The following was submitted today by New York Public Library President and CEO Anthony Marx.
New Yorkers come together at the library. It’s where we learn, study,
find jobs, and teach our children about the importance of books. Our city relies on libraries–and our libraries rely on the city for support
too.
Right now Mayor de Blasio is putting together his preliminary budget.
This is our moment to make sure he remembers how important libraries
are.
Last year, thanks in part to people like you speaking out, City leaders
invested in New Yorkers by investing in libraries, which means NYC’s 217
libraries now offer 6-day service, have hired over 100 new librarians,
and are able to provide new programs and books. Here at NYPL, we now
have 7 branches that stay open 7 days a week, and our librarians have
added story time for our earliest learners, after-school programs, and
English language and digital classes for adults.
We're so grateful that city leaders were there for us, and now we must make sure they build on that success.
After years of budget cuts, Mayor de Blasio and the New York City
Council made a historic investment in libraries last summer. They
allocated an additional $43 million in city operating funding for New
York City’s libraries–restoring two-thirds of what had been cut from the
city’s three library systems since 2008.
This was in large part because of the power of your vocal support of libraries. You told our leaders how important libraries were to you, and city leaders listened.
Now, as the budget process starts anew, speaking out again can make sure
our city leaders continue to invest in our libraries. As crucial as
this funding has been, we still have more demand for our services than
we can meet.
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