On Politics: Eric Adams' library cuts would sever a vital lifeline

One of the great embarrassments of New York, the richest city in America, is how money can’t be found to keep public libraries open every single day.It is, truly, a matter of priorities. Other far-reaching, progressive policy proposals can come with enormous upfront costs — municipal or statewide single-payer healthcare comes to mind — but there’s really no reason why the city can’t pay to keep libraries open every Saturday and Sunday.Mayor Eric Adams, in his executive budget, has proposed to keep the cuts to the library system that he ordered starting last year. If he has his way — and given his deteriorating relationship with the City Council, he might not — the library system will lose $58.3 million. If the cuts go through, library service citywide would be curtailed to five days a week, according to the presidents of the Brooklyn, Queens, and New York Public Libraries.Since 2015, when Bill de Blasio boosted funding to the library system, six-day service has been the norm. This is not ideal, but it is better than five, which would see crucial weekend service evaporate entirely. Most library branches in the city are already closed on Sunday. Thanks to midyear budget cuts in November, seven-day service — available sparingly before then — is gone. The cuts would also mean delaying the renovations of certain branches.Democrats in the City Council might successfully oppose Adams. This dynamic recalls the “budget dance” that was common during Michael Bloomberg’s mayoralty.... Continue reading at 'Crains New York'

[ Crains New York | 2024-04-29 15:50:14 UTC ]

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Yorkshire comic festival launches donation drive for libraries and schools

A comic art festival based in Yorkshire is encouraging the public to donate new and used comic books to its organisation, which will then distribute copies to schools and libraries. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-21 00:12:55 UTC ]
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Define 'Reasonable': Can Maryland's New E-book Law Help Change the Marketplace?

Maryland's recently passed library e-book law will require any publisher offering to license "an electronic literary product" to consumers in the state to also offer to license the content to public libraries "on reasonable terms." The question now is: what are reasonable terms? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Why Apple's child safety updates are so controversial

Last week, Apple previewed a number of updates meant to beef up child safety features on its devices. Among them: a new technology that can scan the photos on users’ devices in order to detect child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Though the change was widely praised by some lawmakers and child... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-08-12 18:30:29 UTC ]
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Back-To-School Boost on DonorsChoose Today

Fund some classroom libraries today on DonorsChoose with the help of a boost from the Gates Foundation. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-08-12 10:39:00 UTC ]
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7 U.S. Libraries and Collections Named After Trailblazing Women

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[ Book Riot | 2021-08-09 10:32:00 UTC ]
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ALA Welcomes SUCCESS Act, Proposed Federal Funding Increases for Libraries

“Congress is getting the message that libraries of all kinds are key to the vitality of communities,” said ALA president Patty Wong in a statement. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Which international city’s public libraries lend the most books per capita?

The pandemic has prompted, among other things, a slew of relocations. Some of those relocations (ie. to your mom’s house) have proved, or will prove, temporary; others, encouraged by new work-from-home policies, may become permanent. Or maybe you’re one of those people who looked around at the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-07-21 17:19:56 UTC ]
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Demolishing Public Libraries From The Inside: Niles Public Library Is a Warning

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[ Book Riot | 2021-07-15 10:40:00 UTC ]
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Baker & Taylor reveals 'diversity analysis' tool for libraries

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[ The Bookseller | 2021-07-08 00:26:16 UTC ]
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B&T to Offer ‘Diversity Analysis’ Tool for Library Collections

Powered by the wholesaler's collectionHQ technology, Baker & Taylor’s “Diversity Analysis” tool will help identify opportunities for libraries to evaluate their collections against industry-accepted diversity subjects. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Most Bookish Cities in the World

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[ Book Riot | 2021-07-02 10:38:00 UTC ]
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On Memory and Literature

Now we're all possessors of personal super computers that can instantly connect us to whole libraries — there can seem little sense to make iambs and trochees part of one's soul. The post On Memory and Literature appeared first on The Millions. Continue reading at The Millions

[ The Millions | 2021-06-30 09:59:22 UTC ]
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ALA 2021: Barack Obama Tells Librarians Their Work Is 'More Important Than Ever'

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Are Little Free Libraries Better in Wealthy Neighborhoods?

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[ Book Riot | 2021-06-24 10:38:00 UTC ]
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Cowell and Duchess of Cornwall launch flagship school libraries project

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[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-21 16:23:10 UTC ]
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Anthony Doerr’s Libraries of Wonder

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[ The Millions | 2021-06-21 10:00:30 UTC ]
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A precious African-studies collection burns in Cape Town

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[ The Economist | 2021-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A precious African-studies collection burns in Cape Town

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New York Legislature Passes Library E-book Bill

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-06-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Library Community Mourns John Eldred, Pioneering Founder of Midwest Tape

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-06-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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