The three New York City public library systems are facing budget cuts totaling nearly $53 million as the city looks to slash spending next year. Beyond the numbers, the struggle to keep libraries funded has become a major fight this spring between lawmakers and the many New Yorkers who depend on branches to take out books, study and use computers.

Made up of 217 local library branches, four research library centers, 377 electronic databases and over 65 million texts, the city’s three library branches – New York, Brooklyn and Queens systems – provide essential access to resources for New Yorkers of all ages.

Kristina Minor, a Young Adult Librarian at the Brooklyn Heights branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, has been employed at the New York Public Libraries system since 2019.

“I came in 2019,” said Minor. “Our library is a very important part of this neighborhood, but really the community as a whole. We try to have programs for all ages so that we can have a place for people to meet and learn and be entertained.”

Located near Cadman Plaza, the Brooklyn Heights Library provides events and resources for immigrants, teens, babies, adults and educators.

“We try to have programs for all ages so that we can have a place for people to meet and learn and be entertained,” said Minor. “We have author talks, we have adult coloring, we have chair yoga for the teens, we have science in the house where we Skype with a real scientist, we have book clubs, and of course gaming. The importance there is to get the teens in on the afternoons so they can have a safe place to come, and it is amazing how many would rather study than play games.”

The proposed cuts for the 2024 fiscal year (FY) budget would reduce funding, according to documents released by the city.

“With the FY 24 budget just starting to take shape, our city’s budget must prioritize the working people that keep New York moving. To put people first, we are calling for fully funding public schools, full restoration and baselining of libraries by $36.2M ... and so much more,” said Council Member Julie Won.

The suggestion of reducing funding was initially considered when the January 2023 Financial Plan revealed budget gaps. In September 2022, Mayor Eric Adams announced a Plan Program to Eliminate the Gap (PEG) in response to the plan, which showed gaps of $3.17 billion in 2025, $5.01 billion in 2026 and $6.47 billion in 2027.

Through PEG, city agencies were instructed to reduce spending by the start of the 2024 fiscal year, which starts on July 1, by 4.75%. It is a cut that would result in a major depletion of New York City’s public library budget.

The Report to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations on the Fiscal 2023 Executive Plan states, “NYPL’s budget is approximately 59 percent funded with City funding, QBPL’s budget is approximately 91 percent City funds, and BPL’s budget is approximately 85 percent City funds.”

The gap in funding is typically closed through support from private contributions such as endowment draws for operations, allocations in the New York State budget, earned revenue and the federal government. But this still leaves the three public Libraries of New York City largely financially dependent upon city funding.

New York City public libraries are significantly reliant upon the city for financial support, support which could now be cut, all while their allocated funding consumes less than one percent of the city’s total Preliminary Plan budget for FY 21-25.

The Report of the Finance Division on the Fiscal 2022 Preliminary Plan states, “The Fiscal 2022 Preliminary Capital Commitment Plan, which covers Fiscal Years 2021-2025, includes $903.7 million for the Library Systems (including City and Non-City funds). This represents less than one percent of the City’s total $84.1 billion Preliminary Plan for Fiscal 2021-2025.”

“Libraries serve people of every ethnicity, age, and economic class. We already devote just a small fraction of the city’s budget to funding our libraries, but the return on that investment is immeasurable,” said Council Member Sandra Ung. “It is unconscionable that we are now considering asking them to do the same with less by asking them to accept damaging budget cuts.”

In the Preliminary Budget Response released on April 3, the NYC Council, along with Speaker Adrienne Adams and Finance Chair Justin Brannan, advocated for a more balanced budget approach and included the City’s library system in their recommendations.

“The Council calls on the Administration to allocate an additional $36.2 million to the City’s three library systems. This funding will both restore the baseline cut of $20.5 million to libraries’ budgets and cover the $15.7 million subsidy provided through City Council discretionary funding,” according to the budget response.

The council has emphasized that the city’s three library systems as an essential part of New York with the resources, services and space that they provide for New Yorkers.

“The scale and magnitude of these cuts will impact our operations across the board, whether it be the capacity to open new branches, keep our current hours, maintain our collections, or offer programs,” New York Public Library President Anthony Marx told the Council’s Cultural Affairs and Libraries Committees during a hearing earlier this year. “If this budget becomes a reality we are going to have to make tough choices about what we can and can’t provide our patrons. No one wants that.”

The services the city’s three library systems contribute to communities range from story times for children and services for people with disabilities, to shelter and Wi-Fi access for homeless individuals.

With the potential cuts to library budgets, these resources could be taken away from communities such as the one serviced by the Brooklyn Heights Library.

“The programming is the most important thing, we get funding from that which allows us to have interesting and effective programs for the teens and the adults,” Minor said. “Our collection would be affected, our digital collection which a lot of people depend upon who have gotten used to working online.”

In addition to the online resources that assist many New Yorkers, the thriving children’s programs at many libraries could be limited.

The Children’s Area at the Brooklyn Heights Library - Photo By Joanna Insco

“We have story hours and I would hate to see those cut because then we wouldn't have room for the children that want to come,” said Minor. “It is full down in the children’s room and we love that, we are so proud of that.”

The Brooklyn Heights library is not the only library providing important children's programs.

Qin, a mother and regular at the Seward Park Library, visits the library because of the events that her children can attend.

The Children’s Room on the second floor of Seward Park Libraries - Photo By Joanna Insco

“I come here because of my children, my daughter, my son, and the baby. I come here because the library has a story time for the babies,” said Qin. “I have brought my children to the library for about ten years. This library has a Chinese program, sometimes the adult librarian will help people, and they like to help us understand the programs. Before I had children I didn’t come to the library but now that I have children I come often.”

The resources at libraries are made accessible to people of many languages and ages.

"We all know the critical role libraries play in keeping people connected, bridging the digital divide, and ensuring people of all ages and backgrounds have access to safe spaces and free resources,” said Brooklyn Public Library President Linda Johnson. “A trusted place where they can learn English, find resume help or simply escape into a good book.”

If the libraries are to receive cuts to their funding from the City, it will not be without a fight. Council members, New Yorkers and Library Presidents are all seeking to protect the funding and vital services that the libraries provide.

New Yorkers can practically aid libraries by signing letters that are directly delivered to leaders such as Mayor Eric Adams, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Majority Leader Keith Powers and other Council members.

“Libraries are vital for our community; they are more than just a place to read books. Libraries help ensure that people can access the information they need regardless of age, education, ethnicity, language, or geographic barriers,” said Council Member Francisco Moya. “So we are doing everything we can to make sure they receive the right funding.”

Joanna Insco is a sophomore from California studying Journalism, Culture and Society at The King’s College. She is an intern at The Brooklyn Paper and is involved in ESTV. She enjoys spending time in nature and drinking copious amounts of coffee.

Keeping the Books: NYC Plans $53M Library Budget Cut