NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Public libraries across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens are ending Sunday service amid the “painful” mid-year budget cuts Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday.
The budget, which the mayor’s office said experienced unprecedented gaps for this stage in the fiscal cycle, is being cut by 5% and will impact every New York City agency.
“Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, and The New York Public Library regret to announce that as a result of mid-year budget cuts, we must eliminate seven-day service across the city, including ending Sunday service at the vast majority of branches that currently offer it,” NYC Libraries said in a statement Thursday.
In addition to suspended service, NYC Libraries said that budget cuts will cause reduced spending on materials, programming and building maintenance and repairs.
Libraries were able to avoid hits to their system earlier this year after $36.2 million in budget cuts were proposed for the city’s fiscal year 2024 budget. At the time, NYC Libraries thanked Adams, Speaker Adrienne Adams, other city officials and New Yorkers who rallied to preserve library funding.
In handling library service impacts prompted by the budget cuts, library leaders’ dedication to serving New Yorkers remains the same.
“We know how much New Yorkers rely on the vital resources we provide, and we remain committed to meeting their needs as best as we can,” NYC Libraries said.
Sunday service is eliminated at all branches of The New York Public Library that currently offer it after Nov. 26.
Sunday service is eliminated at two branches of the Queens Public Library, Central Library (Jamaica) and Flushing Library, after Nov. 26.
Sunday service is eliminated at all branches of the Brooklyn Public Library that currently offer it after Dec. 17.