1899 Richmond Hill Free Library was founded on April 8 by the Twentieth Century Club, an organization of Richmond Hill women who had originally come together as Red Cross Auxiliary No. 71 during the Spanish-American War.

1901 On January 1, the library became a branch of the Queens Borough Public Library.

1905 Opening ceremonies for the present Carnegie building were held on July 1. A gift from Andrew Carnegie, it was designed by the Jamaica firm of Tuthill and Higgins on land donated by the Man family.

1910 On July 4, Jacob Riis, a Richmond Hill resident and well known photo-journalist presented a flagpole to the library on behalf of the community.

1929-30 The building was closed for construction. It reopened October 1, 1930 with an expanded children's room.

1933-36 The building was expanded under the Civil Works Administration. A new auditorium, a large reading room addition, and an extension of the children's room were the major renovations.

1936 The Story of Richmond Hill, a 160 square foot mural painted by Philip Evergood, was commissioned by the WPA's Federal Arts Project.

1961-62 The building was closed for extensive rehabilitation. During that time, bookmobile service was provided every Monday from 10-12 and 1-5 PM. The library re-opened on April 11, 1962. Improvements included a new roof, aluminum windows, asphalt tile flooring and exterior waterproofing. A remodeled vestibule added 100 sq. ft to the public service area.

1979 A Rose Garden was organized by the Friendship Rose Society (Chapter of the National American Rose Society). It was the only Community Rose Garden in Queens. The Rose Garden won awards in the Mollie Parnis Dress Up Your Neighborhood Contest in 1980, 1981, and 1983.

1984-86 The library was severely damaged by fire on February 11. Service to the public continued in a mini-branch in the Children's Room during renovations. The renovated library re-opened on August 3, 1986 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

1992 On December 7, the Friends of Richmond Hill Library was chartered.

1996 On November 2, the Queensmark Award was presented to the library by the Queens Historical Society. This award recognizes structures of outstanding historical and architectural merit.

1999 The library commemorated its 100th Anniversary in April with a week-long celebration.

2003 The Richmond Hill Historical Society presented a new Flag Pole to the library on Flag Day, June 14, with a ceremony on Hillside Avenue recreating the original 1910 presentation by Jacob Riis.

2004 An Historical Plaque was presented by the Richmond Hill Historical Society.

2005 In July, the library celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the opening of its Carnegie Building.

2006 The Richmond Hill Children's Room and Young Adult Area were renovated with a generous gift from Ann Flowers and the White Flowers Foundation "in gratitude to the Richmond Hill Children's Room for one child's never-forgotten love of books and learning."

Our Next
House and Garden Tour
Dates to be Announced

House and Garden Tour 2006
MANY THANKS!

"The eighth House and Garden Tour" on Sunday, May 20 was the most successful yet! Over a hundred people visited the six private residences that were open to the tour in Richmond Hill and Glendale. Proceeds from the Tour will supplement existing and fund new services and programs at the Richmond Hill Library.

Many thanks to all the committee members, hosts and hostesses, library staff, central library support folks and homeowners who made it all possible. Please plan for our next tour on Sunday, May 18, 2008!

The Friends of the Richmond Hill Library extends a special "thank you" to this year's commercial and organizational sponsors. Be sure to show them your appreciation through a personal "thank you" and more importantly by your patronage. - Phil Skabeikis, Tour Chairman

Dale Surgical Supply and Chemists Lawrence Davan RPH 108-13 Jamaica Avenue, Richmond Hill NY 11418 Lefferts Animal Hospital, P.C. 86-37 Lefferts Blvd., Richmond Hill NY 11418 Parkside Realty of Queens, Inc. & Metropolitan Home Mortgage Corp 116-28 Myrtle Avenue, Richmond Hill NY 11418 Richmond Hill Historical Society c/o 86-22 109th Street, Richmond Hill NY 11418

Northfork Bank 115th Street/Jamaica Ave Richmond Hill Branch Alfie's Pizza #1 86-08 117th Street, Richmond Hill NY 11418 Arc de Triomphe Bicycle Inc. 114-01 Jamaica Avenue, Richmond Hill NY 11418 Neighborhood Appliances and Electronics 112-01 Jamaica Avenue, Richmond Hill NY 11418 Olympic Diner 117-33 Myrtle Avenue, Richmond Hill NY 11418

About the House and Garden Tour
The Richmond Hill Friends organized the first House and Garden Tour in 1996 after more than a year of planning. This is the eighth year for this eagerly-awaited event. The tour serves multiple purposes. It is the main fund raising event for the Richmond Hill Chapter of the Friends of the Queens Library whose mission includes raising money to support and supplement essential services and programs at our historic "Carnegie" library local branch.
It has also provided an opportunity to showcase the living museum of architectural styles that makes Richmond Hill a jewel in the Borough of Queens. It has heightened awareness and appreciation of this heritage. In doing so, it has provided a rallying point and network opportunity for educators, preservationists and historians alike.

Much Success!
Thanks are extended to all Richmond Hill Friends Board members, participating homeowners, volunteer hosts and hostesses, Marian Skabeikis for technical support in creating the tour Guidebook and to Ivan Mrakovcic for creating the house sketches that illustrated the Guidebook that was presented to the homeowners. The Friends also thank branch manager Susan Wetjen and her staff and the Holy Child Gift Shop for helping with ticket sales, the central office staff for copying the Guidebook and those personal and business supporters who helped cover the cost of printing the Guidebook.

Who we are

The Friends are library users and supporters who play a key role in promoting library programs and services in their communities.  As a service organization each Friends chapter strives to assess and meet the needs of its local library and user community.  The local Friends chapter works in partnership with the manager to attain these service goals.  Needs range from fund-raising activities to help meet program/material/service needs above what the library’s budget can provide to acting as advocates through lobbying of state and local officials. 

What we do

Each Friend is a walking, talking public relations ambassador for the library and an organized Friends group is essentially a validation of the library’s importance to its community.

Friends volunteer their ideas, expertise, time and other resources to help;

· Showcase our local library and its services and programs
· Promote the enjoyment and use of the library to everyone in the 
  Richmond Hill/Kew Gardens community
· Raise funds for projects and materials beyond the library’s budget
· Sponsor special programs that encourage reading and literacy

Friendship has its benefits

As a Friend of the Richmond Hill Library, you receive:

· Year round opportunities to associate with other enthusiastic
  library supporters
· Discounts to Friends activities throughout the year, including
  author parties, recitals, exhibits and our House and Garden Tour.
· Rewarding opportunities to support the library as a volunteer or 
  advocate
· Quarterly Friends Newsletter The Oasis.

How we do it (and some past accomplishments)

Promotion - hosts a Friends booth/table at the annual Richmond Hill Block Association (RHBA) Forest Park Fair, publishes quarterly newsletter The Oasis, Co-hosted Branch Centennial Celebration.

Advocacy - writes letters and/or visits elected officials at state/city level regarding proper funding for our library.

Services - purchased and donated a piano for special musical events and ongoing library programs.

Collections - helped to fund and purchase books for an expanded library collection on local history.

Fund-raiser - sold Friends T-shirts and Sweat Shirts and Friends Book Bags, sponsored annual House and Garden Tour.

Programs - has sponsored: Meet the Author nights, horticulture shows, arts and crafts displays, musical programs, study-skills workshops, Holiday Tree Trimming and Lighting on Library lawn, informational scavenger hunts, scarecrow decorating contest and has underwritten staff and client parties and decorations for childrens’ reading room. 

Continuing Education - participated in boro-wide Friends conferences as attendees and panelists.

The Richmond Hill Library celebrated its 100th Anniversay during April 10-16, 1999

Photo of the Richmond Hill Library
located on the corner of Hillside Avenue and Lefferts Blvd.

The Building of the Richmond Hill Library was helped built by the philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie.

The Richmond Hill Library was founded by the Twentieth Century Club on April 8, 1899. It became part of the Queens Borough Public Library in 1901. In 1905, the present Carnegie building was opened for service.

For More Queens Library Events
View all local library events here. All events are FREE for Adults, Teens, and Kids.

Contact Information

Carolyn Moss
President Carliz85@aol.com

Kathleen Carpenter
Vice President kogc@aol.com

Alice Norris
Library Manager anorris@queenslibrary.org

Jimmy Van Bramer
Friends liaison for community outreach/events/issues 
jvanbramer@queenslibrary.org

Community Links

• Become a Friend of Richmond Hill Library and Join
• Queens Borough Public Library
• History of Richmond Hill Library
• Richmond Hill Historical Society
• Sacred Music Chorale of Richmond Hill
• Richmond Hill, NY Online