Queens Public Library in New York City has restored free Wi-Fi at all of its open locations and brought checkout and return machines back into service, a week after a ransomware attack knocked out digital services across the system. The library confirmed the recovery progress in a service update on 10 November 2026.

The attack, confirmed on the evening of Wednesday 4 November, disabled the library's website, mobile app, public computers, self-service checkout and return machines, free Wi-Fi and digital media services across all 66 branches. The buildings themselves stayed open throughout, but the tools patrons rely on to borrow books, browse and get online stopped working.

What is back and what is still down

According to the library's latest service update on 10 November, free Wi-Fi has been restored at all open locations, along with checkout and return machines. Public computers have also been made available again at seven locations: Central Library, Far Rockaway, Flushing, Glen Oaks, Hunters Point, Jackson Heights and Kew Gardens Hills. At most other branches, public computers remain unavailable.

Customers still cannot access the library's website, mobile app or digital media services, and book renewals remain unavailable. The library has given no date for full restoration, saying only that it will take some time before its network and systems are fully restored.

Library president and chief executive Dennis Walcott thanked the public for their patience in a statement on 7 November, saying the library continues to work closely with government partners and outside experts to investigate the attack and restore systems as quickly as possible. He added that there is no timeline yet, but the library will keep the public informed.

Investigation under way

The library is working with the New York Police Department and the FBI on the investigation and recovery. No ransomware group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and no ransom demand or payment amount has been confirmed publicly.

Officials have also not said whether patron or staff data was accessed or stolen. The library has said it is still assessing the effect of the attack on its systems, data and operations. Library users have not been charged fines for returning materials late while services are disrupted.

Queens Public Library is one of the largest public library systems in the United States, with 66 locations across the borough of Queens and serving about 2.3 million residents. Its branches remain open during their regularly scheduled hours, although some virtual and in-person programmes may still be affected.

The library is directing customers to its social media accounts for updates while its website remains unavailable. The incident is a reminder of how disruptive ransomware can be for public services: even when buildings stay open, the loss of digital systems can cut off internet access, borrowing and online resources for the communities that depend on them most.