NYC Public Library Action Network

New York City Public Library Action Network Newsletter, Issue #6

Image with "libraries are essential" text over an image of books leaning on one another, with one open, against a yellow background

City Council Campaign Update

Lynn Schulman, Christopher Marte, Lincoln Restler, and Shahana Hanif have become the first four members of City Council to agree to our demand to raise the city’s library budget to 0.5% of the city’s budget in FY’27 and beyond.

We also got our first No – Inna Vernikov, who is otherwise known for waving a gun at protestors at Brooklyn College and having dozens of speeding tickets and non-moving violations.

Image of someone standing on a subway platform holding a cardboard sign that reads "Fight today for a better tomorrow!" and a bullhort
Photo credit: Lara Jameson, Pexels

City Council Calls and Letters – Don’t Let Up

If you want to see your council member on the good side of our nifty scorecard, put some pressure on them to agree to our demand via email or phone call! Our goal is to get every council member on record by the end of 2026, so everyone’s help is welcome and encouraged.

You can join our letter-writing campaign or participate in our weekly Wednesday phone zaps by finding your council member’s number and reading from our script.

Please ONLY contact the council member who represents you! We appreciate the enthusiasm, but they really only care about people who can vote against them!

Send a letter
Image of the interior of the Malatesta Novello Library. There are pew-like carrels in a vaulted room with pillars and tile floors
Malatesta Novello Library. Photo Credit: Boschetti marco 64, Wikimedia Commons

Did you know that?

The Malatesta Novello Library in Cesena, Italy is the oldest known community-run public library.

Established in 1447 CE, it is one of the few surviving examples of a chained library–one where all the books are chained to the shelves to prevent theft. The library’s 343 secular and religious texts spanning classical Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Arab traditions are available to read (but not borrow) for all visiting readers. In 2005, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it is considered to be the last intact library from before the invention of printing.

Check out their website (which you will need to translate from Italian) or this article originally published in the Boston Globe to learn more and see digitized versions of their collection.

Image of rows of wooden chairs in a lecture room with speakers, a small stage, a lectern, and a chalk board at the front
Photo Credit: Pixabay, 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 December 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 Lib