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.” 

About the Campaign

The #InvestInLibraries campaign is a partnership between the city’s three public library systems—Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library—and other library supporters across the city.  Since the campaign launched in 2015, the City has allocated additional funding for programming as well as critical capital dollars to help address the over $1 billion in need facing the city’s aging library infrastructure. Despite this important support, libraries confront rising costs and increased demand for more services and programs (from New Yorkers and the City). The campaign urges the City to restore and increase funding to meet rising needs, demands, and costs