The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library announced on Thursday that they’ll be making service cuts and ending seven-day-service in all libraries as part of a slew of citywide budget cuts triggered by Mayor Adams’ latest spending plan update.
Every library will now shutter on Sundays except the Queens Public Library in Kew Gardens Hills, according to library officials.
The three library systems, in a joint statement released Thursday, also announced cuts to spending on library materials, programming and building maintenance.
“Without sufficient funding, we cannot sustain our current levels of service, and any further cuts to the Libraries’ budgets will, unfortunately, result in deeper service impacts,” the statement read.
The cuts come as part of Mayor Adams’ revised, now $110 billion municipal budget released Thursday as a belt-tightening measure to meet the city’s legal obligation to balance its budget.
The three public library systems operate over 200 libraries across the five boroughs. Libraries provide Wi-Fi and computer access, classes on everything from knitting to ESL and access to thousands of books and research materials.
The reduced Sunday service will start rolling out on Nov. 26. Brooklyn Public Library locations, including Central Library, the Brooklyn system’s flagship location, that currently remain open on Sunday will now shut down that day starting Dec. 17.
The fresh round of cuts come just months after the city’s sprawling public library system was largely spared from cuts when the budget took effect in July.
The lead-up to the budget’s release in June, the libraries started a campaign starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler and Chelsea Clinton to showcase their status as iconic New York City public institutions. Libraries also held two rallies at City Hall, plus a letter-sending initiative and social media blitz.
The initial 2024 budget, announced in June, included a full restoration of library funding at $36.2 million.
However, the budget modifications released Thursday come with a $23.6 million — or 5% — cut. The cuts take effect immediately.
While the library systems are bracing for further cuts in another budget update to be released in January, they will face another 5% cutback for Fiscal Year 2025.
