Public libraries in New York City avoid devastating cuts
The New York Public Library is seen in this photo. (Credit: NYPL)
In an about-face for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, proposed cuts to the public library system have been fully reversed.
With the fight to preserve libraries out of the way, staff can shift their efforts to other pressing issues facing New Yorkers, including helping kids recover from lost learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as helping asylum seekers process legal paperwork.
The city’s proposed budget initially called for a devastating $36.2 million cut to operational funding for public libraries, with $10 million being reduced from Brooklyn Public Library alone.
An additional four per cent cut was proposed in early April before Adams took that option off the table.
Last month, Brooklyn Public Library president and CEO Linda Johnson testified in front of the city at a budget meeting, urging the city to provide $80 million in capital funding for each library system to complete necessary renovations and upgrades.
Johnson told council members that on top of operating funds, facilities are facing extensive infrastructure needs and shortfalls.
"Without a restoration of funding, we will be forced to make permanent reductions in staffing that lead to reduced hours and days of service, less programming, and decreased spending on collections," she warned. "This cut may be the breaking point."
Noting that libraries have already been forced to absorb a slew of mid-year budget reductions, Johnson added that officials were left with no choice but to let vacancies go unfilled, a strategy she described as "not sustainable."
Had the cuts gone through, the Brooklyn Public Library alone would have had to permanently eliminate 78 positions. Libraries were also facing the daunting decision to end six- and seven-day service, leaving New Yorkers with less time to access those spaces, particularly on weekends.
"Weekend hours are a cornerstone of our commitment to meeting the myriad needs of our patrons," Johnson told city council members. "Closing the doors on Saturdays and Sundays, a schedule people have come to rely on, is not an action I take lightly."
Johnson acknowledged that Sundays are the most expensive days for libraries to operate. Due to short-staffing issues across the board, Sundays are staffed by employees who volunteer to work overtime.
Some of the cuts, she warned council members, would impact technological help for seniors, creative aging programming, community movie nights, knitting clubs, conversation groups, and much more.
NYC library use on the rise
While the financial struggles facing libraries are nothing new, there are some bright spots to prove that adequate funding can lead to growing visitorship and checkouts.
In the past year, more than 183,000 new applications were filed to get a New York City Public Library card. Nearly 5.4 million items were checked out during that time, marking a six-year high. Johnson says libraries are on track to hit 7.2 million checkouts by the end of the fiscal year, marking a significant jump from pre-pandemic levels.
It’s not just checkouts that bring people to libraries — more than 1.5 million people connected to a library’s Wi-Fi in 2022, while more than 500,000 relied on a public computer session.
After receiving $15 million in 2022 to enhance teen services at libraries, a Teen Tech Center opened in Crown Heights, providing youth-centric programming like monthly "Teen Takeover" events. Three more centers are set to open by the end of the fiscal year.
"It is heartbreaking to think about stalling this progress, particularly during a growing youth mental health crisis," Johnson said. "We are building a comprehensive program to better serve teens that is now just beginning to build momentum. How can we sustain these efforts with fewer librarians, fewer programs and reduced hours?"
Adams blames asylum seekers for future cuts
Speaking to reporters last week after reaching a deal on the upcoming year’s budget, Adams signaled that the migrant crisis will be responsible for future cuts, warning the city isn’t receiving the help it needs and saying "this is really wrong for asylum seekers."
"They only ask one thing: ‘Let us work.’ They say, ‘We want to work. We want to pay into your tax base. We don’t want your free food. We don’t want your free clothing. We don’t want you washing our clothing. We want to work,'" Adams said in a moment that felt out of touch, if not accusatory.
Along with restoring library funding, the new budget also set aside $36.6 million for the city’s Right to Counsel program, $20 million for City University of New York (CUNY) programs, $22 million for frequent litter basket pickups, and $2.4 million for trauma recovery centers to help support victims of crime.
In a statement, representatives from Brooklyn, Queens and New York Public Libraries expressed their gratitude to Speaker Adrienne Adams "for ensuring that libraries remained a top priority for the Council throughout the entire budget process."
"Amid unprecedented attempts to ban books and silence diverse voices, New York City has sent a clear message about the power of public libraries that will be seen and felt across our nation," the trio said.