Regina, a job-seeker in Staten Island

The library provides me with knowledge and information. I use the internet for work and job search. There are job fairs for the unemployed and financial seminars for everyone. It is probably the most important local community center that we have on the North Shore of Staten Island.

"It is probably the most important local community center that we have on the North Shore of Staten Island."

Shonda, a resident in the Bronx

321,000

Number of New Yorkers who are unemployed

The Woodstock Branch is a really amazing resource. Without this place I would have had nowhere to write my resume, and thus never would have gotten the job I now have, and would likely still be living on the street. I know there are countless others in the neighborhood that could echo this statement!

Vreni, a teacher in Brooklyn

When I wanted to make a career change and when I was unemployed, I turned to the library to figure out what other professions/jobs were out there and how to go about finding employment. During the time I was unemployed and was often needing assistance, the woman who sat at the info desk was incredible. She was very friendly, amazingly knowledgeable, and made an effort to help me find what I was looking for.

John, a job-seeker in the Bronx

The Grand Concourse Library is very helpful to the neighborhood. Everyone I know uses it. We’d be poorer without it. People I know found work because of this library.

Maiela, an immigrant in Staten Island

When we came to this country, Anaeli, my elder daughter, was 4 years old. It was a bit difficult for her to adapt to this new culture and to communicate in another language. During her first years of school, her reading level was very low. Now she is in fourth grade, her reading level has increased hugely. This year she was the super-reader of the school. This award has increased her love of reading even more. If we didn’t have the library perhaps my daughter’s progress would not be the same.

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Jing, an immigrant in Manhattan

For new immigrants, English classes provided by the library are extremely helpful for them to get information, make new friends and improve English. Many of my classmates from the library’s English classes have found better jobs, got citizenship or entered colleges. My father reads Chinese newspaper everyday there. The rich collection in Chinese literacy helped him a lot when he first arrived in New York from Beijing.

60%

City residents who are either immigrants or children of immigrants

An immigrant in Manhattan

"I think helping the community to be integrated is amazing."

I never thought when I first came to this country that I will find people that wanted to help me without asking me for anything. Since the moment I had my first class (ESOL) I felt very welcome. I think helping the community to be integrated is amazing. I just have been here for four months and my English is getting better and better.

Maggie, a student in Queens

3,000,000

Number of immigrants living in New York City

Before I enter community college, the Adult Learning Center in Flushing Library helped me a lot. I attend this program for around one and half year. I was not sure about my ability to study in college. The classes there helped me to build my basic English.

Vaughn, a student in Hollis, Queens

Since the first day I landed in JFK as a 10-year-old immigrant to this very point in time as a relatively new U.S. citizen registering to vote for the very first time, the Queens Library system has been there for me and my family and many others like me.

Rulx, an immigrant in New Lots, Brooklyn

I been one year and six months in America. I learn English in this library. I take my advantage of opportunities. The main reasons I come are pre-GED class, use Wi-Fi, computer, take a book to read. I feel welcome when I coming in this library.

23%

New York City residents who are not English proficient

Yunona, an immigrant in Brooklyn

Library help all of us who immigrate from different countries to survive and to come through the process of adaptation to new circumstances in new environment. I start to learn English and basic computer skills here. I became a register nurse and continue my education on Family Nurse Practitioner Program. When my daughter was a little girl, she attended all activities offered by the library, where she improve her skills in art. She graduated from LaGuardia High School for the Arts with the award in her major and got admitted to Pratt Institute to learn architecture.

Claire, a senior in Flushing

As a senior who wants to stay active, the library is my anchor and go-to place. I go there for so many reasons—to pick up local papers and keep on top of issues and happenings in my community, attend concerts and events, do research for online college courses at CUNY, as well as pick up the latest Star Trek novels for relaxing reading. I took a beginning Mandarin class so that I can now sing karaoke in my largely Asian senior center by using romanized pinyin.

Twin sisters in Brooklyn

We visit the library several times a week for workshops, as well as special events such as presentations by doctors on important health issues and representatives from Medicare. As a result of one of the medical presentations, we went for follow-up colonoscopies, which we had been putting off scheduling.

35%

Expected growth rate of the city’s senior population over the next 20 years

Zelda, a senior in Manhattan

The library makes me feel welcome and assists me, a senior with multiple handicaps (sight, hearing, balance). They help me feel like a wanted individual.

Theresa, a senior in Brooklyn

"Kareem has (in my opinion) a CBB Degree (Can’t Be Beat) in Computer Operations."

I must tell you about my Kareem, the computer guru at the Mill Basin Library. What would I do without Kareem? Kareem has (in my opinion) a CBB Degree (Can’t Be Beat) in Computer Operations.

I needed to do some research on cars at the beginning of the year. Who showed me how to access car websites, download data pertaining to cars and take tours of the interiors of various models of cars? Kareem did! I now own a 2013 vehicle as a result of Kareem taking the time to show me how to do research on the models of interest.

Lorraine, a senior in Manhattan

"This has provided me with the energy to continue my life in an atmosphere of welcome and belonging."

This library and its librarians have been a personal support to me since the loss of my partner of 42 years. We both visited St. Agnes for all of those years. The current staff has been particularly attentive and supporting since my loss with their sympathy and friendship. This has provided me with the energy to continue my life in an atmosphere of welcome and belonging.

Selma, a senior in Windsor Park, Queens

Having access to reading materials is very important to this 94-year-old. Traveling into Manhattan has its difficulties for me, so the special cultural events at my branch are greatly appreciated (music, art, book readings, etc.).

Bonnie Sue, a senior in Queens

I am homebound and enrolled in the Mail-a-Book program in Queens Village. I am an avid reader and I always have multiple books that they have mailed to me. Not only do they send me books, but they have teleconferencing calls several times a week and Skype programs. The calls allow me to meet new people, socialize and listen to lectures.

Whenever you speak to anyone at Mail-a-Book, the conversation is warm and pleasant. I can call them for any problem and they are willing to find programs that would help me. Because of Mail-a-Book I am not sitting there looking at the four walls and TV. The isolation of the homebound is no longer a problem for me. Instead I am busy, busy, busy!

Susan, a senior in Queens

998,000

Number of seniors living in New York City

At the Friday knitting and crocheting class I get instruction as well as mingle with one of the best groups of ladies in Queens. I find this meeting to be very beneficial emotionally. I lost my husband two years ago and this group was right there for me.

Jennifer, a library volunteer in Manhattan

I teach a unique ballet class to older adults, which has become unexpectedly popular. The class started with a handful of students, and now we overflow the large community room with our 67th Street ballerinas, ages 50 to 87, from places as diverse as Thailand, Inner Mongolia, India, France and New York City.