Happy Independence Day!

Queens Library
Welcomes New Americans
This summer, we celebrate 240 years of
American independence, but what does being
American mean in Queens today? It’s not
just about fireworks and hot dogs—it’s about
empowering our diverse population by creating
accessible opportunities for learning and
integration. New Americans, in turn, can share
their cultures, traditions, and celebrations with
the rest of the borough.
rates to the U.S. If found eligible,
applicants are then placed in the
running to receive a visa. The granting
of visas is done at random, with results
generated by a computer. There is no
application fee for the U.S. Diversity
Visa Lottery.
Additional citizenship services include
referral services for citizenship
preparation and the Directory of
At Queens Library, we offer several
programs and services to make the
transition to American as smooth as
possible. The New Americans Program
and NYCitizenship provide recent
immigrants with the coping skills to
deal with life in New York City, English
for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
classes, and pathways to citizenship.
ESOL classes are available at three
different levels: beginner, intermediate,
and advanced, where students learn
to speak, understand, read, and write
English. Students will apply this
knowledge to real-life situations. All
classes are taught by professional
teachers, who cover vocabulary and
grammar and get students comfortable
with spoken English. Students will
also be taken on a tour of the library,
apply for library cards, and receive
a comprehensive rundown of the
services offered. Along with ESOL,
Queens Library also offers Job Training
for New Americans with Queens
Library’s Job & Business Academy, and
entrepreneurship workshops for New
Americans looking to start their own
small businesses.*
For aspiring citizens,
Queens Library works with
NYCitizenship to provide
free, trusted, qualified
legal assistance. Interested
applicants can attend an
information session at a
participating library, or
simply call ahead to make
a free appointment with
a lawyer. Participants can
apply for citizenship easily,
and in some cases at no cost.
Free, confidential financial
counseling is also available.**
Queens Library also offers access to
computers for people hoping to apply
for the Diversity Visa Lottery (DV-2017).
The Diversity Visa Lottery, also known
as the Green Card Lottery, is an annual
program designed to grant up to 55,000
permanent residency visas to people
from countries with low immigration
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