Hunters Point Library
🏢 Queens Public Library · Long Island City, New York
Hunters Point Library
Opened September 2019, the Hunters Point Library is QPL's Steven Holl–designed concrete-and-aluminum tower on the Long Island City waterfront — 22,000 square feet of light-filled reading terraces, children's stacks and an Environmental Education Center framing Manhattan skyline views through sculptural cutout windows.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 1pm–6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 12pm–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 47-40 Center Boulevard, queens, NY 11109
Phone: (718) 707-9944
Website: queenslibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G8P2WR+4Q (queens, NY)
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📖 About Hunters Point Library
The Hunters Point Library and Environmental Education Center opened to the public on September 24, 2019, at 47-40 Center Boulevard on the East River waterfront in Long Island City, Queens. The $41 million, 22,000-square-foot building was designed by Steven Holl Architects — winners of a 2010 Award for Excellence in Design from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs — and funded in part by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which is why the branch carries its dual mandate as both a public library and an environmental learning hub. The six-story aluminum-painted concrete shell carries no curtain walls or interior columns: load-bearing exterior walls create the flowing mezzanine-to-mezzanine reading areas, a rooftop reading terrace, and a ground-floor auditorium open to the community. In 2025 the City and QPL settled a federal ADA lawsuit, committing to install a platform lift and sky bridge to make all tiers fully wheelchair-accessible. Today the branch serves Long Island City, Hunters Point, and surrounding western Queens neighborhoods as part of the Queens Public Library system — one of the largest public library systems in the United States.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Landmark Steven Holl Architects tower (2019) — NYC's 217th branch library and the first new QPL branch since 2007
- Environmental Education Center programming: naturalist-led Discovery Days, ecology walks, pollinator workshops and community science events tied to the East River waterfront
- Six stories of column-free reading space with bamboo interiors and panoramic Manhattan skyline views through sculpted calligraphic window openings
- Ground-floor community auditorium, rooftop reading terrace, and 24/7 materials drop-off
- ADA remediation underway (2025 federal settlement): platform lift and sky bridge to complete multi-tier accessibility
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Queens Public Library cardholders can read, stream and research free through these digital collections:
📚 Services
- Books, DVDs and audiobooks in multiple languages reflecting Queens' diverse communities
- Free public computers and printing
- Extended outdoor Wi-Fi (450-foot radius around the branch)
- 24/7 materials drop-off
- Meeting space and ground-floor community auditorium
- Remote/mobile printing from personal devices
- Wheelchair-accessible entry (full multi-tier accessibility being remediated per 2025 ADA settlement)
🎸 Programs
- Environmental Education: Discovery Day naturalist events, botany walks, pollinator workshops
- Children's science and craft activities
- Bilingual storytimes
- Toddler and family sessions
- Adult book clubs
- Computer literacy classes
- Knitting circles and community social programming
📍 Nearby Libraries in Queens
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the Hunters Point Library, and why does it look so unusual?
Steven Holl Architects won a 2010 NYC Award for Excellence in Design for the project and spent nearly a decade bringing it to completion. The 82-foot-tall building is a single load-bearing aluminum-painted concrete shell — no curtain walls, no interior columns — whose facades are carved with large calligraphic cutouts that frame Manhattan views from every reading level. The three programmatic zones (children's, teen, and adult collections) are readable in the east-facing openings; the structure glows at night as a waterfront landmark.
What is the Environmental Education Center at Hunters Point Library?
The library received funding from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation precisely because it doubles as an environmental education hub. The branch hosts Discovery Day events where naturalists, botanists, and pollination experts lead hands-on sessions tied to the East River waterfront ecosystem. These free programs for all ages run throughout the year alongside the regular library calendar.
Is the Hunters Point Library fully wheelchair accessible?
A federal ADA review in December 2019 identified approximately 95 accessibility violations in the original design. After advocacy by disability rights organizations and a lawsuit filed by the Center for Independence of the Disabled New York, the City of New York and Queens Public Library settled in February 2025 — committing to install a platform lift from the fifth tier to the fourth tier, a sky bridge to the third tier, and additional remediations including accessible spaces in the children's area and on the rooftop terrace. Work is ongoing; contact the branch for the latest status.
What days and hours is the Hunters Point Library open?
The branch is open Tuesday 1–6 pm, Wednesday 10 am–6 pm, Thursday 12–8 pm, and Friday 10 am–6 pm. It is closed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Thursday evening hours make it convenient for after-work visits. Always confirm on the QPL website before traveling, as holiday schedules can vary.
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