Assembly Resolution No. 814

BY: M. of A. Hooks

HONORING the Langston Hughes Community Library and
Cultural Center for its enduring legacy of
education, empowerment, and cultural preservation in
Corona, Queens, New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize
institutions that enrich the intellectual and cultural life of New
York's communities; and

WHEREAS, The Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center,
located in Corona, Queens, New York, has served as a cornerstone of
education, culture, and civic engagement for over five decades; and

WHEREAS, Established in 1969 through the advocacy of residents and
activists to address the need for services derived from the Civil Rights
and Black Power movements, Langston Hughes Library was the first public
institution in the country named after an African American literary icon
and has remained a beacon of Black history, literature, and pride; and

WHEREAS, The library's world-renowned Black Heritage Reference
Center-among the most extensive collection of its kind in the
U.S.-preserves and celebrates the contributions of African Americans and
the African diaspora; and

WHEREAS, The Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center
has long served not only as a lending library, but as a cultural hub,
hosting author talks, artist exhibitions, music performances, voter
registration drives, Black History Month programming, and youth
education initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Generations of East Elmhurst and Corona residents have
walked through this revered institution's doors to seek knowledge,
empowerment, and community, making it not just a library, but a
sanctuary for working-class families, immigrants, and youth seeking
opportunity; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Legislature, recognizing the value of
this institution, proudly supported additional capital funding in the
FY2025 budget to support infrastructure improvements that ensure
Langston Hughes Library remains a safe and welcoming space for decades
to come; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center for its
extraordinary service to the people of Queens and its contributions to
the literary, cultural, and civic fabric of New York State; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the staff, leadership, and community partners of the
Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center.