New York Public Library president Paul LeClerc criticized a new series of proposed library cuts, calling them “the largest in the Library’s history.”
In a Huffington Post essay, LeClerc outlined the scope of library access in New York City that would be threatened by the cuts–including online resources, millions of books, and scores of local branches. In the video embedded above, rock star and author Patti Smith defended the NYPL.
Here’s an excerpt from the article: “the proposed cut just announced is the largest in the Library’s history…a devastating $37 million for the upcoming fiscal year. If this cut becomes reality when the final City budget is adopted next month, we will be forced to drastically reduce programming, service hours, and staffing. Libraries would be open on average just four days a week; more than one in four library jobs would be eliminated. Almost six million fewer items would be circulated. Most impacting to New Yorkers would be the need to close ten libraries. ”