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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dr. Abby Emerson, Member of NYC Plan (Public Library Action Network)
3:46:25
·
134 sec
Dr. Abby Emerson, representing NYC Plan (Public Library Action Network), advocates for increasing New York City's library budget to 0.5% of the overall city budget, which would amount to $575,300,000 for the coming year. She argues that the current 0.43% allocation is insufficient to address the libraries' needs.
- Emerson compares NYC's library budget percentage unfavorably to those of San Francisco and Chicago.
- She outlines three critical areas that increased funding would address: building upgrades, fair pay for library workers, and additional programming for diverse populations.
- Emerson emphasizes that libraries are essential public spaces and that funding them appropriately would be "punk rock."
Dr. Abby Emerson
3:46:25
Hello, good afternoon Chair Rivera and Chair Brannan.
3:46:28
Good to see you both.
3:46:29
My name is Doctor.
3:46:30
Abby Emerson.
3:46:31
I'm a New York City Educator and I'm here today as a member of NYC Plan, the Public Library Action Network.
3:46:37
Which is a group of patrons and library workers organizing together to amplify, strengthen and progress the futures of NYC's Three public library systems.
3:46:47
San Francisco's library budget is 1.36% of their overall city budget.
3:46:52
Chicago's library budget is approximately 0.7% of their overall city budget.
3:46:58
But if we take a look closer to home, at the moment our NYC library budget is just point 43% of the overall city budget and that is unacceptable.
3:47:08
What I would like to ask is that as a city we fund libraries at 0.5 and not just this year but every year.
3:47:14
At NYC Plan we feel this is a realistic number and would address the major strains the libraries are currently under.
3:47:21
From our research and conversations with library workers, patrons, union reps, we found some key areas of concern that a measly point 43% can't currently address.
3:47:31
We also just heard from them in the last panel.
3:47:35
So committing to 0.5% which for this coming year would translate to $575,300,000 would be used to address these three critical areas.
3:47:46
One, the very real building upgrades that are needed, HVAC, accessibility, restrooms, etcetera.
3:47:51
Two, back pay and fair pay for library workers.
3:47:54
The existence of out of date contracts and thousands of dollars workers is frankly quite embarrassing.
3:48:00
Three, additional programming for multiple populations that rely on the library to meet their very real needs.
3:48:06
Immigrants, youth, elders, unhoused folks, working adults, etcetera.
3:48:10
My own local branch is bustling and rowdy with youth after school such as these ones, which is great yet there's currently zero programming for them at this time.
3:48:20
Funding libraries at 0.5 is frankly a small ask.
3:48:24
New Yorkers want more from their libraries which are some of the only public shared completely free democratic spaces we have left in the city.
3:48:32
It would be very punk rock frankly to fund them appropriately.
3:48:37
Thank you for your time and consideration.