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QUESTION
What are the impacts of reduced library hours and program cuts?
1:31:53
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Council members and library leaders explain that reduced library hours and programs will significantly limit access and participation.
- Library doors may not be open for scheduled programs like ESL classes or story times
- People will be turned away when libraries are closed unexpectedly
- Over 2 million program visits across the library systems will likely be cut
- Private donors who partnered with the city to fund programs may pull back funding
- The libraries' reputations as reliable community institutions will be undermined
Shahana Hanif
1:31:53
And what's what like, how many people would that impact having half fewer sessions, are people being turned away?
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:32:03
Or
Linda Johnson
1:32:03
Well, they just you know, if the if the library hours aren't there and then classes aren't being offered, there's nowhere to go.
1:32:10
Right.
1:32:11
And if they come, you know, and we're not providing classes, there's still a place for them to come to read.
1:32:16
But and to, you know, to do all the wonderful things people do in libraries to sort of take advantage of that town square.
1:32:24
But, yes, the programs are everything these days, especially important as we become less and less about being a repository for material and more and more about literacy programming that allow people of all ages backgrounds to rub shoulders.
Tony Marx
1:32:44
I'll just reiterate, you've got some numbers and I mentioned them in my testimony.
1:32:48
If there are other numbers, we're happy to get those to you.
1:32:51
None of them are happy making numbers Let me just be clear.
1:32:55
The libraries in the times we have been working together have transformed themselves.
1:33:00
We are still the essential passive space, even just heating and and air conditioning or computer skills, Let alone our great collections are amazing lysarians.
1:33:12
That continues.
1:33:14
In neighborhoods, there's no place else to go.
Melody Capote
1:33:17
Right.
Tony Marx
1:33:18
But we have changed in this decade or more.
1:33:21
We've been doing this to now also proactive education centers.
1:33:27
We were we we'd gone from, like, a 100,000 visits to our education programs to nearly 2,000,000 visits.
1:33:35
And let me be clear.
1:33:37
That that was in part because in the case of New York Public Library, we've raised a 100 $1,000,000 of private money to partner with the city.
1:33:49
Those are should be city obligations.
1:33:52
But we've partnered.
1:33:53
We've stepped up.
1:33:55
Our donors, our trustees have stepped up.
1:33:59
Now we're facing unprecedented cuts.
1:34:04
Some significant portion of those 2 million visits probably 3 or 4000000 across the 3 systems will be reduced simply because we can't open our doors.
1:34:17
And the private dollars and donors that have looked to partner with the city, to provide the needs of New Yorkers because they are coming to us more than any place else.
1:34:30
All of that rolls back.
1:34:32
If the city doesn't meet its side of the bargain and do it with stability with confidence so that we can plan on that partnership and build it so that people can continue to come.
Dennis Walcott
1:34:49
If I can just take a quick second to try to answer it a little differently as well, and our reliability and credibility will start to go down because when it's time to have a ESL class, but the doors aren't open because we don't have the ability to open a door a particular day or a particular week whatever the case may be.
1:35:09
People saying, or that person is coming for toddler story time.
1:35:15
And the doors aren't open or the children librarians aren't hired because of the budget cuts.
1:35:20
People say, what's going on here?
1:35:23
It's Totally counter to who we are as far as that trusted institution, the reliable institution, and the high quality institution that our staff provide through the programs.
1:35:35
So in addition to the stats that Linda talked about and what Tony talked about, It's the unknowinglyness of the library door may not be open as a result of these budget cuts.
1:35:46
And then we won't have the ability to put on What?
Tony Marx
1:35:51
We love it.
Dennis Walcott
1:35:51
I know.
1:35:51
I know.
1:35:52
I know.
1:35:52
I'm so I mean, and and I mean, not to me for me.
1:35:55
Go ahead.
1:35:55
I mean, I I know Linda is just ready to junk on the mic.
1:35:59
But the reliability and the quality that we provide is totally undermined as a result of these cuts, and that's getting into the weeds.