Queens Public Library And NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Welcome 'QPL Baby Card' To The World

Press release from Queens Public Library:

August 5, 2021

New Program Aims to Introduce Literacy and the Joy of Learning to Children Ages 0 to 5
With Their Very Own Special Edition QPL Cards

Elmhurst, N.Y. (August 5, 2021) – NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Helen Arteaga-Landaverde and Queens Public Library President (QPL) and CEO Dennis M. Walcott today launched “QPL Baby Card,” a joint collaboration to deliver literacy and a love of learning as early on in a child’s life as possible.

At the event, CEO Arteaga-Landaverde and President Walcott presented three babies –and their parents –who were recently born at Elmhurst Hospital special edition QPL cards in their own names. In addition to the baby cards, created as part of the Library’s ongoing 125th anniversary celebration, QPL staff have created a website featuring literacy, health and parenting programs, such as a “Baby Basics” workshop, and for children ages 0 to 5, such as Mother Goose storytimes and “Kick-Off to Kindergarten.” Applications for the baby cards, a sample card, a map of all QPL locations, and a QPL bib and bookmark will be included for a limited time in diaper bags the hospital gives to parents when newborns and their parents leave the hospital.

“The goal of ‘QPL Baby Card’ is to introduce literacy and a love of learning at birth, and to engage parents and their babies in this process,” said President Walcott. “The program also reinforces and deepens the Library’s relationship with Elmhurst Hospital — once the epicenter of the pandemic in New York City and now a symbol of hope and resilience. I am grateful to CEO Arteaga-Landaverde and her team for their ongoing collaboration with the Library, and supporting our mission to help people be successful in their lives.”

“NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst is thrilled to collaborate with the Queens Public Library to give our new moms and their babies access to library cards and encourage early literacy,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Helen Arteaga-Landaverde, MPH. “Many of our patients are immigrants or first-generation Americans, so getting easy access to books and other educational materials will greatly benefit them and put their children firmly on the path to academic achievement and success. We greatly appreciate this partnership and look forward to continuing to work with QPL to provide programs for our community, in addition to the exceptional care provided to families at our hospital.”

Also on Thursday, the Library will start issuing the special edition cards to all children ages 0 to 5 after their parents or caregivers fill out a special application at any available Library location. The only information that is required to get a card are the child’s name and a New York State address.

This press release was produced by Queens Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.