New Report: “Crumbling NYC Libraries Need Massive Investment” & NYC Library Leaders Testify at Budget Hearing (Video)
Below find a news report, links and embed to two reports, and a link to view a video recording of NYC library leaders testifying before the New York City Council on March 20, 2015.
From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle:
New York City’s three library systems – Brooklyn, Queens and New York Public Libraries – released a joint report Friday morning describing a maintenance crisis threatening branches throughout the city.
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The report describes branches without proper heat and with broken down HVAC systems. Some have ceilings so leaky staffers must cut up garbage bags to protect books during rain storms. Many are ADA inaccessible; others suffer from plugged up bathrooms and are so outdated there aren’t enough electrical outlets to plug in iPads and laptops.
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Not only do the city’s libraries need $1 billion in capital funds, but they currently face a $10 million operating cut in the preliminary budget. The preliminary budget has just over $60 million slated as it now stands.
The libraries plan to fight the operating cut, and want to restore funding to FY 2008 levels. Library officials were set to testify before the NYC Council this morning.
Read the Complete Article
Direct to Full Text of Report Discussed in Article: Long Overdue NYC’s $1 Billion Library Fine (via Invest in Libraries)
The report is also embedded below.
Direct to Invest in Libraries Web Site
Budget Hearing
As mentioned above, the New York City Council Subcommittee on Libraries heard testimony from the leaders of the three NYC library systems yesterday, March 20, 2015. They spoke during a budget hearing.
Document
Full text of a report (also embedded below) provided to the committee about the finances of NYC libraries.
Video of Hearing
You can view the complete hearing featuring the testimony of:
- Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library
- Tony Marx, President and CEO, The New York Public Library
- Bridget Carey-Quinn, Interim President and CEO, Queens Library
Report: Long Overdue NYC’s $1 Billion Library Fine
Committe Report-Libraries (Report on the Fiscal 2016 Preliminary Budget and the Fiscal 2015 Preliminary May… by LJ’s infoDOCKET
Filed under: Funding, Libraries, News, Public Libraries, Reports, Video Recordings
About Gary Price
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.