NYC Public Library Action Network

New York City Public Library Action Network Newsletter, Issue #5

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Thank you all so much!

Firstly, we want to thank everybody who attended our Manhattan People’s Assembly on October 4th! Besides hearing from our speakers and panelists, it was amazing to hear all of your creative ideas for bolstering the library’s place against the fascists dismantling so many of our cultural and community institutions.

Not completely unrelated, all the mayoral candidates have heard our demand to commit 0.5% of NYC’s budget to libraries, and Zohran Mamdani already added it to his platform. Our next step is to make sure that every individual city council member makes their pledge by the end of January!

Before reading the rest of this newsletter, find your council member here if you don’t already know their contact info.

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Photo credit: Bruno Cantuaria, Pexels

Wednesday Phone Zaps

On Wednesdays, we call our councilpeople. We need you to help us blow up your council member’s phone with our demand for 0.5%.

Feel free to speak from the heart, but we’ve also got a script if you’d like one. And after your call, let us know how it went by filling out this form.

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Flood Their Inboxes

We’ve also started another letter-writing campaign, naturally.

Like last time, all you have to do is click the button below or follow this link to add your name to the Action Network campaign, and they’ll make sure your letter finds your council member. The letter is pre-written, but you can edit it as you please.

Send a letter
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Photo Credit: Mikhail Nilov, Pexels

Meet in Person

And once we fill up their voicemail and email inboxes, we’ll knock on their doors to meet the council in person.

Fill out this form, and we’ll be in touch if we need you to make sure your council member hears our demand – 0.5%. Then, read our full How-To Guide on setting up a meeting, making a plan for what you’ll say, and successfully arguing your position.

Make your voice heard
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Photo Credit: cottonbro studio, Pexels

Upcoming Free Events at NYC Libraries

Our New York libraries host exciting, free events for people of all ages every day.

Here are a few coming up in November that we recommend:

Want to know more about NYC PLAN?

Image of a flow chart, titled "How can I get involved?" It describes four tiers of involvement, depending on how much capacity you have to work, stay informed, or contribute resources. The tiers are: "Ally! - Connect with "for the people" - Subscribe to our newsletter" "Sponsor - Contribute space, print materials, or offer other resources - Donate funds to our work" "Network supporter - Attend meetings occasionally - Pitch in for time-sensitive actions like signing letters, attending hearings - Assist with events or campaigns when possible" "Active member! - Attend 4 all-hands meetings each year - Join & participate in a working group - Get involved in 1 time-bound event per year - Contribute sliding scale dues as able"

If you want to get more involved with NYC PLAN, we’d love to see you at our next meeting on November 16 from 1:30 to 4:15 pm in Brooklyn! Email info@nycplan.org and we’ll get back to you with more information.

P.S. – If you’re reading this within a week of us sending it, the polls are open in New York City! Please vote for candidates who will fund and strengthen our Libraries!