Brooklyn Public Library--the branches and the central library--could get its budget slashed by $27 million in the city's next budget, which goes into effect on July 1st. That's a cut of almost one-third of BPL's current budget.
Some possible effects of the budget cut:
- decrease in library service hours by 50%, cutting hours from an average of 43 hours per week per branch to approximately 21.5 hours per week,
- close of 16 neighborhood library branches,
- layoff of approximately 35% full-time employees, or
- buy 27% fewer books for patrons to use.
The public might be deprived of the free use of computers, WiFi service, job search assistance, story time activities, technical skill programs, and cultural events.
An online petition will be sent to the mayor and to your representative on the New York City Council to try to avoid this drastic funding cut. Please click here.
What would you like your branch library to lose?
An online petition will be sent to the mayor and to your representative on the New York City Council to try to avoid this drastic funding cut. Please click here.
This is how the petition is worded, but you can change it and personalize it, if you want to:
Dear Mayor Bloomberg & Council Member ___________
Restore Library Funding
I am writing to express my strong support for Brooklyn Public Library and to urge you to restore funding to Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) in the Fiscal Year 2013 budget. As you know, BPL faces a 32% reduction in city funding that may result in the closure of libraries and a drastic reduction in hours of service across the borough.
BPL is a vital community resource that is needed now more than ever for after-school activities, job search assistance and so much more. It provides free access to books, computers and thousands of programs for people of all ages.
I understand the severity of the City's fiscal crisis and the tough decisions you have to make to balance the budget and main core services, but I ask you to please consider the importance of Brooklyn Public Library during this time and how it helps us immensely during the recession. Please help restore funding to keep Brooklyn's libraries open.