Q&A
Libraries serving as polling sites: Numbers and challenges
1:13:35
·
87 sec
Council Member Rivera inquires about the number of library branches serving as polling sites in the upcoming election and the potential logistical or financial strain this causes. Representatives from Brooklyn and Queens libraries respond, discussing the number of polling sites and the challenges faced.
- Brooklyn Public Library has 16 branches serving as polling sites
- Queens Public Library has 10 polling sites for the election and 2 early voting sites
- Library staff face hardships, including extended hours and impact on regular programming
Carlina Rivera
1:13:35
So you all do all of that, but you also serve as polling sites.
1:13:39
So how many of your branches I know in Queens?
1:13:41
For example, you mentioned you have 11 poll sites on election day and early voting, but how many of your branches are serving as polling sites?
1:13:49
In the upcoming election.
1:13:50
And does this produce any logistical or financial strain on these local branches?
Edwin Maxwell
1:13:59
Yeah.
1:14:00
As I testified to, we have 16 in Brooklyn.
1:14:04
Of course.
1:14:05
Just like I mentioned in the testimony, does it produce a hardship?
1:14:09
Yes.
1:14:10
But I think that, again, this is something that we're committed to as our obligation as a public library.
1:14:16
So the strain that it puts on it, get all of that falls on our staff members.
1:14:21
Like I said, we have to our typical hours as the branch staff would come in at 9:45, 10 o'clock.
1:14:29
People are volunteering to come in at 5 o'clock in the morning, right, to make sure that the library is open.
1:14:35
They may to make sure that the polls are set up for people to vote.
1:14:38
And then we stay towards the end.
1:14:41
Typically, that ends around 11, but we all know that back end work usually takes longer so people the staff that are volunteer and, again, volunteering to do this to come in because this is that important to them.
1:14:56
So it does create some hardship, but it's something that we're happy to do.
