50 | BOROMAG.COM | MARCH 2015 EXPLORE YOUR BORO Story By Gabrielle C. Sherb Giving Back and Getting More in Western Quee ns Gabrielle is a fundraising and development professional in Manhattan, keeping her finger on the pulse of philanthropy. Contact her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @philanthropchic. Since moving to the last stop on the N/Q line almost a decade ago, I’ve benefited from all Astoria has to offer—great neighbors, outstanding cuisine, and an easy commute. The moment the train rises above ground from 59th Street into the open air at Queensboro Plaza I take a deep breath and know I am close to home. While I’ve considered myself an unofficial ambassador of Astoria for years, I felt that I was not as connected to the community as I could be. I wanted to know more about the important work being done every day to make Western Queens the safe, healthy, and vibrant place that I love. That’s why I’m thankful for the opportunity to write for BORO Mag and feature organizations, businesses, and individuals who are making an impact in Astoria, Long Island City, and Sunnyside – and how local residents can give back. The first organization to be featured is the Steinway branch of the Queens Library, located at 31st Street and Ditmars Boulevard. The mission of the Queens Library is to provide for the educational, recreational, informational, and cultural needs of everyone in Queens. Originally founded in 1896, the library now boasts 62 library locations, seven adult learning centers, and one family literary center in the Ravenswood section of Long Island City. “While the number one thing people ask for is books, libraries are becoming more like program centers,” says Joanne King, Director of Communications for the Queens Library Foundation. “The libraries’ programs teach people of all ages skills they can take into the classroom and workplace.” Across all its branches, the Queens Library offers children’s story times, after school enrichment, and computer workshops, even classes that provide certificates in coding, web design, and app development. “Every library in Queens is very community focused,” says King. “We don’t do a cookie cutter approach. We do what the community needs.” The Steinway branch, named in honor of the Steinway family, served as an important resource for the German immigrants and their families that were employed by Steinway Piano Factory. Since its incorporation into the Queens Library system in 1956, the library has continued its tradition of helping those in the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard vicinity. “The area is growing,” says Laurel Hicklin, Community Library Manager. “We’re seeing lots of new people, more requests for library cards, and as a center for new people moving to the neighborhood. We provide free Wi-Fi and work with the local teenagers. We’re proud to be one of the free resources in the neighborhood.” Here are three easy ways you can give back to the Steinway branch and the Queens Library: 1 Join a Friend of Queens Library Chapter: Friends of the Queens Library Chapters groups serve to strengthen the Queens Library as a whole through legislative advocacy, program planning, community awareness, and fundraising. 2 Buy-A-Book: For just $25 you can buy a book for your local branch and give the gift of reading to your fellow community members. Your donation will get recognized with a sticker in a book. 3 Donate: Support the library’s ongoing work at http://foundation.queenslibrary.org/ways-to-give-nav If you or someone you know is making a difference in Western Queens and deserves to be highlighted in BORO Mag, contact me at [email protected].
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