The Battle Is Over, But The War Is Not
The big picture for public library service in NYC is better than many had anticipated. Through all of your hard work and tireless advocacy, five-day library service has been upheld, with more than 3/4 of the proposed cuts restored. That’s amazing, and there is no way it would have happened without everyone who wrote a postcard, attended rallies and the 24-Hour Read-In, called 311, and signed petitions. You guys are awesome, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
But we are still losing colleagues. There will be five layoffs at NYPL, and at Queens Library, 46 staff members will be laid off on September 3rd. Our sympathy and solidarity goes out to everyone impacted by the layoffs at New York City public libraries, and we assure you that we are not done fighting. We will keep pushing for a full restoration of library funding, and a corresponding return to full staffing levels.
The next battles in the budget war are coming up quickly: mid-year budget modifications begin in November, and the budget forecast for fiscal year 2012 doesn’t look so good right now. The position of Save NYC Libraries is 6 Day Service, period. We still have a lot of fighting to do, so put on your advocacy hats and let’s go!
Coverage of Library Cuts
Recent coverage of the effects of cuts in library funding.
You can add any more articles you find out there, in the comments.
NYC Library Budget Restorations
The budget restorations for Fiscal Year 2011 are as follows:
Brooklyn Public Library received $17,243,500 in restorations.
Queens Library received $17,631,500 in restorations.
NYPL Research received $4,030,000 in restorations
NYPL Branches received $22,863,000 in restorations
Overall the restorations equal $61,768,000 of the proposed $77 Million in cuts.
http://council.nyc.gov/html/budget/PDFs/fy11_sched_a.pdf
This amount of funding should maintain an average of 5 day library service throughout NYC.
We would like to thank everyone who helped us get back as much funding as we did, including Council members Jimmy Van Bramer, Vincent Gentile and Speaker Quinn.
At this time, we do not know the effect that the new budget numbers have on library service hours or staffing levels. QL and BPL staff members are still operating under active layoff notices. Please keep checking this page – we will update you as we receive new information.
No Heroes Here
Urban Librarians Unite
Many thanks to Sara Varon, creator of Robot Dreams and Chicken & Cat, for the great save the libraries cartoon. We all appreciate your support.The We Will Not Be Shushed Rally Challenge
We are now in the home stretch! We know that you are tired. You have been out every day getting postcards signed, wearing your pink slip pins, talking to the media, staying out all hours of the night reading into the open air, calling 311, and more. We know that you have been sweating it, and so do others. People are starting to notice, so let’s keep the pressure on and push through to the end! The effort is justified – our livelihoods are at stake.
Our newest plan of attack? The Rally Challenge! We challenge everyone everywhere to empower themselves and hold their own library rally. We have posted a Rally Kit below with tools and checklists that will give you guidance and suggestions. Don’t feel intimidated! It doesn’t have to be huge. If one person stops and asks what’s going on, that is a success! If ten people stop, then you have scored a victory and made an impact in the community that you serve.
We’ve only got 10 days left, let’s do it up!
Here’s your own personal “Rally in a Box”
To make it super easy for you, we even made a flyer, just add your rally info where it says “rally info here”
Don’t forget to add your rally to the Save NYC Libraries Google Calendar so we can all come out!
Postcard and Petition Handover at City Hall
Presenting all of your postcards to the city council, you sent in 4000 postcards.
Thank you.
Call in Action Day
Do you have 5 minutes for libraries?
Why not spend them calling 311?
Thursday June 17th is Call In Action Day
Call 311, get everyone you know to call 311!
If we all got just 10 people to call that would be thousands of calls!
Mayor Bloomberg has a “big board” in the bullpen, and the issue that is getting the most 311 calls zooms straight up to the top. Let’s make that issue library funding.
RSVP @ the Facebook event page
Sample Script
“My name is *****, I believe closing any libraries in NYC is unacceptable and I’m calling to request the complete restoration of library funding”
Calling 311
In any borough of New York City, call 311.
Outside New York City, call (212) NEW-YORK / (212) 639-9675.
The TTY Number is (212) 504-4115.
Also our buddies @ BPL are calling 311 everyday at 3:11pm, let’s do that too. We got great press coverage from the Read-In, but in a week or so that will fade away. We need to make sure city officials remember us in their negotiations.
No Cuts, No Closures, No Layoffs!
The Urban Librarians Unite Team
www.savenyclibraries.org
Thank You
We would like to thank everyone who came out to the 24 Hour Read-In this weekend. You are all so amazing. We had about 1200 people come through to listen and participate, and we collected 1039 postcards. An event this huge couldn’t have happened with out all of you.
We’d also like to thank Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, and New York Public Library for their support in making this event happen.
Councilmember and Read-In supporter Jimmy Van Bramer has recorded a short reading in support of our efforts.
I think we all made our point this weekend. Library services are essential to the social, cultural and educational fabric on New York City. Closing libraries will do irreversible long term harm to our communities.
We’re not done yet, This Thursday we want you ALL to call 311 and tell them you support fully funding libraries in New York City. This one day call in gives us one more chance to let our elected officials know how much New Yorkers care about their libraries. Pass it on, tell your friends. It only takes 2 minutes to call and could make all the difference in the world.
Thanks again, none of this would have happened without all of your support! And don’t forget, keep sending in those postcards!
No Cuts, No Closures, No Layoffs!
Lauren Comito
Aliqae Geraci
Christian Zabriskie
Urban Librarians Unite
Good Morning!!!
Good morning! Did you sleep last night in your comfy bed? Not us. We were up all night reading, and we’re still at it.
That’s ok, we forgive you. Come out and see us now, storytime starts at 9am.
We’ve posted photos here and here.
There’s 11 hours and 45 minutes left, still plenty of time to come out and help us save NYC libraries!
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