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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Juanita James, Branch Manager at Brooklyn Public Library
4:05:23
·
133 sec
Juanita James, a Branch Manager at Brooklyn Public Library, testifies about the challenges faced by library staff due to understaffing and budget constraints. She urges the council to restore $44.8 million in unmet needs to maintain adequate staffing levels and continue providing high-quality services to the community.
- James highlights her 25 years of service and current role as branch manager at Washington Irving
- She describes having to work extra shifts and scramble to keep doors open due to staff shortages
- The testimony emphasizes the stress and unsustainability of current staffing levels, impacting programming, safety, and atmosphere in library spaces
Juanita James
4:05:23
Good afternoon chairs and council.
4:05:26
Thank you for this opportunity to speak today.
4:05:29
My name is Bonita James and I've privately served the Brooklyn Public Library for the past twenty five years.
4:05:35
Currently, I'm a branch manager at Washington Irving, and I I speak on behalf of not my branch, but also dedicated staff, families, students, and seniors who who rely on our services every day no matter what.
4:05:51
As a branch manager, I often step in multiple shifts, sometimes closing and opening branches with staff for days at a time.
4:06:01
When staff take their well earned vacations or call out sick, I scramble to keep our doors open.
4:06:09
In some cases, sometimes I have to, on my own time, do I'm sorry.
4:06:18
I'm sorry.
4:06:20
I return right after my own time off to ensure weekend coverage.
4:06:25
This is not sustainable.
4:06:27
It's frustrating.
4:06:28
It's stressful.
4:06:29
And quite frankly, it's unfair to our staff and the public who expect and deserve consistent high quality services.
4:06:38
Stretching our workforce to the brink impacts everything from programming to safety and atmosphere in our spaces.
4:06:47
That's why I'm urging you today to restore Brooklyn Public Library's budget 44,800,000.0 in the unmet needs so we can continue our services to the public at the standard that they deserve.
4:07:01
With restoring this funding, we can maintain adequate staffing levels, reduce burnout, and ensure that every branch is able to open and close safely and reliably.
4:07:14
I will also like to allow will also allow us to keep us keep keep offering educational and cultural programs that so many Brooklyn Nights depend on.
4:07:25
Thank you for your time and attention and commitment to the public library and with your support I know that we can continue with our communities that need it the most and do it with excellence.
4:07:36
Thank you.