QUEENS LIBRARY RECOGNIZES SEN. MALCOLM A. SMITH AS "LIBRARY CHAMPION"

At its recent annual recognition event, the Board of Trustees of the
Queens Library presented its Library Champion Award to the Hon. Malcolm
A. Smith. The award was presented by Board President Mary Ann Mattone.
Sen. Smith represents the 14th district and serves as the Senate
Majority Leader.

Each year, the Board of Trustees gives the Library Champion Award to an
elected official who has demonstrated outstanding support of and
commitment to the Queens Library. The engraved medallion is a token of
the library's appreciation. With support from its elected officials,
Queens Library is able to enrich more lives every day. Past recipients
include City Councilmember Leroy Comrie, Borough President Helen
Marshall, and Assemblymember Cathy Nolan.

In making the presentation, Ms. Mattone spoke about Sen. Smith's support
for the library in obtaining state aid based on corrected census data.
The updated census figures enabled the library to receive an additional
$600,000 per year. 

Ms. Mattone said, "Majority Leader Smith has made great strides in
ensuring a better future for the people of Queens by allocating millions
of dollars to improve education, which includes our libraries." 

Queens Library is an independent, not-for-profit corporation and is not
affiliated with any other library. The Queens Library serves a
population of 2.2 million in the most ethnically diverse county in the
U.S. With a record 22.8 million items in circulation for FY 2008, the
Library has the highest circulation of any public library system in the
U.S. and one of the highest circulations in the world. For more
information about programs, services, locations, events and news, visit
the Queens Library Web site at www.queenslibrary.org or phone
718-990-0700. Queens Library. Enrich Your Life (r).


Joanne King, Associate Director - Communications
Queens Library
89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11432
718-990-0704; fax 718-291-2695

Queens Library. Enrich Your Life.(r)