Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dr. Abby Emerson, Member of NYC Public Libraries Action Network
4:17:41
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Dr. Abby Emerson, a former DOE teacher and current educational researcher, testifies about the importance of public libraries in New York City. She emphasizes their role as community hubs, essential spaces for work and literacy development, and advocates for increased funding to sustain these vital institutions.
- Dr. Emerson highlights personal experiences of using libraries for work, nursing, and supporting her daughter's reading habits.
- She points out that the current proposed budget for libraries ($480 million) is only 0.42% of the overall city budget, which hasn't kept pace with inflation.
- NYC Plan is requesting that libraries receive 0.5% of the overall budget annually to ensure sustainable support for library workers and community services.
Dr. Abby Emerson
4:17:41
I'll go first.
4:17:45
Good afternoon, my name is Doctor.
4:17:47
Abby Emerson.
4:17:48
I'm a former DOE teacher and current educational researcher and education professor.
4:17:53
I'm also a parent to three children, one of which is Melody here.
4:17:57
I'm also a member of NYC Plan, the public libraries Action Network.
4:18:02
Part of my job takes me around the city to different public schools where I supervise and support teachers in training.
4:18:08
When I'm bouncing between schools, libraries have proven to be the one place I can go that does not ask me to pay money for something.
4:18:16
Library spaces are crucial to the way I work in the city and I'm especially grateful for them during the cold winter months when I have off hours between observations.
4:18:26
In my neighborhood, the library is an essential place of community.
4:18:29
I know that when I visit I will see babies, children, elders and everyone in between coming together to deepen their lives in different ways.
4:18:38
There are folks like me just looking for a place to do some work, to apply for jobs, print some papers.
4:18:44
There are children building foundational literacy skills and there are those who simply need a welcoming space for a few hours.
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When I was nursing, it was one of the few spaces in the city I was able to get support and privacy to pump milk for my kids.
4:18:58
My daughter is a strong reader.
4:18:59
That is in large part due to her amazing teachers over the last few years but an absolutely massive part of that is our library use.
4:19:06
Literally any book she desires is at our fingertips through our local branch or the incredible hold system.
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She has the privilege to be incredibly discerning about what she reads, graphic novels robust at the moment, and yet still have limitless options because of our library system.
4:19:23
Last year when our branch closed for three weeks for HVAC repairs she cried.
4:19:28
With the rise of the science of reading which emphasizes phonics, access to quality literature is essential for young people in our city.
4:19:37
Right now the preliminary budget proposes $480,000,000 which is only 0.42% of the overall budget.
4:19:45
Almost done.
4:19:46
While the overall city budget has increased nearly 25% in the last five years, the library budget has not increased at the same rate.
4:19:53
In fact it has not even kept up with inflation.
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Given how important libraries are to New York City communities, NYC plan is asking that libraries receive 0.5% of the overall budget, not just this year but every year.
4:20:06
Establishing this baseline of support would ensure that library workers are able to sustain these important community hubs.
4:20:13
Thank you for your time and consideration.