New York City Public Library Action Network Newsletter, Issue #4
NYC Public Library People’s Assembly: Manhattan Edition
Over the summer, we hosted our first People’s Assembly in Brooklyn, an event where we discussed our visions for how funding impacts library workers and our communities. This October, we’re bringing it to Manhattan!
Join us on Saturday, October 4th at the Society for Ethical Culture on the Upper West Side from 12:30 – 4:30pm for a day of conversation and imagination about NYC libraries and how our communities can take measurable actions to support these vital institutions.
The agenda includes a look at the recent library budget update; a panel discussion bringing together government leaders, union reps, library workers, and patrons; and breakout groups to consider how we can get more involved in supporting and sustaining our libraries.
It’s a free event and we’d love to see you there!
Put Pressure on City Council
Does your City Council representative know about NYC PLAN’s demand that 0.5% of NYC’s operating budget be allocated to our public libraries every single year? Our goal is to tell every single member about it by the end of January.
Fill out this form to connect with us about setting up a meeting with your rep.
Fund Libraries through your local Community Board
Community boards connect your neighborhood directly with its elected officials and city agencies. Every September or October, each board gathers community input on district needs, typically via public hearings, to inform the next year’s (FY ’27) NYC budget.
After the hearing or other method of information gathering, the boards submit prioritized budget needs lists to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). They submit one priority list for the capital budget and one for the operating budget. This is one of the few formal channels where the public can provide input that is considered when crafting the upcoming financial year’s budget, so we want to take advantage of it.
Here’s our how-to guide for speaking up at the public hearings. Please feel encouraged to use this as a launching point, but also know that each board may have a slightly different method for soliciting public comments. Some Community Boards, like Queens Community Board 2, determine their needs via a survey. So if any NYC PLAN newsletter readers live in LIC, Sunnyside, Woodside, or Maspeth, you should fill this out now! Check to see if your Community Board does something similar.
Upcoming Free Events at New York Libraries
The library is always a great place to learn new things, in books and in community. Our New York libraries host exciting, free events for people of all ages every day. From language classes to kids’ story time to literary discussions to film screenings, there’s something for everyone.
Want to know more about NYC PLAN?
If you want to get involved with NYC PLAN, we’d love to see you at our next meeting! Email info@nycplan.org, and we’ll give you details regarding our meeting dates and locations.