NYC Public Library Action Network

New York City Public Library Action Network Newsletter, Issue #8

Testify at the Libraries Subcommittee Hearing at City Council on Wednesday 3/18!

On Wednesday March 18 at 9:30 am,  the NYC Council Libraries Subcommittee is holding a hearing about the preliminary budget. Given the disappointing results from Mayor Mamdani’s budget announcement, this hearing is especially important.

We want to encourage New Yorkers to testify at the hearing and we’ve included information for you to do so. Please sign up here to attend in person, via Zoom, or to submit your testimony online. The more people who make their voices heard about the need to fund our public libraries at 0.5% of the city expense budget, the better. 

Painting of a desk with a collection of pamphlets and books and a violin

Call for Art Submissions for Our Library Art & Propaganda Fair: Due March 31st. 

On Saturday, June 13, NYC PLAN is holding a Library Propaganda Fair in Lower Manhattan! 

What’s a Library Propaganda Fair, you ask? 

It’s an all-ages artistic celebration of free, open access to information and this vital third space that welcomes everyone. Think, like, a fan convention, except that we’re fans of the good old-fashioned public library. 

In these troubling times, libraries are more vital than ever. We want to highlight the value of libraries, delight in physical media, and do it all with a guarantee of no generative AI. 

There will be artists showcasing their library-centric work; activities for kids; and a marketplace where you can find stickers, zines, paintings, postcards, and other ephemera dedicated to the radical pursuit of education and critical thought.

We invite you to submit art to the fair and its accompanying zine. All details are here.

Show off your creativity!
A flyer with an image of a library nestled in a tree throwing down roots as books fly off on a stream of energy. The text reads: "Do you love your library? Join NYC Public Library Action Network for A People's Assembly! - Meet your neighbors and library defenders! - Learn how to advocate for your local library! - Discover all the ways libraries improve our city! Saturday, March 21 12:45pm Make the Road NY 104-19 Roosevelt Avenue Corona, NY 11368"

Join us for our Queens People’s Assembly in March

Our next NYC Public Library People’s Assembly is coming up on March 21st in Queens!

Join us from 12:45 to 4:30 at Make The Road in Corona to discuss how every single New Yorker can take action to support NYC’s public libraries, how to keep pushing for 0.5% of the budget for libraries, and connect with your fellow library defenders.

Don’t miss your chance to meet local library workers and union reps, connect with other lovers of radical access to education and good information, and put pressure on YOUR elected officials.

It’s free (including the food!) and we’d love to see you there! Click here for more details.

Photo of several pieces of lined paper with a mechanical pencil resting on top. One piece of paper has the beginning of a letter with just the word "Dear," written on it

Don’t Forget!

Send a letter to your NYC Council Member to increase and stabilize library funding.

It takes 30 seconds. 

Follow up by calling your member.

Send a letter!
Painting of a person with blue pants and a blue and white shirt and black sweater vest writing on a chalk board full of equations and chemical diagrams

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 March 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.