Around Town: Langston Hughes 100-01 Northern Boulevard, Corona 718-651-1100 Hours: Mon. 1–8 | Tues. 1–6 | Wed. 10–6 Thurs. 1–8 | Fri. 10–6 | Sat. 10–5:30 Facts abo u t queens lib r a r y at Langst on H ug h e s Computers: 24 public access computers (about 10 are dedicated to the homework program) Languages for Materials: English, Spanish, Chinese Special Sections: Black Heritage Reference Center (includes circulating materials) Special Services: Performance-ready auditorium; used extensively by the community 12 40 Years and Going Strong Library at Langston Hughes (known formally as the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center). It marks 40 years that Langston Hughes has served the public with its premier collection, the Black Heritage Reference Center of Queens County. This circulating collection of print and nonprint materials about the Black Experience boasts over 45,000 volumes of circulating books, periodicals, theses and dissertation, and audio and video materials. Langston Hughes also has a reference collection of microfiche and microfilm, databases and a permanent art collection of Africana paintings, prints and sculpture. In addition to the Black Heritage Reference Center, Langston Hughes also offers a wealth of programming for customers, including artist exhibitions, musical performances, seasonal creative writing workshops, dramatic presentations, a day to honor Langston Hughes and his poetry, a Kwanzaa celebration, and much more. “Langston Hughes provides a service to the borough of Queens that’s not duplicated elsewhere in the borough,” says Andrew Jackson, Executive Director of Langston Hughes. “Our programs and services supplement the special collection.” Jackson points out that Langston Hughes has evolved along with its changing community, and that its programming and collection reflects this. “Corona-East Elmhurst was mainly a black community when Langston Hughes opened,” says Jackson. “Now, it’s multicultural. Because of that, we have a Mexican festival, host Latin bands in the courtyard, provide Asian string music programs — we do everything. And everything is free.” “ “ 2009 is a banner year for Queens received grant funding for this “experiment in community control,” the LAC submitted a proposal to Queens Library Director Harold Tucker, and Langston Hughes gained full Queens Library status in October 1987. With a staff member dedicated to information technology, Langston Hughes provides computer classes in English and Spanish to the public. And, through its homework program, the library assists about 100 children from first through seventh grade. With its wealth of activities, space is at a premium. “We’re focusing on more space for the collection,” says Jackson, “which means we’re moving into digital preservation. We also need dedicated space for our young adults, who come in on a regular basis.” Our purpose is always to serve the community. One of the most unusual and special aspects of Langston Hughes is that it was founded by members of the community. The Library Action Committee of Corona-East Elmhurst, Inc. (LAC) was an ad hoc committee of the local Community Corporation, one of New York City’s anti-poverty programs. Nearly 20 years after it “This is my neighborhood, and Langston Hughes has allowed me to flourish here,” says Jackson. And his explanation of the library’s value is simple. “Our purpose is always to serve our community,” he says. Come in today, and experience the value of this truly unique institution for yourself. The original Langston Hughes Cultural Center was in a former Woolworth’s in Corona-East Elmhurst. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 13
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