Robin Hood Library

The Robin Hood Library is the cornerstone of P.S. 201 Q.  Students, teachers, parents and guests walk into our library and feel encouraged to be curious, learn, and engage in lively discussion.  It is a warm, welcoming open space that boasts thousands of books, 15 laptops and 6 desktop computers.  As you spend more time in the library and browse the available resources you'll quickly realize that you can find a book on just about any topic.  Every year new books with the most up-to-date titles are purchased to further build our library and support the community's love of reading.  We welcome you to come visit our beautiful learning environment!

What is a Robin Hood Library?

The Robin Hood Foundation’s library initiative is aimed at providing New York City public schools with quality libraries. The Robin Hood Foundation initiated an effort to remodel or create ten new libraries in New York City public elementary schools with money raised from corporate donors. In 2004, the foundation continued the program with a second cohort of 21 new libraries in schools throughout the five boroughs. The designers named the project The L!brary Initiative and designed a simple, flexible identity based on the wordmark.

Our Robin Hood Library opened in September 2006. It was dedicated to Alan Zwerling, a master teacher who taught for several years at P.S. 201. Collaborating with Robin Hood, the architects, our school librarian, principal, and New York Board of Education personnel, a blueprint, signage and other environmental graphics and artifacts were created and obtained for our library. Our library was tailored to our school and student body. The customized design, graphics, artifacts and furniture help personalize our state-of-the-art library and make it feel like the students' own. At the same time, it complements the imaginative qualities of the architects' space and reinforces the library as a source for words and images.