In a gathering held at the Forest Hills Library in Queens, New York City, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. and the leadership of Queens Public Library (QPL) called for the full restoration of funding for all New York City library systems, including QPL, in the upcoming 2025 fiscal year budget. They urged for stable funding to be allocated annually.
The proposed 2025 fiscal year budget for New York City indicates that Queens Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and New York Public Library are facing a total funding reduction of $58 million, with Queens Public Library facing a $16.6 million cut. This substantial reduction poses a threat to major projects, services, maintenance, repairs, and Saturday services at Queens Public Library and all libraries excluding the Central Library and Flushing Library.
These cuts will also delay the reopening of Broadway Branch, Bay Terrace Branch, and Hillcrest Branch, which have recently undergone or are nearing completion of significant upgrades.
Dennis Walcott, President and CEO of Queens Library, stated that besides decreased service days, budget cuts will impact program planning, acquisition of new books and multimedia materials, slow down hiring processes, reduce maintenance, and defer the reopening of three libraries that have undergone or are near completion of major renovations.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards emphasized that libraries welcome individuals of all ages, races, identities, and backgrounds. Libraries serve as the pillars of communities, and the Queens Borough government will not stand idly by as the library system faces budget cuts. Therefore, at the gathering at Forest Hills Library, they demanded the full restoration of library funding.
In New York City, the fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. The Mayor is responsible for drafting the annual operating and capital budgets, which are then submitted to the City Council for review and approval.