LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Langston Hughes Community Library
and Cultural Center for its outstanding service to the citizens of
Queens, New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center for its
outstanding service to the citizens of Queens, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center
was, from the very beginning, a unique working partnership between a
community-based non-profit organization and a large metropolitan public
library system; it set a new standard for providing library services to
urban communities; and
WHEREAS, Named after renowned poet laureate, Langston Hughes, the
Queens Library's Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center
first opened its doors on April 7, 1969; it was conceived by local resi-
dents and the Library Action Committee (LAC) of Corona-East Elmhurst,
Inc., which was a part of the local Community Corporation, an anti-po-
verty program in New York City; and
WHEREAS, The LAC submitted a proposal to create the Langston Hughes
Community Library to Queens Library Director Harold W. Tucker, who
successfully sought funding for this creative idea through the new
Library Services and Construction Act; although most projects of its
kind were typically funded for three to five years, this "experiment in
community control" was approved for funding from April 1969 through
October 1987; and
WHEREAS, In 1985, as a result of a shift in federal funding, a new
relationship was established between the LAC and the Queens Library
system; Queens Library would be responsible for regular library oper-
ations, budgeting and staffing, while the LAC would be responsible for
the operations of the after school Homework Assistance Program and the
Cultural Arts Program; in 1987, full library status within the Queens
Library was granted; and
WHEREAS, In 1999, the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural
Center moved to a beautiful, new two-story facility that featured state-
of-the-art technology, a 150-seat multi-purpose auditorium, an art
gallery and homework center, among numerous other improvements; it now
hosts numerous concerts, exhibitions, and celebrations, including an
annual tribute to Langston Hughes; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural
Center is composed of four central components: the Langston Hughes
Community Library, the Black Heritage Reference Center of Queens County,
the Cultural Arts Program, and the Homework Assistance Program; and
WHEREAS, A valuable resource providing circulating library services to
adults, young adults, and children, the Langston Hughes Community
Library offers library public computers, online databases, and extensive
DVD/VHS collections, as well as educational, informational, recreational
and cultural programs; and
WHEREAS, The Black Heritage Reference Center of Queens County houses a
45,000 volume circulating collection of print and non-print materials on
The Black Experience; it is the largest collection of its kind in any
public library in New York State; and

WHEREAS, The Cultural Arts Program provides many valuable offerings to
the community including seasonal creative writing workshops, poetry and
literary readings, artist exhibitions, and Africana History lectures and
discussions; in addition, it holds special annual events such as Family
Day, the Juneteenth Celebration, and the Annual Authors and Publishers
Fair; and
WHEREAS, The Homework Assistance Program offers tutoring assistance to
students in first through seventh grade, helping them to complete daily
homework assignments and develop skills in reading, comprehension, and
mathematics; and
WHEREAS, The success enjoyed by this remarkable institution is in
direct correlation to the efforts of the many individuals who have
supported the development of the library over the years; and
WHEREAS, Equally commendable are the Langston Hughes Community Library
and Cultural Center's superbly-skilled staff, whose involvement is and
has always been characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled
enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all of their
efforts on behalf of the library and the population it serves; and
WHEREAS, Steeped in a proud and distinguished history, the Langston
Hughes Community Library may take just pride in its purposeful growth,
as it looks forward to continuing to serve the educational, cultural and
intellectual needs of the community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center for
its outstanding service to the citizens of Queens, New York; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center.