Chair Williams opens public testimony and calls first panel

Thanks, Speaker.

Okay, I just want to

Say, what am I supposed to exactly read here?

We haven't received a public testimony.

Give us a second.

Okay, so I do feel like we've already been hearing public testimony, but we'll officially open it up to public testimony.

And I want to remind members of the public that this is a formal government proceeding and that decorum shall be observed at all times.

As such, members of the public shall remain silent at all times.

The witness table is reserved for people who wish to testify.

No video recording or photography is allowed from the witness table.

Further, members of the public may not present audio or video recordings as testimony, but may submit transcripts of such recordings to the Sergeant at Arms for inclusion in the hearing record.

If you wish to speak at today's hearing, please fill out an appearance card with the Sergeant at Arms if you have not already done so and wait to be recognized.

When recognized, you will have two minutes to speak on today's topic, examining the research collections of New York City's public libraries, or on the resolutions we are hearing today.

If you have a written statement or additional written testimony you wish to submit for the record, please provide a copy of that testimony to the Sergeant at Arms.

I will now call the first panel from the public, which will be a panel of Queens folks.

So we'll start with Wendy.

Charania, Jason, our Queens historian, who I was honored with.

The other day at King Manor, and Regina from the Louis.

Armstrong House Museum.

Okay, and another, Joette John from Queens Public Library.

I don't know if Joette John is here.

We can start.

Maybe we want to start with our historian.

Okay.

Please.