[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 16 (Thursday, January 26, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                IN RECOGNITION OF QUEENS PUBLIC LIBRARY

                                 ______


                        HON. CHARLES E. SCHUMER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 26, 1995
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pause a moment to recognize 
the critical roles that public libraries play in our communities. The 
public libraries of today are not just book lenders, but instead serve 
as community hubs, cultural centers, reference and research facilities, 
and on-ramps to the information superhighway. An excellent example of a 
modern public library is the Queens Borough Public Library, the largest 
public library system in the country.
  Queens Library recently conducted a survey to see how well they were 
doing in serving this most vibrant and diverse community. They were 
pleased to note that 85 percent of Queens residents use the Queens 
Borough Public Library, including 83 percent of the teenagers. The 
survey also showed that the library was succeeding in its attempts to 
reach out to all Queens residents, including those who don't speak 
English as their first language.
  Among the many services that the library offers to its community are: 
educational programs for children and adults, including basic literacy 
instruction and English as a second language courses; a database on 
local community services programs; a public access point to the 
Internet; ``New Americans'' programs, which provide citizenship 
education for recent immigrants and assistance in integrating more 
easily into society, and cultural programs. In fact, one of the major 
undertakings of the library is a new Asian Cultural Center in its 
Flushing branch, dedicated to promoting understanding and appreciation 
of Asian culture, as well as serving the borough's Asian community.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the vital 
role that Queens Borough Public Library and public libraries around the 
country are playing in their communities. The modern public library is 
a lifelong learning center and an integral part of the community it 
serves.


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