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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dylan Flesch, Member of Public Library Action Network
5:20:30
ยท
133 sec
Dylan Flesch, a member of the Public Library Action Network, testifies about the importance of increasing funding for public libraries in New York City. He shares personal experiences as a library patron and new parent, emphasizing the need for more resources to support library staff and services.
- Calls for increasing library funding to at least 0.5% of the total city budget, which would be $92 million more than the current preliminary expense budget
- Advocates for hiring more library workers and raising their pay to expand services
- Proposes making the 0.5% commitment a minimum benchmark for future library expense funding discussions
Dylan Flesch
5:20:30
Thank you Chairperson Rivera and this committee for the opportunity to testify.
5:20:36
My name is Dylan Flesh and I'm a patron of the Brooklyn Public Library as well as a member of NYC Plan, the Public Library Action Network.
5:20:45
I live in Sunset Park and my wife Ellie and I became parents one year and two days ago after a four day labor.
5:20:53
The night before my son Griffin was born, on our third night in the hospital, I submitted written testimony for last year's edition of this hearing.
5:21:02
I say this not to illustrate that I love libraries, although I do, but I've loved them long enough to know that love doesn't pay their bills.
5:21:10
I say this to point to the predictable and tired nature of this funding fight.
5:21:17
Griffin got his library card when he was two months old we've been able to access hundreds of books that we wouldn't have been able to otherwise.
5:21:25
We visit the Sunset Park branch of BPL frequently.
5:21:29
Roxanna, the wonderful branch manager greets Griffin and other little ones by name and provides amazing programming with the resources they have.
5:21:38
But they, like most branches across all three systems, are short staffed and spread thin.
5:21:45
We desperately need to hire more library workers and raise library worker pay.
5:21:50
It's the first thing that needs to happen in order to safely expand service hours and everything we love about the library is brought to us directly by library workers.
5:22:01
I'm calling on you to seize this rare opening, a year without a cut on the table and join NYC plan in fighting for library funding to be increased to at least half of 1% of the total city budget.
5:22:15
This would equal $92,000,000 more for libraries than what is currently included in the preliminary expense budget.
5:22:23
Yes, this is double what the library leaders are asking for.
5:22:27
This half percent commitment should additionally become the minimum benchmark for all future library expense funding discussions.
5:22:36
Join me and NYC plan in fighting for at least half of 1%, point 5% for public libraries.