This weekend, the Uni headed to Long Island City, Queens on the East River with several goals in mind:

  • provide an emerging neighborhood with a taste of a library branch (one is breaking ground soon);
  • strengthen our relationship with Queens Library and make new friends with the Friends of the Hunters Point Library;
  • test ourselves in a high-wind environment near the water’s edge; and
  • have fun.

Done and done! Thank you to folks in Long Island City who came out. And thanks to Uni Volunteer Librarians Meghan Dowell, Leigh Hurwitz, Kelleen Maluski, and Gabriella Radujko.

Thanks to Camille Barrett, Community Relations Manager of Queens Library, and all of the members of the Friends of the Hunters Point Library, especially Gina Baldwin, for inviting us. It was great to see City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, who dropped in as well. Special thanks to Malcolm Davol, Eleanor Davol, and Uni Installer Nelson DeJesus for coming early and staying late.

Every location teaches something new about making the Uni experience better. Drop us a line if you have an idea for our next one.

No need to discuss where to put the Uni today. Nelson, Uni installer, makes the obvious best choice…

Behind the mural is a vacant lot where a new Queens Library Branch will rise during the next few years.

We partnered with Queens Library and Friends of Hunters Point Library who are setting up nearby.

Chalkboard signs and dominoes need freshening up.

Open for business!

NYC Compost Project in Queens, hosted at Queens Botanical Garden, curates a new cube on compost (with live worms!)

Uni Volunteer Librarian Kelleen reads to a patron…

…and they check out the worms!

New cube curated by Museum of Chinese in America makes debut.

Educator Robert Berkman, of Better Living Through Mathematics, created a math cube for the Uni that debuted as well.

Two Uni Volunteers at work: Librarian Leigh, on the ground working with the boardbook set; Malcolm, testing math games and worm bin.

 

At this point, the wind is picking up and patrons are sticking to the leeward side of the Uni.

Solved!

This bride was headed to the water for a photo, but her wedding party stopped by the Uni later.

Malcolm and Nelson served all day and remove the baseplate, our signal that the Uni has wrapped. Thanks everyone for a great day on the river!