Last month, staff from Queens Public Library (QPL) visited students at Townsend Harris to share information on teen programs, free services, and volunteer opportunities offered by the library.

During the visit, two staff members from the Fresh Meadows QPL branch visited: Suraya Jairam, the assistant library manager, and Nicole Fabre-Hernandez, a teen librarian (a librarian who “provides library service…with an emphasis on teens and preteens”).  The two shared a behind-the-scenes view of how the library functions and provided an overview on the resources available at their Fresh Meadows QPL branch. The presenters also hosted a trivia about QPL’s history and a scavenger hunt, where students earned prizes by answering questions correctly.

Ms. Jairam said that the purpose of the event was to encourage “students to visit their local QPL branch [and] to utilize [their] services, which include accessing [their] free collection, technology (including 1 hour daily computer use with free printing of up to 30 pages), streaming services through Hoopla and Freegal, Culture Pass for free tickets to museums throughout New York City, as well as using [their] space to relax, unwind, and/or gather with friends.”

THHS librarian Katherine Yan, who helped organize the visit, said she “helped students sign up for their My Library NYC cards and [introduced] them to [the Queens Public] library, while Ms. Fabre-Hernandez introduced students to the local library and what is offered.”

Ms. Yan said that she “liked that the visit did touch upon what a public library in the area offers,” and that it would be nice to “hear from other local branches and what their libraries offer,” as not everyone has access to the same local library.

Information about the visit was sent out to English teachers, and students attended the presentation with their class. Many who participated said that they learned something new.

Sophomore Urja Shrestha said, “I learned that there was a Brooklyn public library too, not just a Queens one and [that] there was a way to get access to all [of] the libraries in the city.”

Other students found the experience helpful and enjoyable. Sophomore August Yan said the visit was “informative but also fun.” In addition to learning how to gain a library card, she felt that the visit helped her “appreciate libraries more.”

QPL chose to visit THHS because of its proximity to the library at Fresh Meadows. “We perform outreach to engage with our communities and schools. It is a good opportunity to share information on the free services we provide and also hear feedback on the services and needs of our customers,” said Ms. Jairam.

Sophomore Avika Sharma said, “Learning that QPL has so much more to offer than books really opened my eyes and made me realize that I should be more attentive of what other resources are available around me.”