Flushing Library
🏢 Queens Public Library · Queens, New York
Flushing Library
Queens' oldest public library — founded in 1858 and consistently ranked the busiest branch in the United States — the Flushing Library draws more than 1.7 million visitors a year to its sweeping 76,000-square-foot glass-and-steel building at Main Street and Kissena Boulevard.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | 12pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 41-17 Main Street, Queens, NY 11355
Phone: (718) 661-1200
Website: queenslibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G8Q55C+4F (Queens, NY)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Flushing Library
The Flushing Library traces its roots to 1858, when the Flushing Library Association was established as a subscription library in downtown Flushing — making it Queens' very first public library. It became free to all in 1869, received a Carnegie-funded Georgian Revival building designed by Lord & Hewlett in 1906, and has occupied the same prominent corner at 41-17 Main Street ever since. The current building, completed in 1998 and designed by Polshek Partnership Architects (now Ennead), replaced a 1957 Modernist structure; its glass-membrane Main Street facade makes the library's interior visible from the street, embodying the architects' goal of 'demystifying the library experience.' At 76,000 square feet the building is far larger than a typical branch, housing a 227-seat auditorium, a multipurpose room for 150, conference and exhibition spaces, an Adult Learning Center, and an International Resource Center stocked with books, magazines, and media in dozens of languages. In fiscal year 2019 the branch recorded 1.7 million visits, 1 million circulated items, and 184,000 program attendees — statistics that routinely place it at the top of any list of the nation's busiest public library branches.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Queens' first public library, founded in 1858 — 168 years of continuous service to the Flushing community
- Consistently ranked the busiest single branch library in the United States, with 1.7 million visits recorded in a single fiscal year
- 76,000 sq ft Polshek Partnership (now Ennead) building completed 1998, featuring a glass-membrane facade and a 227-seat auditorium
- International Resource Center with foreign-language collections and media serving the most linguistically diverse ZIP code in the country
- On-site Adult Learning Center offering English classes, GED preparation, technology workshops, and job-readiness training
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Flushing cardholders can read, stream, and research for free through Queens Public Library's digital platforms and New York State's statewide offerings:
📚 Services
- 227-seat auditorium available for community events and cultural programming
- International Resource Center with foreign-language books, magazines, CDs & DVDs
- Adult Learning Center: ESL classes, GED preparation, technology workshops, job-readiness training
- Teen Center with arts activities and hands-on programs
- Free public computers, Wi-Fi, and remote printing
- 24/7 materials drop-off
- Wheelchair-accessible building with elevator access to all floors
- Exhibition spaces and multipurpose meeting room (capacity 150)
🎸 Programs
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes at multiple levels
- GED and high school equivalency preparation
- Computer and digital literacy classes (web basics, Zoom, software)
- Cultural arts workshops (Chinese ink painting, guzheng)
- Children's storytimes and early literacy programs
- Teen Tech programs including 3D printing
- Health and wellness workshops
- Film screenings and community cultural events
📍 Nearby Libraries in Queens
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Flushing Library considered the busiest branch library in the United States?
In fiscal year 2019 the Flushing branch recorded 1.7 million visits, circulated 1 million items, and hosted 184,000 program attendees — figures that consistently place it atop national rankings. The branch serves one of the most linguistically diverse ZIP codes in the country and draws residents from all five New York City boroughs who come for its foreign-language collections, English classes, GED prep, technology workshops, and cultural programs.
How old is the Flushing Library, and what happened to the Carnegie building?
The Flushing Library is Queens' oldest public library, established in 1858 as a subscription library and opened free to the public in 1869. Andrew Carnegie funded a Georgian Revival building (designed by Lord & Hewlett) that opened on this corner in 1906. That building was demolished in the mid-1950s and replaced with a Modernist structure in 1957, which was in turn demolished in 1993 to make way for the current 76,000-square-foot glass-and-steel building designed by Polshek Partnership (now Ennead), completed in 1998.
What languages and resources does the International Resource Center offer?
Located on the top floor of the 1998 building, the International Resource Center holds books, magazines, CDs, and DVDs from cultures worldwide — with particular depth in Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and South Asian languages reflecting Flushing's extraordinarily diverse population. The Adult Learning Center on the lower level supplements these collections with multilingual ESL, GED, and digital-literacy programs.
Is the Flushing Library open on Sundays, and what are the full weekly hours?
Yes — Sunday hours are 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The library is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (718-661-1200 to confirm any holiday closures).
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.