At the Newly Opened Teen Tech Center at Crown Heights Library (Left to Right): Ellen West, VP of investor relations and Google NY site lead, Maria Torres-Springer, New York City's Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development, BPL President and CEO Linda Johnson, a teen attending BPL teen programs, NYPL President and CEO Tony Marx, QPL President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott, Ashley Rajaratnam, Director of Social Impact at Best Buy, and William Floyd, Director of External Affairs at Google New York
Mayor Adams, New York City’s Libraries Partner With Google.org, Best Buy, Joly Family Foundation To Provide Nearly $20 Million In Funding To Support Teens And Young Adults Disproportionately Impacted By Pandemic
October 12, 2022
Partnership Features Major Expansion of Teen Centers at Brooklyn, New York, and Queens Libraries, Enhanced Library Services, Programs for Teens
Funding Will Help Provide Access to State-of-the-Art Technology, Academic Enrichment, Social and Emotional Support Services
NYC Kicking in $15 Million, $4.5 Million More from Google.org, Best Buy Foundation, Joly Family Foundation
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library today announced a partnership with Google.org, the Best Buy Foundation, and the Joly Family Foundation that will allocate approximately $20 million towards opening dedicated teen spaces at the three facilities to provide vital resources and services in an inclusive and engaging environment for New York City youth. After navigating the COVID-19 global pandemic and an extended period of isolation, New York City teens are poised to receive substantial support from the city’s public libraries, which are building on recent efforts to enhance teen services thanks to a major new public-private partnership designed to help young adults create opportunities for future success. The libraries will have programming and enhanced learning opportunities to support skills and career development, allowing young adults to actively use their local library to reestablish peer communities and advocate for their future. As part of this announcement, more than 30 teen centers are opening throughout the five boroughs.
"After two years of isolation during the pandemic, our young people deserve a boost and today's announcement is just one of many of this administration's ongoing commitment to New York City youth. The teen centers offer young people a space where they can connect with each other in person, learn new technical skills and how to collaborate better, and receive social and emotional support,” said Mayor Adams. "By investing approximately $20 million in new funds in these teen centers, we are connecting our young people with extraordinary programs in technology to discover new passions and prepare themselves for future careers. This is public-private partnership at its best, and will provide our city’s youth with the best we have to offer.”
“Now, more than ever, teens in New York City need safe, dynamic spaces where they can find inspiration, explore new interests, sharpen their digital and tech fluency, and learn about post-secondary opportunities,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Brooklyn, New York, and Queens Public Libraries, Google, and Best Buy to invest nearly $20 million in additional funding for teen spaces and programming in so many vibrant communities across our city.”
“We are thrilled to be able to provide teens with safe spaces where they can connect with friends and neighbors, learn the skills they need to be productive and engaged citizens, and discover through our programs and books who they might become," said Linda E. Johnson, president and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “We are grateful to Mayor Adams, Google.org, and the Best Buy Foundation for their generous and enthusiastic support of teen programs in libraries across the city.”
“As a free and inclusive resource for all New York City students, it is vital libraries create new opportunities to engage with teens and offer greater access to tools that will help them develop critical skills for their education and success later in life,” said Anthony W. Marx, president, The New York Public Library. “Technology has a profound importance in the lives of teens, providing them with opportunities to learn, communicate, and express their individuality. With the generous support of our partners — Mayor Adams, Google.org, the Best Buy Foundation and the Joly Family Foundation — these new centers will introduce teens not only to the vast resources of The New York Public Library, but to ever-evolving technology in creative and welcoming spaces that encourage collaboration with their peers and provide extensive resources and services for their growth.”
“The pandemic has been particularly tough on teens, many of whom have lost ground academically, found their support networks disrupted, and faced unprecedented mental health challenges,” said Dennis M. Walcott, president and CEO, Queens Public Library. “This funding will enable us to provide more teens with safe, inclusive, and inspiring spaces and critical supports to master digital skills, unleash their creativity, develop new interests, connect with peers and caring adults, and discover opportunities for college and career success. From the beginning of his administration, Mayor Adams has made clear that libraries are essential to our communities, and we are grateful to him, his administration, and Google for investing in the promise of teens — and of libraries – to help fuel the recovery of our city.”
With the Adams administration’s investment of $15 million, New York City’s libraries will develop new or updated teen centers in underserved communities throughout the five boroughs. The funding will also be used to support the hiring of additional staff, as well as create jobs for teens at each system. Branches throughout the city will also offer holistic support for teens with enhanced programs. Today’s announcement is part of the city’s overall strategy to keep the city’s youth engaged and active, expanding opportunities that empower teens and help them find the right path for success.
In addition to the city’s investment, Google.org, the Best Buy Foundation, and the Joly Family Foundation will expand vital support for teens with additional dedicated centers and enhanced services that will allow young adults to build strong foundations to succeed both in school and later in life. The partnership with Google is part of the company's NYC Tech Opportunity Fund, and its $4 million investment in local computer science education previously announced last month. That investment will include a $1.5 million grant to fund the opening and expansion of six teen centers, which will play a considerable role in providing resources focused on digital literacy and technology skills. The centers are located in each of the five boroughs at the following library branches:
- Bronx: Woodstock Library and Wakefield Library
- Brooklyn: Crown Heights Library
- Manhattan: Countee Cullen Library (scheduled to open in early 2023)
- Queens: Far Rockaway Library
- Staten Island: West New Brighton Library
The Best Buy Foundation and the Joly Family Foundation committed to opening five Best Buy Teen Tech Centers in public libraries, with one opening this spring at the Grand Concourse Library in the Bronx and expanding to four more sites in the next couple of years. Their initial commitment will be upwards of $3 million through 2025, and will be funded by grants, technology donations, and innovative partnerships that provide career and post-secondary opportunities to teen participants. Best Buy Teen Tech Centers aim to advance tech equity for young people in underserved communities, connecting them with mentorship, training opportunities, and post-secondary and career resources to ensure they thrive in the future. The new sites join a location at Kings Highway Library in Brooklyn that opened in 2019.
As CEO of Best Buy, Hubert Joly, founder of the Joly Family Foundation, oversaw the creation of the Best Buy Teen Tech Center program. There are now over 50 Teen Tech Centers nationwide, with a goal to open 100 by 2025 to reach tens of thousands of teens from disinvested communities across the country. Each Best Buy Teen Tech Center provides access to a variety of resources, such as access to cutting-edge technology, including tools for film production, augmented and virtual reality, digital media, 3-D design, and audio engineering.
“The Best Buy Teen Tech Centers are there to serve New York City’s teens,” said Hubert Joly, former chairman and CEO, Best Buy, and trustee, The New York Public Library. “I’m proud that this partnership gives them the opportunity to channel their talent, energy, and ideas into brighter futures.”
“Google.org is proud to support the New York, Brooklyn, and Queens libraries to open teen tech centers that will give young New Yorkers access to training, guidance, and resources, creating opportunities for them to participate in the tech economy of the future,” said Ellen West, VP of investor relations and Google NY site lead, Google. “We are grateful for the partnership with the libraries, the Mayor’s Office, and the Best Buy Foundation on this important initiative.”
“Since long before the pandemic, our city’s teenagers have needed partnerships like this — that creates spaces for community, supports them in and out of school, and empowers them to build a future around what motivates and fulfills them,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “In no time, we will see the benefits of these programs in the transformation of New York’s youth and the better city they will in turn build. We are so fortunate that Brooklyn will be home to these teen centers, and I thank Mayor Adams, our public libraries, and our private and philanthropic partners who have made it all possible.”
"The past two and a half years have been especially devastating for teens across the city, so this new investment couldn’t come at a better time,” said Jonathan Bowles, executive director, Center for an Urban Future. “It will help thousands of teens get back on track to futures full of possibility, and it’s a wonderful recognition of the vital role that New York’s branch libraries play in ensuring an inclusive and equitable recovery."
“For decades libraries have been the central space for young people to engage and connect with literature and one another,” said Dr. Meisha Porter, former DOE Chancellor and president and CEO, The Bronx Community Foundation. “This partnership with Mayor Eric Adams, Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library, and the Queens Public Library, Google.org, the Best Buy Foundation and the Joly Family Foundation will ensure that young people continue to have that dedicated space. The enhanced services offered in this space will also allow young people to have access to the digital tools and learning opportunities to ensure they have the 21st century skills needed to navigate the world.”
QPL President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott Speaks at the Funding Announcement
To advance this enhanced effort in collaboration with the Adams administration, Google.org, the Best Buy Foundation and the Joly Family Foundation, the three library systems are also implementing important initiatives and programs for their teen patrons.
Brooklyn Public Library is expanding its exceptional resources for teens with a focus on creating teen-friendly spaces at branches and bolstering its programs across the system. The new Teen Tech Center at Crown Heights Library will serve as a hub for teen technology offerings, both for the neighborhood and at Brooklyn Public Library’s boroughwide Today’s Teens, Tomorrow’s Techies (Teen Techies) program. The teen center will offer ongoing technology instruction and elective workshops — including web design, graphic design, programming languages, video game design, podcasting, and robotics. Teens will lead drop-in programs for their peers, and the center will offer opportunities for creative, project-based work. Funding for the Crown Heights Teen Tech Center was provided by Google.org — along with New York State American Rescue Plan Act funding and support from the Revson Foundation.
In addition, Crown Heights Library will serve as a pilot location for Brooklyn Public Library’s launch of Teen Takeovers — an additional component of the library’s mayoral-funded teen initiatives. Through the program, branch teen councils will plan programs for several weekend nights throughout the school year for which Brooklyn Public Library will keep the libraries open for extended hours.
Additional teen offerings will include support for the existing BKLYN Robotics program, introducing aspiring scientists to computational thinking, programming, and mechanical engineering; support for the existing Young Adult Literacy Program; expansion of the College Connect program; and the expansion of teen internship and volunteer opportunities, including Story Teen, Bookmatch teen, BKLYN Library Youth Council, and Librarians of Tomorrow.
More information about Brooklyn Public Library’s teen programming can be found online.
The New York Public Library has committed to enhancing services for teens in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, beginning with the launch last year of expanded services at the teen center in the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library and the opening of 19 dedicated centers this fiscal year. The newly enhanced teen centers will focus on interest-driven learning — supporting digital literacy and technology skills, teen empowerment and civic engagement, the exploration of teen voice and social identity, mental wellness, and mentoring opportunities.
The New York Public Library’s new initiative, Teens 360º — which launched last fall — will respond to the unique needs that surfaced during the pandemic, and includes new and innovative programs informed by teens themselves and includes upcoming opportunities, such as:
- The launch of an expanded Teen Reading Ambassadors internship program that employs 70 teens throughout the school year across 31 sites.
- The return of NYPL’s College Fair on October 21, where prospective students will have the opportunity to meet with schools and universities, attend college-prep workshops throughout the day, and find resources to support their post-secondary success.
- The launch of a new, teen literary magazine — Teen Voices — a print and online publication featuring teen writing, art, and photograph.
- The Library After Hours: Teen Takeover — an evening event held throughout the seven floors of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library on Saturday October 29 — where teens can dress up in their finest Halloween costumes, enjoy teen-curated activities, dancing, and fun.
More information about The New York Public Library’s initiatives and its programs and services created for teens is available online.
With Google.org’s support, the Queens Public Library renovated its existing, freestanding Far Rockaway Teen Library and expanded the library’s digital capabilities. Building on the success of the teen library, the Queens Public Library will leverage Mayor Adams’ investment to upgrade its teen centers at Central, Cambria Heights, and Flushing libraries, and establish a new teen center at the Long Island City library, providing new computers and software, 3D printers, recording equipment, charging stations, and gaming systems in reconfigured spaces. Teens will enjoy opportunities to develop the creative and tech skills needed in today’s ever-evolving digital world, with podcasting, audio and visual recording, editing, beat-making, and robotics instruction. In addition, dedicated staff will guide teens in navigating the everyday challenges of adolescence and offer new programs focused on peer-to-peer learning, mental health, college access, career exploration, community engagement, and social justice.
The mayoral funding will enable the Queens Public Library to expand the following critical initiatives:
- Youth Justice Court: Through Queens Public Library’s partnership with Queens Defenders, middle and high school students will learn about neighborhood issues and all sides of the criminal justice system at weekly workshops held at the five teen centers. They will train to become peer judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and jury members, and participate in a mock trial.
- College Access: At Queens Public Library’s five teen centers and throughout the borough, the library will offer counseling and resources to help teens and their caregivers navigate the college application process and identify a post-secondary path.
- Young Adult Literacy Services: Trained staff at Central Library and the Far Rockaway Teen Library will prepare young adults, ages 16-24, to earn a high school equivalency diploma. They also will provide digital literacy support, workforce readiness and resume workshops, multicultural seminars, computer-assisted instruction, internships, and case management services.
- Civic Engagement: Through hands-on volunteer opportunities, teens will gain an understanding of the impact of community service that will contribute to a lifelong commitment towards helping others.
More information about the Queens Public Library’s initiative and the programs and services created for teens is available online.
Media Contact
pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov
(212) 788-2958
Queens Public Library joins our City in celebrating Italian Heritage Day & Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which honors the past, present, and future contributions of Indigenous communities and Italian Americans.
In 2021, President Biden issued a proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the resilience and strength of Indigenous peoples, and “the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American society."
October is also Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month, which honors the achievements and contributions of Italian immigrants and their descendants living in the United States.
Join QPL in celebrating these important cultural holidays with our upcoming programs, plus booklists for adults, teens, and kids!
All QPL locations will be closed on Monday, October 10 in observance of Italian Heritage Day & Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Programs
Mni: A Celebration of Water & Women in Indigenous Dance
Thursday, October 13, 6pm
Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Boulevard
Italian Heritage Month Celebration for Children (Virtual)
Wednesday, October 19, 3pm
Join Ms. Lucy and Mrs. Deborah from Mitchell-Linden Library to celebrate Italian Heritage Month! Children will hear stories and Italian songs for kids, then learn how to make delicious pizza and a simple tambourine, a popular Italian musical instrument.
In order to keep children safe online, please email Ms. Lucy at lucianne.pastorello@queenslibrary.org or come to Forest Hills Library or Mitchell-Linden Library for more information, including the link and password to join.
Booklists
Indigenous Heritage Adult Fiction
Indigenous Heritage Adult Nonfiction
Indigenous Heritage Books for Young Adults
Indigenous Heritage Picture Books
Indigenous Heritage Middle Grade Fiction
Indigenous Heritage Middle Grade Nonfiction Part 1
Indigenous Heritage Middle Grade Nonfiction Part 2
We're proud to continue the fight against censorship and spotlight banned books.
We're inspired by this list of the 100 most popular banned and challenged books in circulation at Queens Public Library during the past decade.
These stories will open your mind to new perspectives, cultures, surroundings, and beyond. Perfect for inquisitive readers, they don’t shy away from the truth—in fact, they get right to it, with humor, heart, wisdom, and suspense.
Click on the links below to learn more about these books and borrow them online and from your local QPL branch, including copies in several international languages!
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Spanish
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Korean
Feed by M.T. Anderson (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | French | Russian
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous (Beatrice Sparks) (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Spanish
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Spanish
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (Adult)
Book | eBook | Russian
City of Thieves by David Benioff (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake (Children’s)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Spanish
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | French | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Polish | Spanish
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | French | Italian | Spanish
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Korean | Malayalam | Spanish | Urdu
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney (Young Adult)
Book | Russian
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Chinese
Class Act by Jerry Craft (Children’s)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
New Kid by Jerry Craft (Children’s)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Spanish
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | Spanish
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Spanish
Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | Dutch | French | German | Korean | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish
Melissa (previously published as George) by Alex Gino (Children’s)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
Lord of the Flies by William Golding (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | Korean | Russian | Spanish
Ground Zero by Alan Gratz (Children’s)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Albanian | Korean | Russian | Spanish
Looking for Alaska by John Green (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (Adult)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook | Chinese | Hebrew | Italian
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | Italian | Polish | Russian
I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel & Jazz Jennings (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Spanish
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Russian | Spanish
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | French | Gujarati | Hebrew | Korean | Russian | Spanish | Ukrainian
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Hebrew
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson (Young Adult)
Book | eBook
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | Korean | Russian | Spanish
Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson (Young Adult)
Book | eBook
The Breakaways by Cathy G. Johnson (Children’s)
Book | eBook
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (Adult)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook | Russian | Spanish
Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction
by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Young Adult)
Lily the Thief by Janne Kukkonen (Children’s)
Book | eBook
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | French | Hebrew | Italian | Korean | Latin | Polish | Russian | Serbian | Spanish
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Spanish | Thai
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
Proxy by Alex London (Young Adult)
Book | eBook
Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Children’s)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado (Adult)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook | Spanish
Sold by Patricia McCormick (Young Adult)
Book | eBook
Cinder by Marissa Meyer (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | Spanish
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Arabic | Chinese | Hebrew | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish
Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | French | Spanish
Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesléa Newman (Children’s)
Book | eBook
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien (Adult)
Book | eBook | Russian
1984 by George Orwell (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | French | Hebrew | Italian | Korean | Malayalam | Polish | Russian | Spanish
White Bird: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio (Children’s)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook | Spanish
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (Adult)
Book | eBook | Chinese | Korean | Russian | Spanish
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan (Young Adult)
Book | eBook
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Polish | Spanish
A Child Called “It”: One Child's Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Italian | Spanish
This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman & Kristyna Litten (Children’s)
Book | eBook
A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée (Children’s)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook | Spanish
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Spanish
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Spanish
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Children's)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, and Henry Cole (Children's)
Book | Audiobook | eAudiobook
So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson (Adult)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Arabic | Chinese | French | Italian | Spanish
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Spanish
Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Chinese | French
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Chinese | Hebrew | Spanish
Sex Is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and YOU
by Cory Silverberg & Fiona Smyth (Children’s)
Book | eBook
Bone: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith (Children’s)
The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith (Children’s)
Maus by Art Spiegelman (Young Adult)
Book | Spanish
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook
The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Chinese | French | Korean | Russian
Dear Martin by Nic Stone (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki & Jillian Tamaki (Young Adult)
Book | eBook
Drama by Raina Telgemeier (Children’s)
Book | eBook | French | Spanish
Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Modern Graphic Retelling of Little Women
by Rey Terciero & Bre Indigo (Children’s)
Book | eBook
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | Spanish | Turkish
Saga by Brian K. Vaughan (Young Adult)
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Russian
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward (Adult)
Book | eBook | French | Korean
Go With the Flow by Lily Williams & Karen Schneemann (Young Adult)
Book | eBook
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook
Native Son by Richard Wright (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook
American Street by Ibi Zoboi (Young Adult)
Book | eBook
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | eAudiobook | Chinese | Italian | Korean | Persian | Russian | Spanish
How to Recognize What's Called 'School Refusal'—and Get Kids Back in Class
The term “school refusal” used to be more or less synonymous with truancy, invoking a picture of kids hanging out on the street corner, or holed up in their bedrooms playing video games.
While it is true that some game-playing might well be involved, it’s important to understand that school refusal is not the same as playing hooky. It isn’t driven by the allure of having fun outside of school, but rather by an aversion to school itself.
- What is school refusal?
- What should I do if my child won’t go to school?
- What is the treatment for school refusal?
PROBLEMATIC PATTERNS
Everyone resists going to school once in a while, but school refusal behavior is an extreme pattern of avoiding school that causes real problems for a child. School refusal is distinguished from normal avoidance by a number of factors:
- How long a child has been avoiding school
- How much distress they associate with attending school
- How strongly they resist
- How much their resistance is interfering with their (and their family’s) life
Including all these aspects is important, because a child can still have school refusal even if they attend school most days. I’ve worked with kids who have missed only a day or two of school, but they’ve been tardy 30 times because their anxiety is so extreme it keeps them from getting to school on time. Kids with school refusal might also have a habit of leaving early, spending a lot of time visiting the nurse, or texting parents throughout the day.
SUSPICIOUS SICK DAYS
Often kids with school refusal will start reporting unexplained symptoms like headaches or stomachaches. Anxiety does manifest in physical ways, so their symptoms could be indicative of that. As a parent, the first thing you want to do in this situation is get your child checked out by a pediatrician; you don’t want to overlook a medical problem. But it may be that going to school is their problem.
Sometimes resistance to attending school is just a little blip on the radar, and it can be easily remedied. Maybe your child had the flu and was out for a good amount of time, and now they are having a hard time making the transition back to school. Suddenly they are getting clingy and anxious about all the homework they have missed.
In this scenario, it is important not to prolong time at home. Instead, you want to have a conversation with the teacher and with your child. You want to be able to tell them, “We’ve talked to your teacher, and they know you were sick. I know you’re worried, but your teacher understands. It’s time to get back to school.” Then they return to school and often things go relatively smoothly.
Similarly, some kids in school experience blips of anxiety after vacations. The key point is to get children back in school as soon as possible.
MORE SERIOUS CONCERNS
When school refusal starts to become a bigger problem—it’s going on for numerous days, weeks or even months—you should reach out and ask for help. This includes kids who go to school but only attend partial days because they are spending a lot of time in the nurse’s office and getting sent home early from school.
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
For more serious cases of school refusal, the first step in treatment is getting a comprehensive diagnostic assessment. While school refusal is not a diagnosable disorder, it often accompanies disorders like separation anxiety, social anxiety, depression or panic disorder. A complete assessment helps treatment professionals understand what is underlying school refusal, allowing them to tailor therapy to your child’s particular situation.
LISTEN UP
It’s also possible that something specific is happening at school, like bullying or a difficult class. This doesn’t mean you should immediately jump in and ask your child who doesn’t want to go to school, “Who’s bullying you?” But it is important to know what is going on in your child’s life. You should expect to hear what their teacher is like and how homework is going. You should also have a sense of the kids your child is hanging out with. These are all things that should come up in everyday conversation. And if your child mentions that something happened that day, perk your ears and put down whatever you were doing and listen in a nonjudgmental way, because it could be important.
REACHING OUT
Treatment providers working with kids who have school refusal will often use cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps kids learn to manage their anxious thoughts and face their fears. While kids who are anxious might disagree, the best way to get over anxiety is actually to get more comfortable with feeling anxious. Kids need the chance to see that they can attend school and their worst fears won’t happen. Exposure therapy, which reintroduces kids to the school environment gradually, is very effective at this. In the very beginning of treatment, this might mean driving by the school or walking through its empty halls on the weekend. From there kids can work up to attending one or two classes and then eventually attending a full day towards the end of treatment.
It’s best to be proactive and catch school refusal as soon as you can. Unfortunately, the longer a child misses school, the harder it is to get back in the routine, because being absent is very reinforcing. I have worked with families that describe getting ready for school like it’s a battle complete with huge tantrums. Sometimes the morning gets so challenging and exhausting that parents just give up and say, “Fine, stay home; I’ll go pick up your homework.” It’s a very understandable situation, but again, letting it continue puts kids one day further from being back at school. It is important for parents to know that the sooner the child gets back to school the better, and reaching out for help is an important first step.
—Rachel Busman, PsyD, ABPP, is a clinical psychologist who specializes in anxiety disorders.
This article is published courtesy of the Child Mind Institute. For more resources, please visit ChildMind.org.
FURTHER RESOURCES
If your child is avoiding school because they are facing school-based discrimination and/or academic failure due to poverty, disability, race, ethnicity, immigrant or English Language Learner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, homelessness, or involvement in the foster care or juvenile justice systems, call Advocates for Children’s Free Education Helpline on Mondays-Thursdays, 10am-4pm: (866) 427-6033.
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It’s officially that time of year—again! Summer is over, and a new school year is beginning. For seniors, this is a particularly exciting time as it is your last year of high school—not to mention the beginning of the rest of your lives! Let’s make this year count.
To prepare for college, there is a lot you can do whether you’re a senior—or even a freshman just entering high school. Here are some guidelines:
FOCUS
- The earlier you begin to plan for the college process, the better. However, remember you are a student first! Maintaining good grades is the key to getting into the colleges or universities you love, so don’t lose sight of that as you research and apply to colleges.
GET INVOLVED
- Colleges are looking for well-rounded students who balance both academics and extracurricular activities. Fortunately, there are many ways to get involved in your community. Find something that is truly interesting to you, or something you are passionate about, and you will find a way to shine as a college applicant!
SCHOLARSHIPS
- Let’s face it, college is expensive, and it’s never too early to start looking for scholarships! As it happens, there are scholarships for just about everything. Every year, over $100 million in scholarship money goes unclaimed, which means there is money out there that is yours for the taking!
RESEARCH
- Seniors: your college list may already be complete; if not, don’t fret! You still have time and resources. Reach out to your school counselors for help, or swing by the Central Library to receive support from one of our College Readiness Representatives.
- Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors: we encourage you to start planning and thinking about what you’re interested in. This way, you can identify schools offering related programs. College Board is a great place to help you get a sense of what’s out there. Consider the following questions as you research and think about which school is best for you:
- Where is the school located?
- Which majors are offered?
- Which sports are offered?
- What is the social scene like?
- What is the tuition?
- What opportunities and resources are available?
COLLEGE TOURS (VIRTUAL or IN-PERSON)
- Once you have done the research on the school(s) and created your college list, consider a college tour. You can either visit the campuses in-person, or virtually (pick up free tablets and Wi-Fi access from QPL, if needed). This is a great opportunity to get a sense of the school’s culture, campus, and environment!
College applications on top of schoolwork can feel overwhelming. But it is nothing you and your support system cannot handle. If you do find yourself in need of some advice or guidance, please reach out to us at college.readiness@queenslibrary.org.
- By Danielle Clayton, College Readiness Representative, Queens Public Library
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Are you finding yourself overwhelmed by student debt? If you’re a government or nonprofit worker, you may qualify for some much-welcome debt relief! PSLF, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, forgives any remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying payments have been made—if you’re working full-time for a qualifying employer.
Queens Public Library is here to support New Yorkers through the process of applying for PSLF. Read on to find information on the necessary materials, steps to enroll, and helpful resources for completing your application. Even if you’ve been rejected in the past, this program may benefit you—it’s certainly worth a try.
The PSLF waiver deadline is Monday, October 31.
Please note that PSLF is SEPARATE from the President’s Student Debt Relief Plan announced on August 24, 2022.
To apply, you will need:
- Your most recent W-2s from your employer OR your employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Your Federal Student Aid (FSA) login information
To enroll, follow these steps:
- Visit the U.S. Department of Education’s PSLF Help Tool
- Log in (or create an account and login)
- Use the PSLF Help Tool to check if you qualify
- Follow next steps based on the guidance provided on the website
Resources to learn more:
- NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection FAQ
- View a pre-recorded webinar or register for an upcoming information session at PSLF.nyc
- Forgivemystudentdebt.org has step-by-step instructions and additional tips
- Get free, individual support and counseling around loan forgiveness from:
- Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP) by calling (888) 614-5004 or emailing edcap@cssny.org
- NYC Financial Empowerment Centers by making an appointment online here
Congratulations to the young people who completed all their reading challenges this summer, making them eligible to participate in our Summer Reading Raffle!
We just finished our prize drawing, and here are our winners!
Early Learning Winners of Apple iPads
Kaya W. from Seaside Library
Penelope from Bayside Library
Galaxy from Central Library
School Age Winners of Google Chromebooks
Madison from St. Albans Library
Arthur from Langston Hughes Library
Alaina from Forest Hills Library
Teen Winners of Beats by Dre Headphones
Esha from Rego Park Library
Harnoor from Glen Oaks Library
Omar from Long Island City Library
Thank you again to everyone who joined us this year for Summer Reading, and we hope that our programs, booklists, and resources kept you engaged and reading all summer long!
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Tuesday, August 23, 2022 is Primary Election Day, and several of our branches will serve as polling sites.
Queens residents will cast their votes at the East Elmhurst, Lefferts, North Forest Park, and Richmond Hill branches, from 6AM to 9PM.
Is your library where you should vote? Please visit https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc or call 866-VOTE-NYC (866-868-3692) to confirm the correct location for you to vote in your neighborhood!
It's Almost Time for the 2022-2023 School Year!
BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE
Queens Public Library is here for kids, parents, caregivers, and educators with our extensive Back-to-School Guide in three languages: English, Spanish (Español) and Chinese (中文)!This year's Back-to-School Guide includes:
- Spotlight on Banned and Challenged Books
Our featured booklists are inspired by the 100 most popular banned and challenged books in circulation at QPL from the past decade. We are featuring a terrific selection of titles for young children as well as school-age and high school students. - QPL Resource List
QPL offers access to public computers; free Wi-Fi and tablets to take home; the STACKS enrichment program for kids in grades K-5; and much more! - School Sleep Schedule
Help your child get back on a school-year sleep schedule. - College Readiness
Applying to college can be overwhelming, but QPL has plenty of valuable resources to help students with their journey. - What is “School Refusal”?
Recognize school avoidance, and support your child in feeling safe and comfortable in a school environment. This section includes a list of local community-based youth programs. - Family Communication
Tips for improving communication with your child. - This Year's Giveaway!
From August 29 to September 2, get a free backpack when you borrow a banned or challenged book or sign up for a library card! While supplies last.
Back-to-School Guide Available now:
YEARLONG FREE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Additionally, we have created an extensive booklet featuring all of the free programs and services we have available all year long!
Our yearlong offers include:
- Resources for adults including immigration needs, services for homebound residents, and Brainfuse HelpNow for adult students
- Resources for new parents
- Learning and researching resources for kids in elementary school, including STACKS enrichment program and Brainfuse Homework Help
- Educational resources for kids in middle school
- Resources for high school students, including College Readiness
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Join our upcoming programs to be ready for the classroom and beyond.STACKS
Our STACKS after school enrichment program, for kids in kindergarten through 5th grade, continues this fall, and offers students structured, grade appropriate activities, which are designed to stimulate curiosity in Science and Technology, Creative Thinking in the Arts, and a sense of wonder for the Humanities.BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOOKLISTS
Books for Teens:
Teenagers Learn What They Live Book Ebook
Social Justice Parenting Book Ebook
Light Up Your Child's Mind Book Ebook
Price You Pay For College, The Book Ebook
We Want To Do More Than Survive Book Ebook
Montessori Toddler, The Book Ebook
Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie Book Ebook
Surviving High School Book Ebook
Does My Head Look Big in This? Book
High School Survival Guide, The Book Ebook
Special Topics in Calamity Physics Book
Fault in our Stars, The Book Ebook
Books for Children:
Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business Book Ebook
First Day of School, The Book Ebook
Merci Suarez Changes Gears Book Ebook
How to Win a Slime War Book Ebook
Twins vs. Triplets: Back to School Blitz Book Ebook
King of Kindergarten, The Book Ebook
Calvin Book
El Cucuy Is Scared Too Book Ebook
Danbi Leads the School Parade Book Ebook
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We hope you will visit Queens Public Library as you head back to school and throughout the school year!
Our library staff members are here to help you find what you need, including resources that can help you with your homework and school projects.
Free Books and Materials
Discover millions of free books at the library and enjoy reading and learning all year. Use your library card to check out books, eBooks, audiobooks, and so much more!
Computers and Wi-Fi
You can use the free public computers available at every library for up to an hour each day, and if you bring your own device, you can access our free wireless network.
Free Tablets
Borrow a tablet from the library for 1 month with 3 renewals (for a maximum total of 4 months). Bring your tablet to the library or anywhere with Wi-Fi for a full Internet and educational experience.
Educational Programs
Children, teens, and families can participate in programs that are educational and fun, like tech classes, hands-on science workshops, author talks, parent workshops, and more. Try our virtual programs on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/QueensPublicLibrary, or on our Facebook page, facebook.com/QPLNYC.
Online Libraries and Resources
Young children and teens can access our TumbleBook online libraries—which include animated talking picture books, early reader chapter books, children’s classics, graphic novels, YA/Teen novels, educational videos from National Geographic, and more. They can also visit the QPL website and find resources specifically for kids and teens, including booklists, databases, dictionaries, and more.
Welcoming Spaces
Your local library is a great spot for kids and teens to do homework and research, and for families to spend time reading and learning together.
Connections With Teachers
Queens Public Library can arrange class visits to neighborhood libraries and get students signed up for library cards. Queens teachers can also create Assignment Alerts that take advantage of the materials available at their local library for student projects and assignments. There is also MyLibrary NYC, a partnership between QPL and the NYC Department of Education that empowers school libraries and school librarians. For more information about all these resources, visit the QPL website.
STACKS After-School
STACKS is an after-school program for children Grades K-5 and operates during the school year Monday through Friday from 3-5:30pm. STACKS offers children structured and unstructured programming every day. Each session begins with homework help, facilitated by qualified and caring staff supervised by a children’s librarian. Children can also participate in a variety of enrichment activities and projects that are informative, hands-on, and fun, complement the school curriculum, and allow students to use all the resources Queens Public Library has to offer.
STACKS is not available at all QPL locations. Check with your librarian to find out if STACKS is available at your local branch.
STACKS Virtual World
This virtual program offers daily enrichment activities for students in Grades K-5. It also enhances fun and learning through structured, age-appropriate activities that are accessible to families with computer technology and Internet access. From the safety and comfort of their own homes, young people can develop their social, emotional, cognitive, and hands-on skills in a secure online environment. Please see the STACKS page on the QPL website for more information.
Queens Connected Mobile Hotspot Lending Program
Do you need Internet at home for your child’s schoolwork? We’ve got you covered. QPL offers Wi-Fi hotspots to provide you with free unlimited Internet, so students can keep up with homework and access online resources. Hotspots are available at select library locations. Limit of one device per household; devices may be checked out for 2 months, with up to 5 optional renewals.
Library Cards
A QPL card is your passport to over 5.3 million books, movies, and other media; over 19,000 classes and events per year; over 5,000 computer workstations; and so much more! Apply online or in-person now!
Children 12 and over can apply for a library card. Children 11 and younger must have a parent or guardian who resides at the same address (with proof of identification and address) sign for permission to get a library card. For more information, call (718) 990-0700. Access your account information, renew books, and check availability on the QPL website, or call (718) 990-8508.