TESTIMONY
Dennis Walcott, President and CEO of the Queens Public Library, on the Essential Role of Public Libraries and Urgent Need for Restoring Funding
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8 min
Dennis Walcott testifies on the devastating impacts of budget cuts on the Queens Public Library's ability to serve communities.
- Budget cuts have forced the end of Sunday service, resulting in over 120,000 lost visits from November to June.
- Libraries had to slash budgets for books, programs, building repairs and maintenance.
- Cuts will further delay long-awaited branch openings and force Saturday closures at most locations.
- This would eliminate vital community programs like food pantries, prom attire giveaways, ESL classes and job trainings.
- Lack of funding prevents proper staffing levels and upkeep of aging library infrastructure.
- Walcott cites the library as an "oasis" for New Yorkers facing life's challenges and urges restoring funds.
Dennis Walcott
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Good morning.
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I'm Dennis Walcott, the President and CEO of the Queen's Public Library.
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Cheers Brandon and Rivera, and the members of the committee I wanna say a big thank you for the opportunity to be here today.
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Before I begin, also I wanna say a special thanks to speaker Adams.
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For her leadership as well.
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She has been truly fantastic, and we appreciate all the support and the members of the city council for being the greatest advocates.
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For our public libraries.
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You understand the promise of our trusted spaces and the life changing impact we have on New Yorkers of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances.
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You know, I wanna deviate for one quick second, just pick up on something that Chair Rivera said.
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We're such an inclusive place.
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I mean, that's who we are as libraries.
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We're just about inclusiveness and who we have come through our doors for free represent all of New York City.
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Throughout this process, you have been at the forefront supporting us, and we are deeply appreciative.
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You have our written testimony, so I will forego reading it and just highlight a few points and also being very sympathetic that this is your limit.
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Hearing as well.
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Public libraries are a safe haven for anyone who needs it, but unfortunately, most New Yorkers no longer have access to libraries on Sunday.
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It is a travesty that New York City, the greatest city.
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And I say it over and over again because I truly believe it.
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In the world has no library that is open 7 days a week.
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We estimate that from when we ended Sunday service in Queens.
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And from November through June, we will have lost more than a 120,000 visits.
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To QPL just on Sundays alone.
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And that's not all.
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The 3 systems also had to slash budgets for books, programs, building repairs and maintenance.
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At QPL, the November PEG reduced our collections by a approximately 25,000 print books and 5000 ebooks system line.
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Weight times, as indicated by both Linda and Tony, The library materials have escalated with an average ebook weight now 63 days when it used to be 30 days.
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Over the past 6 months, we have been forced to close our doors or delay our openings on 27 occasions due to staff shortages and building infrastructure failures.
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And unfortunately and sadly, this is only the beginning.
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The executive budget still include, as you know, $58,300,000 and the cut to QPL, BPL and NYPL.
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The 3 of us are facing these losses while also confronting uncovered increased course, stemming from minimum wage and contractual increases, rising health insurance costs, and more.
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QPL alone is facing $5,000,000 in uncovered costs alone.
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And if the executive budget is adopted, it will force QPL to delay long awaited branch openings at Abe Terrace Broadway And Hillcrest libraries.
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And as I indicated earlier, yesterday, I actually went to Bay Terrace and Broadway just to see the latest.
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And they are gorgeous and it saddens me to say that the communities will not be able to participate if these budget cuts go into effect.
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People are clamoring to get back into these libraries.
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We will also need to close on Saturdays if these cuts go through.
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At every location in the barrel except central and flushing.
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2 Saturdays ago, we had a mobile food pantry outside our Peninsula library.
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Where more than 400 individuals benefited from the distribution.
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On that same day at our Canberra Heights team center, we hosted a prom x QPL prom attire giveaway, which offered teams, their friends, and family members the opportunity to choose a memorable outfit from more than 1000 new and gently used dresses, suits, shoes, handbags, and jewelry.
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Generously donated by the community.
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That would not be happening if we have to close on Saturdays.
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Closing on Saturdays means we will be unable to offer these events and many other indispensable programs on Saturdays like ESL classes.
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So story times, job skill trainings, and other crucial resources.
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Our fantastic amazing staff are devoted to the communities they serve.
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I am astounded by their commitment to meeting the ever growing needs of every individual who seeks our help.
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But our staff are strained.
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We are unable to hire the proper number of staff due to the mid year and upcoming cuts.
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This is no way to run a library system, especially in New York City.
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We are keeping libraries open by regularly shifting staff from different locations to fill gaps.
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This is unsustainable.
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We also cannot forget the impact on the budget as Linda and Tony have indicated on our capital budget.
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As my colleagues explain, all three systems to stained a combined $125,000,000 capital program to eliminate the gap a peg.
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This substantial cut put our entire portfolio at risk with projects susceptible to being paused or delayed if shortfall appears.
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And we've all faced it.
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Boiler's breakdown.
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Air conditioning systems are not working, and that's no way to run our library.
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There's no way to serve the public of New York City.
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Our buildings are an average of fifty years old.
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They need renovations.
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Critical infrastructure replacement, resiliency projects, and more.
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We have a duty to keep our buildings safe and modern both for our communities and our staff, but we cannot do that without the restoration of the capital funds.
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When people are in need, when the city is in need, who they they turn to, are libraries.
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Plain and simple.
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Like Deborah, one of our customers at our Buxton library.
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She found herself unexpectedly living in a shelter and without a job.
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With the trusted guidance from library staff, Deborah was able to get 2 job offers from the US Postal Service.
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She credits the library for lifting her up in her time of need.
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This is just one of the many many many examples of the Rolls library plays in the lives of New Yorkers.
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Libraries are vital to the quality of life in every neighborhood throughout the city.
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One other quick side story, Before the pandemic, there was a customer that would come into the library at Central.
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And I would see him every day, and he would get there as soon as we opened.
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And we you would leave at 2:30.
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He wouldn't read a book.
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He just sat at a table and he sat there and sat there.
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So one day I approached him, I said, you know, if you don't mind me asking you, so, you know, you come in our doors first thing in the morning, you leave at 2:30, I never see you read.
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I don't see you even go into the bathroom.
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And like, what's up?
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And he said, you know what?
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This library is my oasis from the craziness of life.
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Plain and simple.
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A true story.
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That's what we represent to the people of New York City.
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Plain and simple.
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We cannot afford to deprive New York City residents of a robust elections, wide ranging, and diverse programs, access to resources, weekend service, reliable buildings that are equipped to withstand whatever the future holds.
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We cannot deny our customers for being that oasis from the craziness of life.
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Public libraries are the last
Justin Brannan
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truly
Dennis Walcott
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democratic institution.
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They have the power to change lives.
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With your steadfast and continued advocacy, we are hopeful that the city will fully restore baseline and provide meaningful investment to all 3 public library systems in the city's fiscal year 25.
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2025 adopted budget.
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Thank you for your leadership chairs and members of the council and those who are not here.
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We always appreciate it.
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And thank you for the opportunity to talk to you this morning.
