Libraries likely to avoid cuts in upcoming NYC budget

Funding for New York City’s public libraries is likely to be restored in the upcoming budget, avoiding unpopular cuts that would have resulted in Sunday closures for some branches and other services, according to two sources with knowledge of the ongoing budget negotiations.

Libraries had been facing a $36 million deficit following several rounds of cuts ordered by Mayor Eric Adams. Facing a public outcry, Adams had backed down from making a larger cut that would have forced libraries to eliminate Sunday services at all branches.

The mayor’s office did not say whether the cuts had been reversed, but acknowledged talks around increasing the funding. The administration maintained that the cuts added up to $22 million, less than what library officials said. Some of the deficit was tied to City Council funding, which is also poised to be restored.

“Public libraries are vital lifelines for the communities they serve, and since day one, this administration has worked to uplift them,” said Jonah Allon, a spokesperson for Adams. “We are always looking for ways to ensure these vital institutions can continue fulfilling their mission and we have been working with the City Council to evaluate if adjustments can be made through the budget process.”

Library leaders said the remaining hole would still threaten their ability to serve their communities at a time when libraries have become critical resources for children and low-income New Yorkers.

In Queens, the cuts would have meant the end of Sunday hours as well as fewer hours on Saturday.

“All those will impact the system, especially as we continue to grow with more and more customers coming through our doors and looking to us for services,” Dennis Walcott, CEO and president of the Queens Public Library System, told WNYC’s Brian Lehrer last week.

The city budget is officially due Saturday, the first day of the new fiscal year. In order to meet that deadline, Adams and the City Council need to reach a deal by Thursday.

Negotiations between the two parties have been heated as the mayor seeks to make significant cuts amid a slowing economy and the drying up of federal pandemic aid.

The City Council has pushed back, pointing to stronger than expected revenues and the toll many of the cuts would have on low-income New Yorkers. In addition to the libraries, councilmembers have been pressuring the administration to add funding to other areas, including affordable housing, social safety net programs, CUNY and cultural institutions.

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams described the development as a success.

“Over the course of the entire budget process, the Council prioritized fighting for and protecting our city’s libraries by restoring essential funding from proposed cuts," the speaker said. "We were proud to work alongside the countless New Yorkers who raised their voices in support of these critical resource hubs and neighborhood centers for all ages.”

This story has been updated with comment from a spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and additional reporting.