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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Carol Benovic-Bradley, Vice President of Friends of Ridgewood Library
4:12:04
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167 sec
Carol Benovic-Bradley, Vice President of Friends of Ridgewood Library, testified about the importance of libraries in her life and community, emphasizing the need for increased funding to support library services and programs. She shared personal experiences and highlighted the role of libraries as community spaces.
- Described how libraries shaped her love for reading and sense of community from childhood to adulthood
- Highlighted community events and programs at Ridgewood branch, including a holiday friendsgiving dinner and book giveaways
- Advocated for increased funding to support extended hours, staff, collections, and modern amenities across all library branches
Carol Benovic-Bradley
4:12:04
Good afternoon chairs Brandon and Rivera, and esteemed council members.
4:12:09
My name is Carol Benavic Bradley, and I've been visiting libraries in New York City since I was a child.
4:12:14
Today I live in Ridgewood, Queens where I frequent the Ridgewood branch of Queens Public Library.
4:12:20
I also serve as vice president of the Friends of Ridgewood Library.
4:12:24
Libraries played a foundational role in shaping my love of reading, my sense of community, and my deep appreciation for our amazing city.
4:12:32
As a child, it began with books.
4:12:34
I was the kind of kid who could finish a book in an afternoon, so libraries really helped keep our book spending in check.
4:12:42
And riding the bus to Brooklyn Central Branch with my older sister always felt like an adventure, a journey across the borough to a magical world filled with books and calm.
4:12:51
As an adult libraries have come to mean even more.
4:12:54
I love the periodical and newspaper collection using the Libby app and I make frequent use of the printing services.
4:13:01
And yes the library still kind of helps me keep my books spending in check.
4:13:06
But what I've grown to appreciate most is the library as a community space.
4:13:10
It's a place to learn about local writers, to enjoy live music and the arts, and to connect with my neighbors.
4:13:16
At the Ridgewood branch last November, we hosted a holiday friendsgiving dinner, sharing a hot meal and conversation with over 40 neighbors attending.
4:13:25
We've given away hundreds of books, supporting literacy across all ages with comics, popular novels, or titles that have been challenged or banned.
4:13:35
As a friend of Ridgewood Library, I've made real friendships.
4:13:38
I've helped care for our library's garden, creating a peaceful oasis for visitors.
4:13:43
I've played bingo, done crafts, attended events hosted by other local groups, all right at my branch.
4:13:49
I was able to attend the opening of the new Far Rockaway branch and celebrate the resources, events, and sense of community it offers.
4:13:56
I have a network of neighbors who I can read with, trade books with, and who I call friends.
4:14:01
I'm endlessly grateful for these experiences and relationships and for everything that libraries offer.
4:14:07
It's my greatest wish that all New Yorkers and visitors to our city get to experience all that libraries have to offer.
4:14:13
This is exactly why our libraries need more funding.
4:14:16
It is my dream to see all branches open seven days a week, where extended hours are considered standard, where our libraries can plan for the future with confidence and invest in staff and collections.
4:14:27
Where facilities don't just keep up, but thrive, offering modern amenities that reflect the needs of the communities they serve.
4:14:35
Investing in our libraries is investing in people, in our collective future, and in the strength of our communities.
4:14:41
Please support QPL, BPL, and New York Public Library with increased funding so they can continue their efforts to promote not just reading, but learning, service, community.
4:14:51
Thank you.