Originally published on May 5, 2015 2:02 pm
In New York City, supporters of public libraries say that respect for — and repair of — the libraries is long, well, overdue.
A new campaign, Invest in Libraries,
puts forth that in the past 10 years, the city government has reduced
funding for public libraries by nearly 20 percent and 1,000 workers or
so have been trimmed from the payroll. The campaign calls on the city to
increase its support in various ways, such as restoring $65 million in
operating funds.
The New York Times reports
that "the city's three public library systems — the New York Public
Library, the Brooklyn Public Library and the Queens Library — are
seeking $1.4 billion in city funds over the next decade to bring all 217
public library branches up to modern building standards."
