A Queens library that made headlines for leaving disabled visitors behind — despite its striking design — will soon undergo major renovations to improve accessibility.
The Hunters Point Library in Long Island City will now need to improve its accessibility as part of a class-action settlement finalized last week.
The settlement resolves a yearslong legal case filed in 2019, shortly after the popular library branch opened. It was brought in federal court by Disability Rights Advocates, a nationwide nonprofit, on behalf of plaintiff Tanya Jackson. The Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York, also joined the suit.
The legal action followed 2019 reporting by Gothamist that highlighted the library’s striking design but noted key areas were only accessible by stairs.
As part of the agreement, the library will be required to provide accessible seating in its children’s area and rooftop terrace, create stair-free access to previously inaccessible tiered sections, and address more than 100 other barriers throughout the building, including in its bathrooms and study rooms.
As a result of the settlement, “a person with a disability can engage in the pleasure of reading, writing, studying, watching movies, participating in community events and much more,” said Sharon McLennon Wier, who heads the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York.
“This library built in 2019 was a monument to stairs and excluded the independence of users with disabilities who could not access all points of this library without using stairs,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.
Elisabeth de Bourbon, vice president of communications and media relations at Queens Public Library, said the “vast majority of the work required by the settlement has already been completed,” and called the resolution the result of a “productive collaboration” with the plaintiffs and government officials.
“We are committed to ensuring accessibility for all,” she said.