New York City’s libraries need a $1.1 billion facelift.
A new report released by the three library systems operating all five boroughs detailed the dilapidated state of libraries across the city and urges City Hall to step up their upkeep.
Broken bathrooms, wheelchair inaccessibility, broken windows and chronic water damage are just some of the problems that the report signed by the leaders of the Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Library and the New York Public Library, which operates in Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx. The price tag is only 1 percent of the city’s overall capital budget, the leaders wrote, and would benefit all 217 libraries around New York City.
“We take great pride in our libraries and their historic legacy and are committed to ensuring that they can continue to provide New Yorkers with the high quality service they expect and deserve,” the letter said. Currently amid budget negotiations, library budgets were baselined by the de Blasio administration last year. The mayor’s latest $77billion budget does not increase library funding, and the current infrastructure plan devotes$62million to libraries.
NYC libraries ask for $1.1b for repairs
