Public Employee Press


Standing up for public services:
New York needs libraries

DC 37's four library locals launched a petition campaign April 6 during National Library Week against the massive budget cuts that threaten to drastically reduce services for the millions of New Yorkers who use the public libraries.

Members from Queens Library Guild Local 1321, Brooklyn Library Guild Local 1482, New York Public Library Guild Local 1930 and Quasi-Public Employees Local 374 set up tables in City Hall Park and collected hundreds of signatures in support of the libraries.

"New Yorkers need their libraries, especially in these difficult economic times," said Brooklyn Library Guild Local 1482 President Eileen Muller. She was joined by Local 1930 President Valentin Colon, Local 1321 President John Hyslop and Local 374 President Cuthbert Dickenson.

More than a dozen City Council members came to express support. "The city is not broke," explained Brooklyn Council member Leticia James. "We have a rainy day fund for situations like this." James recalled escaping to her neighborhood library as a child where she read all of Grimm's Fairy Tales.

Council member Ydanis Rodriguez from Manhattan said he was concerned that the push to privatize the public school system with charter schools would expand to include libraries. "Our public libraries must remain public," said Rodriguez, who represents the 10th District in Manhattan.

Diana Reyna stressed the important role that the libraries play for the unemployed and new immigrants seeking entry into the city's workforce. "They're not just libraries anymore, they are community centers and centers of learning," said Reyna, who represents District 34 in Brooklyn.

Lost in the Stacks and the Dewey Decimals, two bands made up of library union members, played a brief interlude of jazz tunes as more City Council members arrived to show solidarity with the library workers.

"Ultimately, I want to see all of our libraries open seven days a week," said Jimmy Van Bramer from Queens. "They are a critical service like every other service in this city."

— Alfredo Alvarado