You Did It, NYC! Libraries Saved from $58.3M in City Budget Cuts
June 28, 2024—City leaders have announced that NYC’s public libraries will have their funding fully restored in the FY25 budget. This is a victory for all New Yorkers, and will allow libraries to continue to provide the vital services, resources, and open hours our communities need. Restoration of funding will allow libraries to resume seven-day service and avert significant reductions to materials, programs, open hours, and maintenance.
Thank you to all our supporters who made their voices heard for public libraries. Join us in thanking NYC’s leaders for prioritizing public library funding and ensuring we can continue to deliver the essential services and resources New Yorkers rely on.
Statement from Brooklyn Public Library President Linda E. Johnson, Queens Public Library President Dennis M. Walcott, and New York Public Library President Anthony W. Marx
June 28, 2024 — “Brooklyn, Queens, and New York Public Libraries are thrilled that the budget agreement includes the full restoration of funding for public libraries—a resounding victory for all New Yorkers. We are honored to be able to continue the vital programs, initiatives, and hours of operation that this great city so clearly wants, needs, and deserves. Thank you, New York, for the overwhelming show of support on behalf of public libraries!
We deeply appreciate Mayor Adams and his administration for restoring library funding in the FY25 budget. We are profoundly grateful to City Council Speaker Adams and her leadership team for their unwavering commitment to libraries. Special thanks to Finance Chair Justin Brannan, Libraries Chair Carlina Rivera, the Budget Negotiating Team, and the entire City Council who prioritized library funding throughout the budget process. Without their support, this outcome would not have been possible.
Additionally, we would like to thank DC37, the union that represents the vast majority of our workforce. Thank you for being our partners in advocating for library workers throughout this campaign.
This funding will allow us to resume seven-day service, a priority for many New Yorkers. We expect that service to begin in the coming weeks, bringing our branches back to the same hours of operation prior to the November 2023 cuts. The funding also allows us to continue universal six-day service, which New Yorkers have enjoyed for nearly a decade.
The city’s three public library systems look forward to their continued partnership with the Mayor and the City Council to serve New Yorkers, no matter their age, background, birthplace or beliefs, with crucial and life-changing programs, services and resources. Libraries truly make New York City stronger.”
In November 2023, mid-year cut imposed by the City forced NYC’s public libraries to eliminate seven-day service across the city, as well as reduce spending on materials, programs, and maintenance of locations. The initial proposed FY25 budget had $58.3M in cuts and funding reductions to libraries that would have forced further service reductions, including:
Reducing service at the majority of libraries to five days a week—down from the current standard of universal six-day service, which New Yorkers won in a budget campaign in 2015.
The continued elimination of seven-day service citywide, with most branches remaining closed on Sundays.
Indefinitely delayed reopenings of renovated branches, many in historically marginalized communities. The cuts and proposed funding reductions mean we cannot afford to staff these branches.
Further reducing spending on library materials, programming, and building maintenance and repairs.
Delays and cost overruns for numerous ongoing capital projects, many of which have already been initiated.
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NYC Libraries’ Testimony
Read the written testimonies from the Presidents of Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library at the City Council's Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations Executive Budget Hearing on May 21, 2024.
Statements from Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library
On the FY25 Executive Budget Announcement
April 24, 2024—“We are deeply disappointed that the FY25 executive budget failed to reverse devastating cuts proposed for public libraries in January. New Yorkers rely on the vital services we provide, and data shows library usage is continuing to climb in key metrics—including visits and program participation. The $58.3M in cuts that libraries are facing, if enacted, threaten to upend much of the progress we’ve made over the past few years, and will severely impact vulnerable communities who need our services the most. We’ve already lost seven-day service city-wide, and are looking at most branches being open for only five days a week should these cuts go through.
Libraries are among the most trusted institutions, and make New York City stronger. We will continue working with the Administration and the Council to fully restore funding so we can continue providing the level of service our patrons want and need.”
Linda E. Johnson, President of Brooklyn Public Library
Anthony W. Marx, President of The New York Public Library
Dennis M. Walcott, President of Queens Public Library
On the City Council's FY25 Budget Response
April 2, 2024—“Thank you, Speaker Adams, Finance Chair Brannan, Libraries Chair Rivera, and the entire City Council for prioritizing NYC’s libraries in the Preliminary Budget Response. Your recognition of the vital role libraries play in the lives of all New Yorkers is deeply appreciated.”
On the City Council’s New Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations
January 18, 2024—“The Brooklyn, New York, and Queens public libraries congratulate Council Member Carlina Rivera on her appointment as Chair to the Council’s Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations! Council Member Rivera has been a long-time supporter of our mission, and we are thrilled to be working with her to promote free access to knowledge for all New Yorkers.
We would also like to thank our outgoing Chair, Chi Ossé, for his work over the past two years as a tireless advocate for libraries. Libraries are for everyone, and we are grateful for all of the support from our partners in city government."
Response to Fiscal Year 2025 Preliminary Budget Announcement
January 16, 2024—“The Brooklyn, New York, and Queens public libraries are grateful that Mayor Adams, a longtime champion of our mission, spared libraries from additional cuts to our FY24 and FY25 operating budgets. We deeply appreciate the administration’s recognition of the value of libraries and of how much New Yorkers rely on them.”
On Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Cuts
December 11, 2023—“This coming weekend marks the last day of seven-day service at New York City libraries, the result of the 5% mid-year City budget cut announced last month. Recently, the Brooklyn, Queens, and New York public libraries were instructed to meet another 5% mid-year budget cut in January. If this additional round of budget cuts is enacted, libraries will be forced to further reduce hours, including ending universal six-day service, which New Yorkers fought hard to restore in 2015. We know that public libraries and the vital services we provide are a lifeline for many New Yorkers, and remain committed to continuing to serve our communities as best we can in these challenging times.”
On Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Cuts
November 16, 2023—“Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, and The New York Public Library regret to announce that as a result of mid-year budget cuts, we must eliminate seven-day service across the city, including ending Sunday service at the vast majority of branches that currently offer it. We also will be reducing spending on library materials, programming, and building maintenance and repairs. Without sufficient funding, we cannot sustain our current levels of service, and any further cuts to the Libraries’ budgets will, unfortunately, result in deeper service impacts. We know how much New Yorkers rely on the vital resources we provide, and we remain committed to meeting their needs as best as we can.”
Statements from NYC Libraries on Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Process
On Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Announcement
June 29, 2023—"Brooklyn, Queens, and New York Public libraries are thrilled to hear the announcement that proposed cuts have been fully reversed in the City’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget. We are tremendously grateful to Mayor Eric Adams for once again demonstrating he is a true champion of libraries and the people of New York City. We also want to profoundly thank Speaker Adrienne Adams, another longtime library supporter, for ensuring that libraries remained a top priority for the Council throughout the entire budget process. In addition, we thank Finance Chair Justin Brannan, Libraries Chair Chi Ossé, the Budget Negotiating Team, and the entire City Council for their wholehearted support for public libraries. 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.
This is true and responsive civic leadership, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Mayor and the Council to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our city, including assisting asylum seekers, supporting teens, preparing people for the workforce, and helping kids recover from pandemic learning loss.
And last but certainly not least, we would like to thank the overwhelming number of New Yorkers who joined in pressing for full restoration of public library budgets. With their outpouring of support, we can continue providing New Yorkers with the critical services, programs, and hours of operation they rely on and deserve. This is a victory for all New Yorkers. Libraries truly are for everyone."
Thank you to all the New Yorkers who raised their voices for libraries—your support matters. Join us in thanking NYC’s leaders for prioritizing public libraries and the critical services they provide.
On Reversal of Increased Cuts and Existing Proposed Cuts for Fiscal Year 2024
May 18, 2023—“New York City’s public libraries are trusted and safe community spaces that meet the diverse needs of New Yorkers, regardless of background, income, birthplace, or beliefs. From storytimes to senior services—and everything in between—libraries truly are for everyone. We thank Mayor Adams for restoring some of our funding. But our ability to continue this work is threatened by the proposed remaining budget cuts. If enacted, those cuts will end Sunday service at every branch across the city and eliminate universal six-day service. These are just a few of the difficult measures our systems will have to endure. Libraries are just 0.4% of the city budget, but their benefits are enormous.”
On Reversal of Increased Proposed Cuts for Fiscal Year 2024
April 26, 2023—“The Brooklyn, New York, and Queens Public Libraries are grateful to Mayor Adams, a longtime champion of libraries, for sparing us from the latest round of funding cuts announced in April. This is an important step towards restoring library funding. Libraries make New York City stronger, and we look forward to working with Mayor Adams and the City Council to ensure we are able to continue providing the services our patrons rely on.”
Response to Increase in Proposed Budget Cuts for Fiscal Year 2024
April 5, 2023—“We are extremely disappointed that the administration has essentially doubled its proposed cuts to our budgets—from $20.5 million to $37 million. When factoring in last year’s unrestored City Council funding, the total funding cuts to libraries are a staggering $52.7 million, up from $36.2 million. We are closely examining the ramifications of the additional reductions and will work to minimize the impact on our patrons, but make no mistake, this is a devastating development to our already strained operations. As we testified just two weeks ago, the cuts proposed in the upcoming FY24 budget would have detrimental impacts on our hours and ability to provide the vital resources and services we provide to all New Yorkers. Further cuts would make a bad situation even worse.
New York City’s public libraries operate in all of our communities to provide free access to knowledge and opportunity to New Yorkers, a critical mission that has grown in urgency at this moment in our city’s history. Libraries are for everyone and make New York City stronger. Cutting library funding hurts all communities, particularly those who we know rely on us and have nowhere else to turn for the services and programs we provide.”
Past Hearing Testimony
Read the written testimonies from the Presidents of Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library at the City Council's Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations Preliminary Budget Hearing on March 12, 2024.
Read the written testimonies from the Presidents of Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library at the City Council's Finance Committee and the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries & International Intergroup Relations Budget Hearing on May 18, 2023.
Read the testimonies from the Presidents of Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library at the City Council's Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations Preliminary Budget Hearing on March 20, 2023.