Sundays Are for Libraries... Not!

By: Bakhtawar Bhurgari

Public libraries in New York City will be forced to cease Sunday operations as Mayor Eric Adams announces massive budget cuts to city funding.

The news comes as a shock considering public libraries were initially exempt from the proposed list of cuts for the 2024 fiscal year. At the time, NYC Libraries thanked Adams and other city officials who rallied for library funding. Now, they anticipate additional budget cuts and have announced reduced hours across public libraries in the five boroughs.

“Without sufficient funding, we cannot sustain our current levels of service,” NYC Libraries said in a statement. Apart from suspended service on the weekends, the cuts will also hurt spending on “library materials, programming, and building maintenance and repairs.” Concern looms among librarians who fear that the sudden reductions will have serious implications for the availability of resources and for New Yorkers who seek Sunday service. 

Public libraries serve as a refuge for New Yorkers. In 2021, NYC Libraries eliminated late fines for overdue material, prioritizing the community’s needs over profit and ensuring access to all. In a petition started by Onyekachi Okeke to halt budget cuts to libraries, he expressed how the decision will affect New Yorkers of all backgrounds. “They [public libraries] serve people of color, our youth, our elderly,” Okeke said.

“Not every parent can afford an iPad for a kid to learn,” Maglisa Wilson, a nanny, told Gothamist. Libraries are a “lifesaver” for low-income New Yorkers who seek a safe space outside of their constrained apartments, for parents who lack daycare as an option, and for people who cannot afford to buy a book. 

Amidst an ongoing federal investigation and record-low approval ratings, Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to slash funding for public libraries, schools, police, and even the war on rats is only creating more opposition to his role in City Hall. 83% of New Yorkers are concerned that these budget cuts will affect their daily lives, according to the Quinnipiac Poll released on Wednesday. Many have since expressed concern over Adams’ handling of city matters, particularly his blaming of the migrant crisis for every decision he makes.

Adams described his decision as “extremely painful”, but voters across New York City are calling it unnecessary. Instead, nearly two-thirds of voters are calling for raising taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers to close the city’s budget gap. 

As Mayor Adams’ unprecedented mayoralty advances, his erratic decision-making only continues to displease the people of New York City. Even if public libraries aren’t faced with further budget cuts, the silence of Sunday service will surely be disheartening to experience.