Queens Borough Public Library www.queenslibrary.org/ Organization Overview: The Queens Library is one of three public library systems serving the people of New York City. The Library serves a population of 2.2 million in the borough of Queens, the most ethnically diverse county in the United States. With a record 18.9 million items in circulation and in-person attendance of 14.3 million people in 2005, the Library has one of the highest circulations of any public library system in the world.  The Library's services are spread throughout 63 locations and 6 Adult Learning Centers in Queens. Projects: Jodi Tyron worked on projects related to the Urban Teen Library Experience at the Queens Borough Public Library. She had the opportunity to work closely with Laurel Sandor, an SI alumnae who went to QBPL in 2000 through SI's second ever ASB.

See what past ASB students did at QBPL in 2005.

1) The Urban Teen Library Experience
This project will appeal to students who are interested in the challenges of the digital divide in low-literacy communities and those who are interested in library programs for teenagers in inner-city environments.  Far Rockaway, the neighborhood where the students will work, is an area with high poverty, escalating high-school drop-out rates and low literacy levels across all age groups. The branch library runs an after-school program for teenagers that is funded by a national education grant. Students will work alongside the grant manager (a young adult [teen] librarian) and gain an understanding of the way programs are planned based on community needs. Students will interact with teens and program staff and help run some of the after-school activities. They will visit a public school and have the opportunity to read to children in classrooms. The students will also help develop print and online resources to be used in the program.     

2) Youth Librarianship Smörgǻsbord
This project will give students a unique opportunity to observe and give library service to youth in the most diverse neighborhoods of the country. Participants will shadow experienced and friendly children’s librarians in neighborhood libraries. They will observe library daily activities and participate in story times, craft programs, literacy activities, reference or other activities. Students will assist after-school program staff and help collect data to be used for library-wide initiatives. By the end of the week, students should have a better understanding of the needs of immigrant youth, the challenges they present to libraries and the creative solutions libraries use to address community needs.

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