Statement on the FY 19 City Budget

JUNE 14, 2018 -- The city's three public library systems (Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Library, and The New York Public Library, which covers Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island) received at least $60 million in capital funds and $16.7 million in expense funds in the city's FY 19 budget (our full ask). Below is a statement attributed to all three systems on this critically important allocation, which will allow libraries to maintain current levels of service in the face of rising costs, and do critical maintenance repairs on branches across the city:

"Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Johnson, Finance Chair Dromm, Libraries Chair Van Bramer, and the entire City Council have made it clear that libraries are an essential service that play a vital role in making opportunity and knowledge accessible to all. We are truly appreciative that our City leaders have delivered for the millions who rely on us every day."

PRESS CONTACT: Angela Montefinise, angelamontefinise@nypl.org