photo of empty library shelves with a transparent burgundy overlay
Yeah, we were surprised too
Wait, What's Happening?!
Mayor Adam's preliminary budget proposes a cut of $20.5 Million to the libraries’ baseline funding. If the libraries also lose the $15.7M allocated by the City Council in FY23, the libraries will be facing a potential loss of $36.2 Million.
All this at a time when libraries are helping our communities recover from the pandemic and the social isolation that was exacerbated by Covid. Libraries are too important to our communities to defund.
Help us Save NYC Libraries today.
NYC Libraries Create Community
WHY LIBRARIES?
Libraries are the duct tape that holds our neighborhoods together. In good times, libraries provide a space for gathering and building our knowledge and relationships. When things are stressful libraries leverage their relationships to become a lifeline for their neighbors, helping with access to the information that they need to make their lives better.
Funding Libraries = Funding our Communities
What Libraries Do
Libraries and Library staff connect our communities to information and society. Library staff connect our neighbors both in and out of our buildings. In uncertain times we provide a social linking place in our communities. We work to fuel the soul of NYC, and will continue to do so.
What Libraries Are
Libraries are the staff that makes them tick, and that staff is made up of caring professionals committed to access, equity, literacy and privacy. Library staff who believe that everyone deserves access to information and learning free from bias are working every day to try to make sure that our neighbors have that access.
Don't despair, there are real actions you can take to help libraries
Send a letter
Strong public libraries are key to a strong recovery. Libraries are starting to expand services but we can only do this with real funding! Urge the City Council to fund libraries today.
Upcoming Events
May 18, 2023
Pre Library Committee Meeting action
- Street theatre protest action ahead of the exec budget hearing with the library committee
- Register @ tinyurl.com/ulubudget23
- Once registered you will receive instructions (heehee)
9:00am - 11:00am
May 24, 2023
10:30am - ?
Finance Committee Meeting - Public Comment
- This is the only opportunity for public comment on the budget
- Register to speak @ council.nyc.gov/testify/
- Speakers will be limited to two minutes to keep the meeting moving.
- This thing goes laaaaate, bring coffee and a friend
May 24, 2023
5:00 pm
March for Care, Not Criminalization & #CareNotCuts
- At City Hall
- Partner organization march coinciding with the Finance Committee Hearing
- Bring a sign!
- register @ tinyurl.com/ulupplsplan
More Things You Can Do
Volunteer with us!
Ready to join the fight for NYC libraries? We can only do it with dedicated volunteers like you!
Call your City Council Member
That's right, use the phone! Call your council member's office, and let them know you are upset about these cuts. Don't know who your council member is? Find them by entering your address at the link below.
This Budget Hurts More Than Libraries
The impacts of Mayor Adam's careless budget cuts will be felt across all of our communities, and cuts to vital social services will also impact library workers and patrons.
As a coalition partner in the People's Budget Campaign, ULU urges you to also advocate for a People's Budget, one that works to care for all of our neighbors with the resources and services that really create a safer and more vibrant city.
These budget cuts are ridiculous and unnecessary, make your voice heard today.
Save NYC Libraries is a campaign of Urban Librarians Unite, a passionate group of urban library professionals and advocates working to support libraries and library workers in urban environments.