NYC Public Libraries Will Be Forced To Shutdown On The Weekends Under Mayor Eric Adams $58M Proposed Budget Cut Plan!

( 📸: Bloomberg )

Cousins! New York City public libraries being opened on the weekends may be thing of the past soon following a budget cut proposal by Mayor Eric Adams!

According to the New York Post, majority of the cities beloved libraries will undergo a five day weekly verses it’s usual six to seven day schedule, if Mayor Adams $58.3M budget cut plan is approved.

Reports read that a total of 200 library branches have already began shutting down access to the public on Sunday’s since late November of 2023 due to uprising costs regarding the migrant crisis.

The presidents of the New York, Brooklyn and Queens Public Library joined together Tuesday at a City Council hearing as they shared their worries regarding a reduction in services and protesting against the pending budget plan.

“Right now, we are witnessing, before our eyes, what happens when the library funding is cut,” said Dennis Walcott of Queens library system, to members of congress.

“Not a single library — not a single library in the City of New York, the greatest city in the world — is open seven days a week,” he continued. “This is New York City. That’s unacceptable.”

It has been indicated that under Mayor Adams’ proposal various library branches that are currently under renovation will either have their reopening further pushed back or not open at all.

Sources state that more than 50% of the NYPL system will be forced to undergo a five day service schedule.

“The numbers are mind-boggling,” stated chief of the Brooklyn Public Library, Linda Johnson. She detailed that her system is currently facing a $16.2 million operating cut.

Reports read that in addition to the $22.1 million approved cut to the libraries’ budget last year, Mayor Adams’ $109 billion city budget plan for 2025 will include another cut to NYPL of $36.2 million: $20.5 million in mayoral funding and $15.7 million in City Council funding.

“Our buildings are aging, they need help just to stay open — let alone to be the inspiring and respectful spaces that we should be offering in neighborhoods where our citizens have much too little,” said Anthony Marx.

“The cost of delivering for New Yorkers are going up, and we’re seeing our budget decrease,” he added. “We have to resist this, we have to get past this game that we’re in.”