{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/kh0dv1dq7n/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Azra Tahirovic Oral History"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAzra Tahirovic discusses her journey from library user to volunteer at the Briarwood branch of the Queens Public Library to QPL employee. Azra was able to bridge her work in elementary education with her love of the public library by becoming a customer service specialist at the Long Island City branch. Azra discusses the pride she takes in her work and the community outreach and services QPL was able to devise and provide during the extraordinary circumstances of the Coronavirus Pandemic. she also talks about her hopes that the library will expand its great work in the future.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2021-11-18 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Video"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Azra Tahirovic (Interviewee)","Sarah Healy (Interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source"]},"value":{"en":["Interview conducted as part of the Queens Public Library 125th Anniversary Project."]}},{"label":{"en":["Coverage"]},"value":{"en":["2015-2021 (temporal)","Briarwood, Far Rockaway, and Long Island City, Queens, NY (spatial)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAzra Tahirovic discusses her journey from library user to volunteer at the Briarwood branch of the Queens Public Library to QPL employee. Azra was able to bridge her work in elementary education with her love of the public library by becoming a customer service specialist at the Long Island City branch. Azra discusses the pride she takes in her work and the community outreach and services QPL was able to devise and provide during the extraordinary circumstances of the Coronavirus Pandemic. she also talks about her hopes that the library will expand its great work in the future.\u003c/p\u003e"]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA\u0026nbsp;Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/148/796/small/Screenshot_%2883%29.png?1645786234","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - Dacia_-_Azra_Tahirovic___Sarah_Healy_QPL125_Interview.mp4"]},"duration":1774.601,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/148/796/small/Screenshot_%2883%29.png?1645786234","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-queenslibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/148/796/original/Dacia_-_Azra_Tahirovic___Sarah_Healy_QPL125_Interview.mp4?1643905710","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":1774.601,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Full Transcript [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sarah Healy: Okay. It looks like we are recording. So I'll go ahead and start. My name is Sarah Healy and I am interviewing,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=2.0,8.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: Azra Tahirovic","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=8.0,12.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sarah Healy: On November 18th, 2021. By making this recording, we both consent to the use of our names, voices, images, and likeness by the Queens public library. Understanding that this recording will be the property of the library and will be used in connection with the promotion and marketing of the library its programs and services that will not be sold by the library in any way. We understand that we will not receive compensation and agree to hold the library harmless from any claim arising from the use of this interview and recording. Okay, great. Well, thank you so much for being here. To start, how have you contributed to the work of the library?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=12.0,53.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: Okay. Thank you so much, Sarah, for having me. I want to start off by saying, how have I contributed to the work of the library? It all started when I was maybe a sophomore or junior in college and I was going for my degree in elementary education. I had decided that the library was a good start just to have my volunteer work, especially because I love working with children and I wanted more experience and the library was a safe haven for me, especially as a kid. I used to always go in and we had this huge children's room and it was endless. It was just somewhere I can be. And I wondered how that would be at a different location. So I tried my volunteer work at Briarwood, and I started there for about a few months.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=53.0,107.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: I was there working alongside the children's librarian. I'm very grateful for that experience with her because she really was able to give me the opportunity to really explore what it was like just working in the children's room and helping out with programs and homework help and everything that basically surrounds education. I was just really amazed at the fact that the library has so much free resources, even for parents and educators. Here I was, as a kid, just felt like, \"hey books,\" but there is so much that is available for everyone. I think that's why I loved working at, or just volunteering at Queens library. Then after I finished college I finished my degree in elementary education.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=107.0,168.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: I got the volunteer hours that I needed and I was working as a substitute teacher until my professor actually had recommended me this part-time position as an early educator at central at the CLDC actually, which is the children's library discovery center. I applied and I was working alongside Lynn Cole, who I adore, and she was also one of my mentors and really was able to give me the freedom to explore the curriculum and basically allowed me to choose the schools that I was able to partner up with. With the [unclear] I had as a substitute teacher, I was able to take that into that position. I learned so much from it. I just realized that as I was working there, I was also working alongside the children's librarians as well because they had the experience and the programming skills that I needed to develop and they were so kind. That's just one of the experience that I'll hold on with me because I just felt safe there.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=168.0,238.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: I felt like I was able to grow. Ever since then my supervisor Lynn Cole, she said, \"Hey, there's this position, why don't you go and do a full time position at the library as a specialist?\" Which I'm currently doing right now as a segue to working towards my degree in library sciences. Through the course of all those years, I assumed I was just going to be like an elementary school teacher, which, I had done for some time, but as I kept working alongside Queens library, I realized that that was something I can see in my future. And it was a great step to just get my foot in the door and really understand how the library system worked. So that way when I can be a children's librarian one day that I have the skillset to really accommodate my community and really helped them to the max as much as I can. So that's just basically the history of how I'm working here now and I feel like that's sometimes the experience for most of the people who work at Queens library, and I'm just really grateful for the mentorship that I've had and the leadership and every skill that I've developed over the course of those years.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=238.0,329.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sarah Healy: Yeah, absolutely. And I think that's something that a lot of librarians have in common is the childhood love for it and then finding a community within it, as you grow. Are you doing a library sciences program right now?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=329.0,351.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: Not right now. I had just applied for customer service specialist position in January of 2020, and that was right before the pandemic. So we did a lot of virtual programming, which was also really interesting to see, and we kind of touched base with the community and had partnerships with them. But actually I've been just working in the physical library for like six months and I wanted to have as much experience as I can before I start applying and actually going into the program. Which definitely I see in my future for the next year, when I want to start applying.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=351.0,397.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sarah Healy: Absolutely, That was mostly just my curiosity. As you're saying all of these amazing points about the library as a community, that can segue into our next question really nicely, how has the public library responded to changing needs? You have witnessed in our communities maybe changing needs among sort of youth and children programming at the library.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=397.0,432.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: Absolutely. I really believe that QPL has really responded to the changing needs in all these communities, especially before and after the pandemic and during as well. I think that what I love about QPL is that they have, it just it's accessible. It's accessible for everyone. You don't have to be a particular age or a particular kind of group like it's available for anyone. And there are just free resources and help that can be provided to whoever needs it. And I think that that's just really amazing because a lot of times it's like, \"oh, if you're in this particular community, you don't have as many resources as the next growing one,\" you know? But I think that it's kind of equalized throughout the system. And I work in Long Island City and, you know, we're, we're right next to Rikers Island and we get a lot of formerly incarcerated people.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=432.0,496.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: We also have older adults and we have young students and parents and educators and people in this community really need that help. They really need those extra resources. And before the pandemic, we were really trying our best to accommodate everyone with computer classes and adult programming and children's programming because they needed that kind of help. They were looking for some kind of partnership, which we kind of developed even more during the pandemic. I think that we worked, alongside food pantries and shelters, and the senior center and schools. We made a list and we're like, \"okay, people in our community need this help, let's reach out to them.\" And we actually did. We created like a whole email list and we were just sending out communication like, \"what do you guys need? Especially during this time?\"","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=496.0,560.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: So a lot of them responded back and we did a lot of virtual programming. So when people ask, like, \"what did you do?\" It was like, we did a lot! We were out there partnering with schools and doing after school programming, we were partnering with the older adults and doing programming for the senior center. We're trying to provide computer classes or basic skills, especially with Brainfuse and Overdrive and every online resource that you can imagine. And I think that our community has responded well to that because they needed that they needed some kind of guidance. Once the library reopened, they were all, like, \"we missed this so much. We just miss being in a physical space.\" And a lot of our questions come in. We're like, \"when are you going to bring them back to the computer classes?\" \"\"when are you going to bring back the children programming classes?\"","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=560.0,611.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: They're asking for it, they're really asking for it because they need it. I feel like our community is very specific as to what we can provide for them and what resources they're always asking for. I feel like every community has their own needs and you kind of view like a supply and demand kind of thing. We give you what you ask us for, and I think that that's great is wherever whichever community go through throughout Queens, it's just openly given and I think that's really how QPL is one of their strong points is, you know, accessibility to everyone.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=611.0,654.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sarah Healy: Absolutely. Especially early on in the pandemic, I think everybody was just looking for help from someone. And it's so nice that QPL was able to sort of fill that gap and become, maybe the community had to be virtual for a time, but it was still able to hold people together. Can you share a story of QPL having a positive impact on someone's life?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=654.0,692.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: As a kind of segue into that question, like I said before, a lot of our patrons had come in, they ask for these programs and a lot of times it's really sad to turn them out and say like, \"we're not really doing in-person programming right now,\" but you're trying to help them as much as you can, just because it's a different feeling when you just turn them away. You just want to be as helpful as you can. And so there was this one time where a patron came in and she was just looking for some computer time and she was changing jobs and she needed to update her resume, she needed to do all of these trainings. And it took some, it took more than just an hour of coming in.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=692.0,742.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: So, she came up to me, she was like, \"I need your guys' help. Like, I can't just do one hour on the computer. Like, I really need the extra time to finish this.\" And so every day for about two or three weeks, she would come in and we would give her at least some extra time, um, on the computer, obviously she would come in in the morning when it wasn't that busy. And every day we would just be like, \"what do you need from us? How can we help you?\" All that time, it was just her working on the computer. Ane we have a scan machine, so when she was going back and scanning her documents and sending it to her email and printing them out and sending it to whoever she needed to. It was just like day after day.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=742.0,784.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: And we all like, 'oh yeah, come in!\" She was always there and she was super, super, like thankful at the end. She wanted to like really come up to each one of us and be like, thank you. Like if it wasn't for you, I don't think I would have been able to transfer to this new position. Um, especially after the pandemic and during a lot of people have lost jobs and they're looking for jobs and it's, how can you prevent someone from making a living or like sustaining their own lifestyle by restricting them to just one hour and not letting them at least thrive, especially in this community. It's like, you can't just restrict someone and deny them the accessibility to resources.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=784.0,847.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sarah Healy: That's a really great example. Tt really speaks to what you were talking about earlier at the library, you know, meeting the needs as they arise. And especially as so much has been pushed online. It's really important to allow that digital access","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=847.0,868.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: For sure. And it wasn't just her she wasn't the only customer who came in for job hunting resume help. Like I can name at least a handful of patrons who came in and they're like, \"I just need someone to guide me to this website or help me fix my resume.\" I think especially me and my coworkers really did a lot of resume help, and we kind of offered like, \"Hey, there's Brainfuse, which offers free online resume help,\" but it's different when it's on their screen. And all they need to do is at least edit it or format it the right way, because they're also scanning their personal documents and sending it and attaching it and getting responses back.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=868.0,915.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: There was actually one more story, because it's just like every day, it's a new story! There was this gentleman who came in and he got a new position in Arizona. And so there wasn't anyone to verify. I think he was I9 or something which needed kind of an in-person verification. So my coworker literally kind of went through, with obviously like the understanding of confidentiality, but they both worked together to be able to help this gentleman secure that position because without those forms, he would be denied of this work opportunity. And he just kept saying, \"you guys are so great and Arizona doesn't have QPL, I don't know what to do without you guys!\" And you just see that over and over again where it's like, \"if it wasn't for you, if it wasn't for the library, like where would I be?\" And I think they're just so thankful that they're able to have that help that they need. So, yeah,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=915.0,990.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sarah Healy: It's a really invaluable service for sure. Hopefully he's able to find helpful public libraries in Arizona too. [laughs]","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=990.0,1002.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: For sure, absolutely [laughs]","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1002.0,1004.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sarah Healy: I guess speaking to that and, you know, like helping the community, what are your hopes for the future of QPL as we keep going into these uncertain pandemic times and beyond.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1004.0,1023.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: Right. Right. What I love about QPL is just, like I said, their accessibility, their openness to welcoming everyone their free resources, it's a free community based institution. And I mean, my hopes for QPL is I just, I hope they keep expanding because it's honestly, it's really amazing to see. I traveled to my home country, I go to different states in the US, and I explained to them what my position is at the library. And usually their response to that is, they don't really the library as that important. I explained to them that we have over 60 branches and just one burrow and their mind is blown. They're like, \"that many libraries? that's unbelievable!\" They're like we only have like a library in a 20 mile span or, it's really uncommon for libraries to be so distributed throughout their county or their city.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1023.0,1095.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: So I think that that's really amazing to see, and I hope that QPL keeps expanding to these communities and keeps reaching out to everybody who can. Because when you really think about it, New York is obviously heavily populated, but somehow we're able to reach every person. And it's because of those branches that reached an inaccessible places in the far counties or in deep Rockaway, or somewhere out by Long Island or the west of Queens or east of Queens, wherever you are. Like when I first started volunteering, I remember the librarian told me, they're like, \"yeah, there is at least one library within a mile span.\" And to me I'm like, that's insane. Like you can walk to the library basically wherever you are! And I tell that to the people who get introduced to me and they're like, \"what are you doing?\" I tell them that. And I also mentioned that we do have library within one mile span and they're just like, \"what? That's insane!\" So, you know, my hopes for QPL is just I just hope they keep expanding and keep reaching the people that they need. Honestly, it's just one of those systems where people get so surprised. They're like, \"oh, I want to visit now!\" You know, especially with that kind of, um, comment that you mentioned.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1095.0,1184.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sarah Healy: Absolutely. I mean, QPL is so special in that way. And especially just when you think about how big Queens is, to be able to reach so many people, it's just, it's just incredible. Is there anything else you'd like to share any other, you know, anecdotes, anything at all?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1184.0,1209.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: You know, I have so much to say just because I went from, I had a clear idea of what I wanted for my future, especially because I am a first-generation immigrant and my parents have worked so hard, just like the story of many, many others. And so for me, it's like, I wanted to be an educator. I wanted to work for the schools because I was just raised up in a family of education and learning that I just wanted to give back to my community no matter which position I was in. And for me, I think that my introduction to Queens Public Library kind of allowed my inspiration and growth to prosper in a way where, we do a lot of outreach at at this branch. Because you really have to go out there and talk to the people. It was different during the pandemic because you weren't really able to go face to face.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1209.0,1274.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: We were going through a major health crisis, but now that you're out on the streets, you're asking people how they are and what they need and how they're doing. And you kind of offer the resources that they're like, \"oh, I didn't even know that you guys had that!\" Which is a response to a lot of the things that we offer. And it's like, \"yeah, we do come on in!\" So for the past couple of weeks, we've been just trying to like go out on the streets and be like, \"do you know about this? Come through the library's right down the block!\" And a lot of people do come through. We've been seeing a lot of numbers for that. A lot of people start making library cards, especially with the no fees. A lot of people are now coming in, which is really, really exciting.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1274.0,1315.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/30","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: We also offer a lot of the little incentives here and there. We had this like game wheel for kids right around the time school was about to open. And a lot of kids came in because we really hadn't seen them since the summer, and school was starting again. So we wanted them to be a little bit excited. So with that, we had gathered little goodie bags and it's like, \"oh, spin the wheel for how many prizes you can win.\" Or if you make a library card here is like a little incentive. And we just kept seeing more and more kids come in. And it's just really, really exciting to see our community come back finally, after what had been a year of kind of silence and, you know, slowly coming back into, from grab-n-go to in person.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1315.0,1369.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/31","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: We were actually one of the first to offer remote printing and a lot of our customers when they were grabbing-n-go would be like, \"I just need to print my resume, I need to print these documents.\" And like I said, how can you prevent someone from being able to continue their lifestyle, or just sustain their survival? And we've kind of offered like, \"upload this document, we'll just print it for you.\" And QPL had seen that, and now it's system wide, because we had offered that first and were like, \"wow, this is a great idea, why don't we just do that across all the branches?\" And now all the branches have the option to remote print. And I think that that's really amazing because we had started that as a way to reach out to our community. We're just so proud of everyone in this branch who works really hard and we have such great ideas and we continue to have great ideas and we continue to try to thrive.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1369.0,1437.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/32","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: In spite of everything that has happened and all of our customers were like, \"you guys are the best, we love you so much!\" and it's not for the compliments. It's not like we're doing this, so you can tell us where the greatest, I mean, it's nice to hear, but I think what we really are, we offer help for our community and we're community workers. We are here to kind of help our community thrive. And I think that that's really important is that we have that value kind of instilled in every one of our goals. So I think that's just something that we keep working on and that's what I kind of want to just piggy back on what I said before is that I just hope that QPL expands because, you just want to reach every person as much as you can.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1437.0,1488.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/33","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sarah Healy: Absolutely, I didn't know that about the remote printing, but I mean, what an ingenius service to offer and really necessary service too. Wow, I bet a lot of other people don't know and would really want to use that too. So definitely be proud of that.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1488.0,1510.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/34","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: Yeah. We're, we're super proud of everyone over here, especially because our manager [Ms. Smith] has been working in this community for years and years now, she's a leader in this community and a lot of people know her. She's always giving us like some kind of inspiration to be like, \"what can we do next? Like, what's the next step? Like, how can we make our community thrive even more so than before?\" And it's always like, \"oh, what about this? And what about that?\" And she just takes it with such enthusiasm and it just gives you that motivation to just be a better person and just to be as best as you can. So I'm just really grateful that I was able to find, the best mentors, especially through QPL. I don't think that if I had been through another field, it would have inspired me this much to reach to my community.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1510.0,1568.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/35","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sarah Healy: Yeah. Well, it sounds like you're doing amazing work and thank you for all of that and the help that you're giving the community. I think I'm out of questions, unless again, there's anything else you want to jump in on? I think we do need to wish the Queens Public Library, happy anniversary.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1568.0,1589.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/36","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: Happy anniversary, Queens Public Library we love you so much!","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1589.0,1596.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/37","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sarah Healy: Well, thank you again so much. You've definitely, you know, inspired me. I'm doing my studies right now and it can be a slog, but it's just like really nice to have these conversations and be reminded of why it's so important.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1596.0,1614.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796/transcript/35657/annotation/38","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Azra Tahirovic: Absolutely. Thank you so much for having me. Everybody has a story and everybody has a lesson that they've learned or some kind of thing that they want to say. I'm just really grateful that I have the opportunity to just share how we were able to help our community. It's just when it comes to personal growth and personal development, we all want to kind of at least have that as a goal, and for me, especially, because in my experience, I just want like, how can I be better? What can I do next? You know? Just looking back at all the things that we did, it just makes me just a little proud of the work we do here at Queens library. So I'm just thankful for this opportunity to speak about it at least.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64095/file/148796#t=1614.0,1774.601"}]}]}]}