QUESTION
Will the Queen's Public Library continue programs focusing on often-banned books?
0:54:18
·
3 min
Council Member Kamillah Hanks inquires if the Queen's Public Library intends to maintain and potentially expand programs that emphasize often banned books. Dennis Walcott, President of the Queen's Public Library, confirms the continuation and growth of such programs, emphasizing the importance of community feedback and the role of local branch managers. He mentions the challenge of budget cuts, highlighting the need for city funding to fully realize these programs. Anthony W. Marx, President of the New York Public Library, reinforces the commitment to diversity and inclusion, suggesting it is a core, long-standing principle of the public library system.
Kamillah Hanks
0:54:18
So I know you did your mail a book program, and you focused on the often banned books.
0:54:22
I know your black history month programming, you also sort of focused on this.
0:54:27
And so do you intend to continue those programs and focusing on books that are banned?
0:54:32
And this is specifically for the Queen's public library?
Dennis Walcott
0:54:36
We will continue with our programs and getting the feedback from the community on how we even improve on the program.
0:54:42
So, yes, we plan to continue the diverse programs that you're talking about and expand them.
0:54:47
And also, think with all of us give the power to our local branch managers to have the programs in their libraries that the community said is a high need as well and provide the support, but to tie it into the other part of the conversation, that may be more difficult without having full restoration of the budget.
0:55:07
Mean, there's only but so much we can do.
0:55:09
I mean, we're doing a lot.
0:55:11
We will continue to do a lot, and some have the ability to raise a ton of private money to do that, which is great.
0:55:18
But the reality is having the money from the city allows us to expand I mean, I Linda talked early about her rose colored glasses.
0:55:27
I continually wear a rose colored glasses thinking of what's possible.
0:55:31
And, unfortunately, what's not possible as a result of budget cuts.
0:55:35
I want us to do so many different things out there.
0:55:38
This is true.
0:55:39
The power of LIBOR is just so so important as far as the leveling of the playing field for individuals and having those services and programs available.
0:55:50
And I don't think people understand a direct impact that budget cuts have.
0:55:56
It's not, like I said earlier, about just complaining and all we don't have enough money and all that.
0:56:01
It's provide that opportunity.
0:56:03
So going to your question council member, our goal is to always increase and maintain the programs that we have.
0:56:10
And those programs that don't work, then move them out of the system.
0:56:13
But how do we improve and make sure they're more creative programs that Linda and Tony have talked about and we talked about is always our goal.
Anthony W. Marx
0:56:22
Council member, our commitment to diversity, to inclusion, to respect, to ensuring everyone has the chance to learn and to advance themselves and their communities is not a fad.
0:56:38
Of the day.
0:56:39
It's not something we we took up and will abandon.
0:56:43
It has been our bread and butter for over a century and we are here to ensure with your help, with the mayor's help that that will continue for decades and generations to come.
Dennis Walcott
0:56:55
One of the things counsel, ma'am, just well, quick point, I'm sorry, is that in April, we'll be having a number of our board of trustee members reading banned books.
0:57:04
And they'll be going to their local library.
0:57:07
And we invite you to join us because it just brings more attention and our trustees of signed up to be a part of this, and so we would love to have that connection as well.
Kamillah Hanks
0:57:18
Absolutely.