Leaders Plant Trees of Knowledge for Queens Library

New York State Sen. Michael Gianaris (pictured) and students from Robert F. Wagner Jr. School in Long Island planted trees of knowledge on October 6 to dedicate the building site for the new Queens (N.Y.) Library. Gianaris, along with Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, was one of the many community leaders, elected officials, and residents who arrived that day to support the public building project. Award-winning architect Steven Holl is designing the building for LEED Silver certification, and the library will have an emphasis on environmental education. It will serve a population of 2.3 million and has one of the highest circulations of any library system in the world, featuring library areas for patrons of all ages and a communal reading garden. Customer service is expected to begin in the summer of 2015.