NYPL Cuts Services, Kids Affected

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By Lauren Barack -- School Library Journal, 02/18/2010

Following in the footsteps of many public libraries across the country, the New York Public Library (NYPL) is making immediate cuts to services in New York City.

The Seward Park branch in lower Manhattan will now close on Sundays.
Photo: Lauren Barack

Sunday hours in five branches will be cut starting February 21, and hours at neighborhood branches have been reduced from an average of 51 hours per week to 45 hours a week starting February16. And while the NYPL says it remains committed to teen advisory programs and K-12 related workshops, other reductions may be necessary as the year continues.

“Following a reduction of hours necessitated by city and state budget cuts, the library is evaluating all programs, including those for children and teens,” says Angela Montefinise, public relations manager for the NYPL by email. “It is unclear at this time what if anything will change, but the Library will keep the public informed at branches and at its Web site.”

The schedule changes came on the heels of a $5.9 million mid-year cut from New York City to NYPL, as well as a reduction of $900,000 from New York State. Branches to be closed on Sundays include Todt Hill-Westerleigh in Staten Island, Seward Park in lower Manhattan, Countee Cullen in Harlem, as well as the Grand Concourse and the Parkchester branches in the Bronx.

Patrons of the Seward Park branch believe a Sunday closure will make it harder for both adults and students in the neighborhood to use the NYPL’s services.

“I think there may be a lot of Orthodox Jewish people who might be affected because of their religion,” says Joan List, who lives close to the Seward Park branch, and was returning a book on a cold February afternoon. “Many religious people can’t come in on Saturdays.”
The NYPL is feeling a strain along with many other public libraries across the nation. In the past 18 months, as the recession has continued, public libraries have reported an increase in demand for their services—but at the same time have watched as state and municipal budget cut into their ability to operate, a scenario the American Library Association has referred to as a “perfect storm.”

Creating additional demand on public libraries, school libraries in many cities are also experiencing severe cuts, reducing media specialist positions, leaving students to turn to public libraries to fill research needs. But as public libraries reduce their hours as well, K-12 students are left with even fewer options.

“It’s not good,” says Luis Baez, whose 3rd grade son attends an elementary school near the Seward Park branch, and had just heard of the library closing on Sundays. “You’re taking away a child’s learning time, but also a parent’s options.”