November 5, 2026: Queens Public Library confirmed a ransomware attack that encrypted its systems and knocked out its website, mobile app, public computers and digital media across 66 branches. The branches stayed open. The library has not said whether any patron data was stolen. See the Queens Public Library ransomware record for details.
Outages began on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 5. The library first warned of service problems and later that day said ransomware was the cause. It is working with law enforcement and outside specialists. No group had claimed the attack as of November 6, The Record reported.
On November 8, President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott said free Wi-Fi was back. Checkout and return machines were running at limited capacity, according to ABC7. The website still showed a temporary holding page.
What happened in the Queens Public Library ransomware attack?
Ransomware encrypted library systems and cut off most digital services. Gothamist reported that the online system went down. The website, app, on-site computers, printers and digital checkouts were affected. At first, Wi-Fi and checkout machines were also down.
The library has not given a timeline for full recovery. Late fines are waived during the disruption, ABC7 reported. More about the library is on the Queens Public Library page.
Libraries have become regular ransomware targets. Seattle Public Library, Toronto Public Library and the British Library all needed months to recover from attacks in recent years. The Record noted that Pierce County Library in Washington later disclosed that more than 340,000 people were affected by its incident.
What data was exposed?
The library has not said whether any data was stolen. The confirmed impact so far is the loss of services, not a data leak. Library systems can hold patron contact details, holds, fines and payment records, but there is no public evidence that any of these were copied.
Until the library says more, the main risk is phishing. Scammers may send messages that mention a real branch or a real hold to look convincing. The library will not ask patrons to unlock a card through a surprise link while its website is down.
If patron data was taken, New York law would require the library to send notices to affected people. No such notice has been published. Staff payroll and vendor files have not been mentioned either way.
Who is affected?
Anyone who relies on the library's digital services has been affected by the outage, including card holders, staff and program attendees. People who used the website, e-books or public computers were cut off through at least November 8. Visitors could still borrow physical books, with limited checkout.
Living in Queens does not mean your data was involved. The borough's population is the library's service area, not a count of affected people. Other public bodies reported incidents the same month, including the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office breach and the York University forms breach.
What should Queens Library patrons do?
- Ask branch staff or check the library's official social media accounts for updates on hours and holds.
- Avoid lookalike library websites and links that ask you to "unlock" your library card.
- Ignore anyone asking you to pay fees to fix ransomware damage. Late fines are waived during the outage.
- If you saved a payment card in the library's app, check your statements as a precaution.
- Watch for an official letter from the library in case it later finds that patron data was taken.
Frequently asked questions
Was patron data stolen in the Queens Library attack?
The library has not said. It confirmed that ransomware encrypted its systems and disrupted services, but it has not reported any theft of patron records. If it later finds that personal data was taken, New York law would require it to notify the people affected.
Which group attacked Queens Public Library?
No group had claimed the attack as of November 6, 2026, according to The Record. The library has not named an attacker. It says it is working with law enforcement and outside specialists to investigate the incident and restore its systems.
Are Queens Library branches open?
Yes. All 66 branches stayed open on their normal schedules. The outage hit digital services, including the website, app, public computers and digital media. Free Wi-Fi was back by November 8, and checkout and return machines were working at limited capacity.
Should I cancel my Queens Library card?
There is no need based on what the library has disclosed. No data theft has been reported. Watch for an official letter, and ignore anyone who contacts you offering to protect or unlock your library account for a fee. Late fines are waived during the disruption.