PLEASE TELL THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL NOW – NO CUTS TO LIBRARIES!
As you and so many other residents of Queens are aware, this past November the City enacted a $23.6 million mid-year cut to Queens Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and The New York Public Library, forcing the three systems to end seven-day service late last year, and to reduce our collections, programs, services, and building maintenance and repairs.
Although libraries were spared from additional budget cuts for the current fiscal year, we are now facing a potential loss of $58.3 million for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2024.
Our staffing and resources are already strained, and a loss of this magnitude would undoubtedly result in significantly deeper service cuts. Unless City funding is fully restored, QPL will need to close our locations on Saturdays – eliminating a level of access to libraries that New Yorkers like you fought hard for in 2015. The loss of weekend service would be devastating to our communities. Last year alone, QPL locations had more than 880,000 visits on Saturdays and Sundays.
In addition, QPL would have to further scale back spending on reading materials, technology, programs, and building repairs and maintenance, and as a result of staffing shortages, to postpone the reopening of several branches that are nearing the completion of construction.
We are working hard with our City leaders to protect our funding for next year, but we need your support. We know from experience that your voices make a difference.
Please complete the form below to send an email urging the Mayor and the City Council to preserve $58.3 million in funding (it only takes a minute!). Your letter will remind our elected leaders of the indispensable role of New York City’s public libraries.
Thank you for standing with us.