The Desk Set

Libraries Cannot Live On Love Alone (But a Little Love Helps)

May 10

Urban Librarians UniteEvents from Other Orgs, From Our Guest Bloggers, Programs of Interest 4 Comments

New York City Public Librarians are having a hard time turning our frowns upside down. We’ve been running on fumes for a while now. This economy is in shambles. Hard times mean more unemployment, more people looking for jobs, and, sadly, more homelessness. The library acts like a beacon, drawing in those who need us. Let me be a jerk and speak for all librarians: We’re happy to help. This is our job. Most of us are committed to community service and manage to do our jobs despite budget cuts and short-staffing.

Lately, though, it’s unclear how many of us will be around to deal with the needs of our increasingly demanding patrons. Mayor Bloomberg’s recent budget announcement will devastate many New York institutions, including the public libraries. You may have noticed that your local library isn’t open nearly as much as it used to. Long standing hiring freezes mean less staff, making lines longer. There’s a huge queue for that new book you’re desperate to read because we’re just not ordering as many copies. But the proposed budget cuts would make things so much worse. Hundreds of employees across New York, Queens, and Brooklyn Public Libraries would be laid off. Library hours would be further cut. Even fewer new materials would be coming into the branches. Some branches may close entirely. It would take libraries years to bounce back from what this budget has in store for us.

Luckily, in addition to being brilliant, innovative, and devastatingly attractive, library workers are a scrappy bunch. We’re going to fight until the bitter end. It’s just that we’re not going to get very far without your help.

Enter Brooklyn Public Library’s Love Your Library Day. It marks the beginning of a seriously intense advocacy season. Here’s the good news: Though the road ahead is kind of rough, Love Your Library Day is a fun and cheerful event. First of all, it’s held in front of BPL’s Central Library. If you haven’t seen how pretty this building is, now is the time. It’s all golden and shiny and welcoming and lovely. There’s a large patio area where you can peruse a giant book sale while listening to an all-librarian band, Lost in the Stacks. You can buy this amazing Brooklyn Industries I Love BPL T-shirt. All donations and proceeds will go towards the purchase of new library materials. Then, listen to elected officials, librarians, and dedicated patrons sing the praises of public libraries. You’ll also be able to contact your elected officials, sign petitions, and write postcards. It’s time to get riled up for the fight ahead. Please join us.

We’d love to see you on Saturday, May 14, from 10 AM – 3 PM at Brooklyn Public Library’s Central location at Grand Army Plaza, BUT, if you can’t make it, there’s so many other ways to help right now. Brooklyn, New York and Queens libraries have online petitions that are quick and easy to sign. In addition, you can write Mayor Bloomberg a postcard, letting him know that laying off library workers and closing libraries is not an option for New York. Postcards can be sent to our good friend and fierce library advocate City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, 47-01 Queens Boulevard, Suite 205, Sunnyside, New York, 11104.

The libraries of New York City don’t stand a chance unless we make it absolutely clear that they’re essential. If you’re a librarian, an MLS student, a library patron, a lover of literacy, or just someone who cares for your community, we’re asking you to help us. Please, love your library. And then get ready to fight for it.