TESTIMONY
Matthew Zadrozny, President of SaveNYPL.org on Restoring Extensive New York City Public Library Service Hours, Including Sundays
4:20:10
·
3 min
Zadrozny criticizes the reduction in New York City public library service hours, with libraries now closed on Sundays, depriving millions of access to safe study spaces and resources.
- He condemns the decision as political theater amid the New York Public Library's substantial endowment and trustee wealth
- He contrasts NYC's reduced hours to libraries in other major cities that maintain extensive 60-80 hour weekly schedules, including Sundays
- He cites the NYPL's prior contractual obligation to keep the 42nd Street library open 80 hours per week, including Sundays
- He urges restoring full 7-day library access, especially at the 42nd Street flagship, to uphold NYC as a state of opportunity
Matthew Zadrozny
4:20:10
Chevy Rivera, counsel member Brown, and counsel member Brewer, fellow New Yorkers.
4:20:15
Good afternoon.
4:20:16
My name is Matthew Zadrosney.
4:20:17
I am president of Savvynypl.org, an all volunteer watchdog group.
4:20:23
In 2014, we saved the great 42nd Street library in the Mid Manhattan library on 40th and 5th.
4:20:30
Since November, New York City libraries have been closed on Sunday, depriving 1,000,000 school kids of a safe space to study in Hang and kneecapping millions of ambitious adults.
4:20:41
An incalculable social costs and economic loss.
4:20:46
The decision to keep all libraries closed on Sundays is political theater and a gandal, especially at the NYPD, which recently spent hundreds of millions on a new patio and catering elevator.
4:20:59
When the city built the 42nd Street library, its contract with the NYPD stipulated that, quote, 1 or more reading rooms be open on weekdays, holidays included from 9 AM to 9 PM, and on Sundays from 1 to 9 PM.
4:21:15
When NYPD President Tony Marks And Former Chair, Evan Chesler, were growing up in Inwood And Allerton, the 42nd Street library was open more than 80 hours per week.
4:21:29
And yet today, a service at 40 Second Street as it dwindled to just 52 hours per week.
4:21:35
NYPD's finances have seldom looked better.
4:21:39
The NYPD endowment is $1,500,000,000, a record.
4:21:46
The NYPD board has a combined net worth in excess of $90,000,000,000.
4:21:53
This means that NYPD Trustees alone could fund the entire NYPD system for 240 years.
4:22:00
To, quote, Tony Marks were not in the 19 seventies here.
4:22:05
In LA, where NYPD, trustee, and Hawke works THE CENTRAL LIBERIES OPEN 60 HOURS A WEEK AND ON SUNDAYS.
4:22:12
IN BOSTON, BACKYARD OF TRUSTY'S HENRY LOSE GATES AND ROBERT DARDEN AND THE CENTRAL LIBERIES OPEN 60 hours per week and on Sundays.
4:22:19
In Paris, libraries are open every day and on Sundays.
4:22:22
In Seoul, home of trustee, Michael Kim, the central library is open 78 hours per week.
4:22:27
AND ON SUNDAYS.
4:22:29
IN WASHINGTON WHERE SENATOR SHOOMER WORKS, THE MLK LIBERIES OPEN 66 HOURS A WEEK AND ON SUNDAYS.
4:22:35
And yet in our own city home to more than 100,000,000,000aires.
4:22:39
The most of any city on Earth, libraries are closed on Sundays.
4:22:43
Sorry about tomorrow's test kid.
4:22:45
Have you tried Yonkers, Nassau, or Hoboken?
4:22:48
Their libraries are open.
4:22:50
So what's it going to be in New York?
4:22:52
Are we still in fact the state of opportunity, or are we a second rate city in a second rate state with a 2nd rate library high on our own supply.
4:23:02
It's up to you, New York.
4:23:04
Today, the library chiefs came before you once more with pockets out turned.
4:23:09
Give them the money they ask, but hire them to keep some libraries open every day and every night of the week.
4:23:18
Require NYPD leadership to keep the 42nd Street library, the largest, most central, most accessible, and most wellened out of all New York City libraries open 80 hours per week, including on Sundays has stipulated in NYPD's contract with the city.
4:23:33
80 hours a week at 42nd Street, 80 hours a week at 42nd Street, 80 hours week at 42nd Street.
4:23:40
And on 7th day, there was service.
4:23:43
Thank you.
