get drunk and get more other stuff on the taxpayer dole.
What's going on in New York is just fucking unbelievable, worse then East LA out in that tragic kingdom called Kali-mexico!!

Ned
www.nra.org

Anonymous said...

How about the over 2 year delay in remodeling the Kew Gardens Hills library branch? We've been forced to use a crummy postage stamp sized storefront "temporary" library with about 10 books to take out. The lazy librarians there don't even bother to restock the books. You have to find your books on a very heavy cart, and push it to see the ones in the back, which is difficult.

Anonymous said...

"wifi and computer terminals"
Haa One would wish :) :) more like fingerprint DVDs and video games. With a terminal or 2 for the whores & scammers to work craigslist.
Let not forget small conference rooms where activists characters like La-Raza can come in and hold seminars in Spanish on how to "get over" and get free stuff and how to vote in local elections.

Anonymous said...

Its CAPITAL FUNDS MONEY people, almost as good as as welfare state program money - all under the banner of honest graft. This is what you get when you let the library board off free.

Yes, the library is acting as one big vacuum trying to suck up all programming money, and other stuff like pictures and the like from the community.

As to the refusal to publicize the historic building the solution is very easy - write a public letter to both the borough historian and little Mitchel Grubler's committee in borough hall to either get off their asses, or step down until someone worthy of the position who will fight for the community takes over. Make it public, send a copy to Crappy, and lets keep up the pressure until they DO SOMETHING.

While you are at it, call the papers and ask them why they refuse to cover this while they drool over every new project. Again, share your experience here.

If you are damn polite then you deserve to be treated like garbage.

Anonymous said...

no need for paper libraries any more

That's only true if your definition of what a library is and does has not changed. Now, they offer computer classes and job training classes, including for those who are middle-aged and who suddenly need to upgrade their skills to find a new job. They teach adults to read and write. And, as they've been doing for over a century, public libraries help turn children into lifelong readers. Take a look at the Pew Research Center's report on Libraries and Learning.

Anonymous said...

Just provide free wimax to the hoods, no need for paper libraries any more

Assuming the power will be available forever.

Anonymous said...

Why do we need wifi?

Isn't the city supposed to have set up a network for everyone?

More tax dollars down the drain!

Anonymous said...

Isn't the city supposed to have set up a network for everyone?

How about doing a bit of research and find out the background on the wireless mesh network that does the water meter reading for DEP.
That was a $500M (yes million) fiasco for the unified FDNY, EMS and NYPD system that never worked properly.
Yearly maintenance is around $25M!
So the genius screw ups made it a wireless water meter reading to save face and to avoid other uncomfortable inquiries.
More than sure we all heard the horror stories of $800 + water bills for some home owners.
Well the reading is wireless not the meter. That is still analog.
How is that for a grand fucking TWEEDING ripoff?

georgetheatheist said...

I'm on the computer working most of the day. One of my favorite breaks is to read the PRINT newspaper which I get delivered to my doorstep. It's a welcome relief to read words that are not seen with backlighting but rather with reflected light. A more satisfying"read" if you will.

Can I get a witness?

Anonymous said...

I agree George

Used to get the Economist and enjoyed it cover to cover over a few days from the comfort of my easy chair or rocker.

Now get the electronic version and skim it in 15 - 30 minutes in a chair in front of a computer.

No comparison.

Anonymous said...

There's certainly a need for paper libraries. We spend more than enough time staring at computer screens all day. It's nice to read something on paper.

Hell, I'd still read the newspaper if the Daily News hadn't turned into such crap over the last decade, while removing almost everything worth reading besides the comics and political cartoonist.

Anonymous said...

Nothing beats a cup of coffee and a newspaper. Or a book.

Anonymous said...

Paper libraries ?
Never happen, paper is being done away with. Try and get rid of 100 LBS of paper, recyclers no longer even want to touch it. Some days and weeks it goes into deep negative value.
Its simply too costly to transport and far to toxic a process to bleach and recycle it, no more newspapers and print media in 5- 10 years.
It will all be large cheap handheld screens and memory cards as rechargeable battery's get smaller, cheaper and more powerful.

georgetheatheist said...

Construction material storage inside the venerable historic church building? A sacrilege! (And this from an atheist.) Why doesn't Katz hike up her skirt, march on over, and tell them to get that shit outta there?

Indeed. This IS Queens. (The beat goes on.)

Anonymous said...

It will all be large cheap handheld screens and memory cards as rechargeable battery's get smaller, cheaper and more powerful

Yeah yeah. And with no electricity we all go suck wind.
Heck we can't even pump gas if juice is out.
Some bright future we have.