My Global Hustle » Archive » Council & Mayor Restore Funding to NYC Libraries

Council & Mayor Restore Funding to NYC Libraries

I got the good news in an email this morning. Many of ya’ll know I’m a huge fan of the library. There was a petition going around to fight impending budget cuts to the NYC Library system. Fortunately we rallied the troops and the petition ended with a positive result.

Moving forward, I’m going to continue to do everything in my power to encourage folks to make use of the NY Public Library. It is a fantastic resource that has continually influenced my life and will change yours. Check out the letter below. -!YG

———————————————————————
Dear New Yorker,

Good news for library users across the five boroughs!

Working with Mayor Bloomberg, the NYC Council successfully restored funding to keep NYC libraries open on average 5 days a week.

We want to thank you and everyone else who helped make this victory possible.

Faced with a persistent economic downturn, the end of federal stimulus funds and the potential loss of $1.3 billion in state funding, we knew we were going to have to make some very tough decisions about the budget this year.

Like you, though, we felt it was critically important to keep our libraries open at least five days a week (instead of the four days as originally proposed). Now more than ever, New Yorkers are turning to their local library for the free books, media, job training and other critical resources that they provide.

While this was a great win for our City, next year could prove to be an even bigger battle. With the economy still slow and federal stimulus funds drying up, we’ll have to fight just as hard, if not harder, to help make sure that our libraries are adequately funded.

To that end, we encourage you to sign up for Council “Enews.” These issue-based e-mail updates are a great way for us to stay connected and engaged with you and other New Yorkers about the budget, Council hearings and events, and other critical issues affecting our City. It will only take a moment at www.council.nyc.gov. (Click on the “Sign-Up for Email Updates” link at the top of our webpage.)

Thanks again for helping us win this important victory. Your strong support for our City’s libraries truly made a difference.

Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Speaker
NYC Council

Domenic M. Recchia, Jr.
Chair, Finance Committee
NYC Council

Jimmy Van Bramer
Chair, Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries & International Intergroup Relations
NYC Council