Family & Community Engagement

Astoria Library Renovations

February 28, 2019 | BY Andre T. Stith, Organizing Director

The Astoria Branch of Queens Library recently received a gift of $3 million dollars that was presented by Queens Library CEO/President Dennis Walcott and Councilman Costa Constantinides to fund some much needed renovations. I had the opportunity to sit down with the Astoria Library Branch Manager, Gus Tsekenis about how the upgrades would support all families living in the Zone.

Gus and I discussed how the gift would go to support branch accessibility issues, upgrades in technology to support expediting the book loan and return processes. Councilman Constantinidies previously provided a donation of iPads that has resulted in the library seeing an increase in youth engaged with technology to support completing their homework.

Gus Tsekenis

Queens Library Astoria Branch Manager

The upcoming renovations include an elevator that will provide access to the library’s three floors, the children’s room will eventually be relocated to the ground level, and young adults will also now have their own space. The restructuring will be conducive to promoting additional after-school and summer programming for all young people who live in the community and access the library.

The renovations will be a welcome in terms of supporting the changing landscape of the Astoria community in the years to come.