You need to work on a project for school or work. You go to your local library, but find it closed – indefinitely.
The city’s preliminary financial plan for the fiscal year 2011 which starts July 1, 2010 would make this situation a possibility. The proposed budget cuts of $14.1 million would drastically cut the service hours of Queens Public Libraries, in addition to the loss of 350 jobs.
“It is not an exaggeration to say that the fiscal year 2011 preliminary budget proposal is nothing short of devastating,” said Thomas Galante, the Chief Executive Officer of the Queens Public Library. “The cuts on the table would force hundreds of workers onto the unemployment rolls and cause libraries in communities throughout the borough to be closed more days per week than they are open.”
The preliminary budget proposal would result in the closure of 24 community libraries four days a week, and the closure of another 24 five days a week. Only 13 libraries would remain open six days a week, and the Queens Central Library in Jamaica would remain the only branch open seven days a week.
The weekly service hours of the libraries would fall to 25 hours per week, barely half of the 47 weekly service hours offered in 2008.
“A lot of kids from school come here if our [school] library is closed to get things done,” said Tenille Rajkumarsingh, a junior at John Bowne High School who uses the nearby Queensboro Hill branch to study. “I spend almost three hours after school in the library, getting stuff done for school before I go home.”
In 2009, the Queens Library was voted “Library of the Year” by the Library Journal. According to the Library Journal, the library was recognized for its ability to provide “incredibly diverse set of services and continue the constant modernization of the 62 libraries.”
Since winning the award, however, funding has continuously been cut, resulting in the closure of all libraries on Sunday. Another consequence of the proposed budget cuts is a cutback in books, DVDs and other services offered – including after-school programs.
“Queens has seen tremendous growth in libraries in recent years,” said Jennifer Manley, manager of community affairs of the Queens Library. “It makes sense, because these are tough times, so [residents] turn to these free resources. We see about 50,000 people come through the door every day.”
To learn more on how you can help, you can visit the website www.savequeenslibrary.org or visit your local library branch and sign a petition.
