Adams breaks ground on major renovation of Queens Public Library’s Hollis Library

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Queens Public Library (QPL) President Dennis M. Walcott, and New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley on Friday broke ground on a $7.4 million project that will completely modernize the interior of the Hollis Library QPL branch with new reading rooms, more space for computers, and additional features for visitors and staff.

Adams also celebrated three years of significant investments in the city’s libraries, with total investment in the city’s libraries approaching $900 million in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 to FY 2028 capital plan.

“I am proud to be here to break ground on this major renovation of the Hollis Library, a $7 million project that will improve the library experience for this entire community,” said Mayor Adams. “New York City’s libraries are so much more than just a place to check out a book, particularly for low-income New Yorkers.

“From looking for a job, to staying cool in a heat wave, to getting online, our public libraries are the hearts of our communities,” he added. “That is why our administration has invested more than $300 million in the city’s libraries over three fiscal years, with nearly $900 million committed in the 2025-2028 Capital Plan.”

“This DDC in-house design will completely overhaul the current interior into an environmentally-efficient, modern, and spacious library with more natural lighting, several reading areas, a multi-purpose room, more space for computers, and ADA-compliant restrooms,” said DDC Commissioner Foley. “In the future, we hope we can use a faster method of construction management for library renovation projects called CM-Build, which provides a lot more flexibility for dealing with issues that arise in the field after we start work.

“Once our construction reform bill, which was passed by the state Legislature, is signed in Albany, we’ll be able to complete projects like these even faster and more efficiently,” he added.

“The upcoming transformation of Hollis Library represents our commitment to providing modern, inviting spaces that inspire people to learn, grow, and find success,” Walcott said. “I want to thank Mayor Eric Adams, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and Councilmember Linda Lee for their substantial investment and for their constant support of our libraries.”

Adams said improvements to the Hollis Library QPL branch, funded in part by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and New York City Councilmember Linda Lee, will include new insulated walls, new flooring and ceilings, and sleek, embedded light fixtures.

The mayor said the library’s entrance will be upgraded with a new reception area, and the façade will include large perimeter windows for extra lighting.

Adams said the renovation will create three reading rooms — a main reading room with an area for teenagers, a children’s area, and a multi-purpose room with a visual and audio system.

He said the design also allows for more computer space, with a capacity for 16 workstations. Wireless internet will also be available throughout the building. The interior renovation will follow the latest ADA-accessible standards, including upgraded restrooms.

The mayor said the project will also replace and upgrade all building mechanical systems, including electric, fire-alarm, and plumbing.

Additionally, he said the library’s interior and exterior lighting and mechanical systems will be made compliant with the New York City Energy Conservation Code.

After the renovation, it is expected that the 1973-built library will be certified as LEED Silver for efficiency, Adams said.

He said the project is expected to be completed in spring 2026.

“Hollis families deserve a spectacular, state-of-the-art library to call their own, and that’s exactly what we’re working to deliver, starting with today’s groundbreaking,” said Richards, whose father hails from Jamaica. “I’m so proud to have allocated $1 million to this vitally important project, which will make a world of difference for this community, and to have put more than $26 million into the Queens Public Library system as a whole since taking office.

“Our libraries are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods, and it’s critical that we ensure every single branch sees the investment it needs to best serve our families,” he added.

“Libraries are essential hubs that provide students, older adults, and families a place to socialize, access the technology, and receive supportive services they need to be successful,” said Lee, chair, City Council Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addictions. “I am proud to join my colleagues in fully renovating and modernizing the Hollis Public Library for our community.

“Residents deserve to feel a sense of pride living in their neighborhood, and this investment to upgrade our community library will serve as another reason to be happy to call Hollis home,” she added.