New York City Library Renovations Delayed
The 95-year-old Hunts Point Library in the Bronx, funded by Andrew Carnegie, is among five branch libraries that underwent renovations as part of a $160 million project. However, despite the completion of the renovations, these libraries are yet to reopen.
Financial Challenges and Uncertainty
The delay in reopening the renovated libraries is attributed to Mayor Eric Adams’s preliminary budget, which included a $25.5 million cut for the New York Public Library system. This budget cut affects crucial funding for librarians and staff members needed to operate the branches.
Concerns and Desperation
New York Public Library President, Anthony Marx, expressed concerns over the potential consequences of not reopening the renovated libraries. He emphasized the significance of these libraries in neighborhoods awaiting their return and stressed the importance of providing access to these essential community resources.
“It would be tragic not to open them,” Marx stated. “They’re spectacular, they’re in neighborhoods that are desperate for them to come back, and we are desperate to do it.”
Marx highlighted the need for certainty from City Hall regarding future funding to ensure that the reopened libraries would not face further budget cuts.
| Library System | Proposed Budget Cut |
|---|---|
| New York Public Library | $25.5 million |
| Brooklyn Public Library | $32.8 million |
| Queens Public Library | $32.8 million |
