Leaders of the city’s three public library systems launched a fresh campaign Tuesday to demand that Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council reverse a collective $58.3 million in proposed cuts in the coming Fiscal Year 2025 budget.
Tuesday marks the first time the leaders of the three branches — the New York, Brooklyn and Queens Public Libraries — are citing the sizable $58.3 million cut, which is higher than the $22.1 million trim the mayor enacted in November. That increase comes from a recurring $20.5 million cut the mayor enacted last year — which he canceled in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, but not for future years — and the loss of $15.7 million in one-time City Council funding, according to the library systems.
That is the case even with the mayor canceling planned 5% cuts for libraries in January and for all agencies in April.
The three library executives say the cuts will lead to the continued absence of seven day service — which was reduced following the mayor’s November trims, possibly cutting service at most branches across the city to five days a week and indefinitely delaying the reopenings of many closed branches. All library branches in the city have been open six days a week since 2016, according to the library systems.
“It is astounding that we are in a situation where the greatest city in the world is facing the possibility of losing universal six-day public library service,” Queens Public Library President Dennis Walcott said, in a statement.
The Queens system would have to end Saturday service at all but two of its branches if the cuts go into effect, it said.
Additionally, they are raising the alarm about a $130 million cut to the three systems’ capital budgets, which funds construction of new branches as well as renovations and maintenance of existing ones.
New York Public Library President Anthony Marx, in a statement, said that libraries make up less than half a percentage of the city financial plan, but provide “unmatched” services and programming for New Yorkers.
”The city’s public libraries are facing the highest proposed budget cuts in over a decade, a potentially devastating loss of funding that will force most branches to limit service to just five days a week,” Marx said.
“This is on top of the loss of Sunday service enacted in November, and just one of the painful measures we must take to absorb these cuts,” he added. “We are calling for full restoration of our funding so we can continue partnering with the City to best serve New Yorkers.”
The New York Public Library, which covers Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island, says it would have to cut service to five days a week at 60% of its branches and delay the reopenings of five of its recently renovated branches.
Library funding is a bargaining chip in city budget negotiations between the mayor and the City Council most every year and this year is shaping up to be no different. Council leadership has listed restoring funding to the three systems as one of their top priorities going into this budget cycle.
Manhattan City Council Member Carlina Rivera, who chairs the council’s Cultural Affairs and Libraries, said restoring seven-day service is crucial.
“Libraries are a critical part of New York City’s infrastructure, and are essential to our wellbeing,” Rivera said. “As libraries continue to serve more people, and expand the amount of services they provide, we must increase government support and restore 7 day service.”
The library leaders will testify at a budget hearing Rivera’s committee is holding on Tuesday.
The mayor, when asked about restoring the cuts on Tuesday, said budget negotiations are ongoing.
“Everyone has their role, the City Council, they have their role, we have our role and we’re gonna do the best we can for the people of this city,” Adams said. “We’re gonna land the plane together again this time. We’re gonna get through this folks … We’re gonna do it with as least pain as possible, but we have to be fiscally responsible.”
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