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TESTIMONY

Deborah D. Allman, President of the New York Public Library Guild Local 1930, on the Impact of Budget Cuts on Library Services and Staffing

3:47:28

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Deborah D. Allman testified about the significant negative impact of budget cuts on New York Public Library services and staffing levels.

The New York Public Library Guild Local 1930 membership has declined from 2,208 in September 2023 to 1,177 due to budget cuts
Budget cuts have forced libraries to operate with inadequate staffing, leading to reduced or canceled programs like children's story time and tutoring
Library staff provided testimonies detailing daily struggles with understaffing and inability to provide sufficient services
Allman urged the mayor to fully restore the library's budget as a baseline in the city's budget to maintain services and locations

Deborah D. Allman

3:47:28

Thank you.

3:47:30

We at the New York Public Library Guild local 1930 are extremely annoyed with the mayor's budget cuts, which are forcing the library to operate and provide library service with all adequate staffing levels.

3:47:47

The Rose library plays within the city, echosystem should spare its officials from making its budgetary case every year.

3:47:58

Then in staff increasingly means that programming, including children's story time, tutoring, and class visits.

3:48:09

Is either a cutback or when even a single librarian is absent, even canceled.

3:48:18

These are educational programs that we're cutting.

3:48:22

Local 1930 members was 2208 as of September 2023.

3:48:31

We were already down by 100 members as of February 2020.

3:48:38

As of today, our membership numbers are only 1100 and 77.

3:48:46

The following are testimony from library staff on the everyday issue confronting them as their and their colleagues.

3:49:01

Our sole children's librarian single handedly provides 7 programs every week.

3:49:07

Our biweekly story time generate 70 to 80 participants every session.

3:49:16

When the children librarian is absent, We have to cancel all the programs.

3:49:22

The community is saddened that we only rely on 1 children specialists.

3:49:28

We also cannot go for any outreach since our children's life

David S. Pecoraro

3:49:32

Your time has expired.

Justin Brannan

3:49:33

Thank you.

Deborah D. Allman

3:49:34

In the branches.

3:49:35

And doesn't even have time left for a much needed outreach.

3:49:41

The mayor needs to fully are the library's budget.

3:49:45

We cannot keep funding libraries and closing location.

3:49:50

You can up you cannot operate on fume on fumes.

3:49:54

Something has to give.

3:49:56

The library budget should be baseline in the city's budget.

3:50:00

Respectfully submitted by Deborah De Almond, President of New York Public Library Guild of 1930.

3:50:07

Thank you all.

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Leonard Paul, President of Local 374, on the Devastating Impact of Budget Cuts on New York City's Public Library Systems and Workers

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George Olken, President of Local 1482 Brooklyn Library Guild, on the Impacts of Budget Cuts on Brooklyn Public Library Workers and Operations