K 814: Honoring the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center for its enduring legacy of education, empowerment, and cultural preservation in Corona, Queens, New York

 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.