Queens Public Library, the New York City system with 66 branches, is fighting a ransomware attack that began on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The attack has disabled its website, mobile app, public Wi-Fi, on-site computers and checkout machines at all 66 branches.[1][2] The buildings are open, but borrowing, printing and internet access are hit. Nobody has said yet whether personal data was taken.
What happened at Queens Public Library
The Record reported that the library first warned of outages on Wednesday afternoon and, a few hours later, published alerts confirming that a ransomware gang had encrypted its systems.[1] The Register also dates the confirmation to Wednesday evening, when the library told patrons through social media and directly.[3]
By Thursday morning, November 5, services were still down, according to library president and CEO Dennis Walcott, quoted by NY1.[2] Library officials told the station they do not know when everything will be restored. The Register quoted the library as saying it “will take some time before the library’s network and systems are restored.”[3]
Which services are down
The library’s own posts list the website, the app, on-site computers, check-out and return machines, free Wi-Fi and its digital media services as affected.[1] NY1 adds that renewals are unavailable.[2] Some virtual and in-person programs may be cancelled or changed, so call your branch before making a trip for a class or event.
NY1 spoke with one regular computer user who had to borrow her daughter’s laptop and could not print documents.[2]
Who is affected
The system serves the 2.3 million residents of the borough through its 66 locations, according to The Record.[1] NY1 says more than one million people use it every year.[2] For students who print homework or people without internet at home, this is a daily problem.
Was patron data stolen?
This is the open question. The library told NY1 it is still assessing the effect on its systems, data and operations.[2] The Record and The Register both note that the library has not said whether any information was exposed, and no ransomware group had claimed the attack as of Thursday.[1][3]
Many ransomware gangs steal files before they lock a network. The Record points to a 2025 attack on a library system in Washington State that exposed information on more than 340,000 people.[1] That shows why the question matters here.
How the Queens Public Library outage unfolded. Sources: The Record, NY1, The Register.[1][2][3]
What the library and police say
Walcott asked for patience, saying, “We ask for the public’s patience and understanding as we manage this challenge.”[2] He said the library is working with the NYPD, federal partners, City Hall and outside cybersecurity experts.[2] The NYPD said it is “aware of a cybersecurity incident impacting Queens Public Library computer systems” and is working with the library and the FBI on the investigation and recovery.[2]
Meanwhile, the library is not charging late fines on borrowed materials.[2]
Why libraries keep getting hit
The Record notes that gangs use demand for e-books and other essential services as a pressure point to get paid.[1] It lists earlier hits on the Seattle Public Library and the Toronto Public Library, which spent months recovering from a 2023 attack it described as a crime scene.[1]
The British Library is the sharpest example. The Register reports that after the Rhysida gang attacked it in 2023, the library refused to pay the 20 Bitcoin ransom and spent its cash reserves on a rebuild costing millions, with access to electronic resources expected back only by the end of 2026.[3] Recovery from ransomware can take months, not days.
What to do now
Check the library’s official social media pages or call your branch before visiting, and do not rely on the website or app, which are down.If you use a Queens library card number with a PIN or password, and you reuse that password anywhere else, change it on those other accounts now.Be careful with messages that mention the library, a data leak or unpaid fines, because scammers use news like this as bait. See our guide to a typical Take Immediate Action email scam.Do not click links that claim to waive fees. The library says fines are paused without any action from you.Plan to print elsewhere, since public computers and printing are affected.
For background on how this kind of attack works, read about Akira ransomware, Medusa ransomware and the All your data are encrypted virus.
What patrons can do while the systems are down. Sources: NY1, The Register.[2][3]
What comes next
Watch for three things: whether a ransomware group claims the attack and posts stolen files, whether the library sends notices to cardholders, and how quickly services return. The library has given no date.[2]
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