Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Year : 2, Issue : 21
The City Council is calling on the mayor to fully restore funding for the city’s three public library systems as it continues hearings on potential budget cuts.
In a statement released Tuesday, the council asked the Adams administration to allocate an additional $58.3 million to the Brooklyn, Queens and New York public libraries to allow them to reinstate Sunday library service.
The city’s public libraries ended seven-day service following budget cuts unveiled in November. If proposed cuts go through, library leaders say New Yorkers could see the end of six-day service, as well as fewer books and programs.
“Libraries provide vitally important programs to New Yorkers of all ages in every neighborhood, like adult education classes, homework help for students, literacy and reading programs for young children, technology classes, and workforce development services,” the council said in its statement. “New Yorkers across the city have felt the impact of reduced services at all three library systems, including the loss of Sunday service, due to the mayor’s November cuts.”
The presidents of the city’s three public library systems joined advocates at a rally on the steps of City Hall Tuesday morning to call on the mayor to restore funding.
“We’re here today to talk about the unfortunate and hurtful cuts of $58.3 million to the three public library systems. And already we’ve seen the impact of these cuts on our libraries. Sunday hours have been eliminated, with the potential of eliminating Saturday hours if these cuts go through,” Dennis Walcott, the president and CEO of the Queens Public Library, said at the rally. “We’re here saying enough is enough, and restore our budget to its full level, and beyond.”
Asked about library budget cuts at a media availability Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams deferred to Maria Torres-Springer, the city’s deputy mayor for housing, economic development and workforce. “This administration has been 100% committed to libraries, they have been protected from many rounds of cuts, we added $50 million for teen centers,” Torres-Springer said. “Of course we’re going to continue to work with the City Council through the adopted budget to make sure we build on those successes and get to the right place, to continue to support libraries.”
“So it’s an ongoing conversation, but we want to make sure we’re doing the right thing both in terms of fiscal stewardship and supporting our amazing libraries,” she added.
Source: Spectrum NY1
