Press Release: Library Advocates, Elected Officials, and Youth Rally at City Hall to Demand Mayor Mamdani Honor 0.5% Budget Promise Ahead of City Council Hearing
Press Release for General Circulation
May 26, 2026
For questions or comments please contact
Abby Emerson (emerson dot abby at gmail dot com)
Michael Kranz (mjkranz at proton dot me)
NEW YORK, NY — This morning, May 26, 2026, the NYC Public Library Action Network (PLAN) held a rally on the steps of City Hall, in collaboration with Urban Libraries Unite (ULU). Library workers, patron advocates, elected officials, and young patrons gathered to send a message to City officials: the City must fully fund its library systems at the promised 0.5% of the overall City budget.
The rally took place right before the City Council’s 12 PM joint hearing with the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Relations and the Committee on Finance.
Mayor Mamdani’s recently released Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget provides the three library systems with 0.42%, which is a minor increase from the 0.39% seen in his February Preliminary Budget. However, he repeatedly committed to funding public libraries at 0.5% of the city expense budget, and his current Executive budget proposal falls $97 million short of that amount.
A United Front at City Hall
Speakers throughout the rally echoed a consistent refrain that robust programming is only possible when the City invests in critical building upgrades and commits to fair pay for the dedicated library workers who make it all happen. NYC PLAN members and other speakers emphasized that 0.5% is the floor for meeting these needs, not the ceiling.
Councilmember Christopher Marte and Deputy Speaker Dr. Nantasha Williams both attended the rally, stating their public support for more library funding.
The rally also featured testimony from labor and advocacy leaders, including Lauren Comito of Urban Libraries Unite and George Sarah Olken representing the Brooklyn Public Library Union (Local 1482), both of whom stressed the urgency of fair compensation and improved working conditions for staff. Olken noted about libraries, “You will miss us when we’re gone.” NYC PLAN’s Mike Kranz, Lucien Baskin, and Anastazia Neely spoke of the importance of securing these democratic institutions that do so much for our communities.
The rally also had some of the libraries’ youngest visitors speak. Four third and fourth grade students from Brooklyn shared what their local branches mean to them.
Melody Emerson-Simpson stated, “I don’t know how I would live without my library.”
Logan Vanhoutte delivered a warning, “In ten years, I am going to be voting. And I will not forget this!”
Library Leadership Confirms: A Flat Budget is a Step Backward
After the rally, at the hearing inside City Hall, the heads of New York’s three library systems repeated the frustration of the rally attendees. They confirmed that the current Executive Budget does not provide the growth communities desperately need.
“I would not be honest if I didn’t say we’re not satisfied,” testified Dennis Walcott, CEO of the Queens Public Library (QPL). “And the not satisfied is because… basically we have stayed flat if not even going further back.”
Tony Marx, CEO of the New York Public Library (NYPL), noted, “We hope to continue to work with the mayor and with you all to get to his goal of 0.5% of the city’s budget. We’re now at 0.42%, so we’re only talking about 0.08% of the budget.” Additionally, Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) CFO Karen Sheehan pointed out that funding has simply failed to keep pace with the rising costs of doing business and growing community demands. NYC PLAN is determined to continue the fight throughout the budget cycle until Mayor Mamdani delivers the dedicated 0.5% funding that New Yorkers were promised.
Who we are
About NYC Public Library Action Network (PLAN)
NYC Public Library Action Network (PLAN) aims to amplify, strengthen, and progress the futures of New York City’s three public library systems through community-led organizing, action, and increased funding.
About Urban Libraries Unite (ULU)
ULU is a passionate group of urban library professionals and advocates working to build community centered 21st Century Libraries. We make it our mission to speak up for libraries and the communities they serve, mobilize supporters of libraries, and provide resources and education for library workers.