NYC Public Library Action Network

Budgets represent our values, and crumbs are not enough for our public goods. Our friends at For The People have asked - what would it look like to fund public libraries the way we fund police depts? How would that transform our city? See the full zine: www.librariesforthepeople.org/snapshots

The full zine shows how library spending compares at several locations across the USA. For NYC, do you know how our funding stacks up? See a few snapshots from this amazing resource below:

This fall and beyond, NYC PLAN will be continuing to demand that @mayor.nyc.gov honor his promise to fund our libraries at 0.5% of the city expense budget. Interested in joining us in our fight? Our next monthly meeting is in-person, Sunday Oct 18: email info@nycplan.org for details

To push for more funding, we’re working to let our @council.nyc.gov CMs know how important our libraries and library workers are to us! Join us in our Wednesday phone zap, where we call our CMs, using this simple guide to help you find their contact information nycplan.org/actions/call...

28 July

As part of Summer Streets, NYC PLAN will be tabling on Saturday, August 8th, with Library Freedom Project. We’ll be at the Harlem Rest Stop on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard between 110th Street and 113th Street - come say hi!

1 July

NYC’s Adopted FY27 Budget Still Fails Our Public Libraries, and provides $91,132,000 less to libraries than Mayor Mamdani promised. NYC PLAN will continue pushing to see library budgets equal 0.5% of the total budget in the FY28 budget and beyond. Full response: nycplan.org/press-releas...

@mayor.nyc.gov & @council.nyc.gov There’s still time to stand up for libraries and allocate 0.5% of the budget to them this year! We know you understand how crucial the services our libraries provide are to the city and we’re counting on you. 📸 Roxas Timmons w/Human Flower Productions

New Yorkers - Send your City Council member a letter today, and tell them stable and consistent funding for NYC’s library systems is important to you: actionnetwork.org/letters/city...

docs.google.comNYC Public Library Action Network — open letter to Mayor Mamdani

@mayor.nyc.gov & @council.nyc.gov NYC is the home to writers and scholars who depend on our library systems, and who are calling on you to commit 0.5% of the budget to our libraries! We need places for tomorrow’s talent to discover their love for the written word. docs.google.com/document/d/e...

Good morning NYC! With only a few days left in this years budget cycle, you can make a huge impact on library funding by calling your CM today: Tell them funding our libraries at 0.5% of the budget is essential and important to you. Easy how to here: nycplan.org/actions/libr...

nycplan.orgnycplan.org

26 June

@mayor.nyc.gov broke his promise to allocate 0.5% of the budget when he released his preliminary budget last month. The good news? @council.nyc.gov can secure the funding our libraries so desperately need, but they need to hear from us! shorturl.at/UK71f 📸 Roxas Timmons w/Human Flower Productions

25 June

@mayor.nyc.gov your constituents are counting on you to keep your promise and fund our NYC library systems at a minimum of 0.5% of the budget. New Yorkers can’t wait for libraries to be funded “someday” - the time is now to make good on your promise!

25 June

@virginiamaloney.bsky.social @chiosse.bsky.social @speakermenin.bsky.social @shaunabreu.bsky.social @ericdinowitznyc.bsky.social @cmjengutierrez.bsky.social @cmcrystalhudson.bsky.social NYC patrons and library workers are counting on you - push to dedicate 0.5% of the budget to our libraries!

24 June

@council.nyc.gov and @mayor.nyc.gov : New Yorkers are counting on you to help us dream big for libraries. Secure necessary funding by allocating 0.5% of the budget to NYC libraries today! 📸 Roxas Timmons w/ Human Flower Productions

nycplan.orgLibrary Budget Phone Bank 2026We’re emailing and calling city councilmembers on the Budget Negotiating Team (BNT) directly to ask them to dedicate 0.5% of the overall city budget to our libraries. Are you in any of these BNT…

24 June

City budget negotiations are moving towards an adopted FY27 budget, and your City Council Members need to hear from you - weigh in and tell them to fund our public libraries at 0.5% of the city expense budget. Easy steps with scripts and facts on our action page here: nycplan.org/actions/libr...

23 June

@mayor.nyc.gov your Executive Budget released last month falls 97 million short of the 0.5% you promised during your campaign. @council.nyc.gov we’re counting on you to secure necessary funds for NYC’s public libraries and allocate at least 0.5% of the overall budget to our three library systems.

22 June

@mayor.nyc.gov and @council.nyc.gov : NYers have made it clear that our libraries deserve stable and increased funding. We are counting on you to honor your promise and fund our essential library systems at a minimum of 0.5% of the overall city budget! 📸 Roxas Timmons w/Human Flower Productions

21 June

@council.nyc.gov NYC needs you to allocate at least 0.5% of the overall budget to our library systems. The complex technical work they do, both behind the scenes and socially in our communities,is essential for NYC. Don’t take our libraries for granted! 📸 Roxas Timmons w/Human Flower Productions

19 June

@mayor.nyc.gov NYC’s authors and scholars call on you with this letter to fulfill your campaign pledge and commit 0.5% of the city’s annual budget to its public libraries, this year and throughout your tenure as mayor. 📸 Roxas Timmons with Human Flower Productions docs.google.com/document/d/e...

19 June

We are asking the NYC City Council @council.nyc.gov to advocate for library workers and patrons as the NYC budget season heats up and commit to allocating 0.5% of the budget to public libraries. Make sure your Council Member knows where you stand! ➡️ shorturl.at/UK71f

19 June

@cmcrystalhudson.bsky.social Please stand up for libraries and allocate them 0.5% of the budget this year! We know you understand how crucial the services our libraries provide are, we urge you to fund them adequately so they can continue to serve all NY-ers! 📸 R Timmons, Human Flower Productions

@cmjengutierrez.bsky.social Please stand up for libraries and allocate 0.5% of the budget to them this year! We know you understand how crucial the services our libraries provide are to the City. We urge you to fund them adequately so they can continue to serve all NY-ers!

@ericdinowitznyc.bsky.social Please stand up for libraries and allocate 0.5% of the budget to them this year! We know you understand how crucial the services our libraries provide are to the City. We urge you to fund them adequately so they can continue to serve all NY-ers!

@shaunabreu.bsky.social You have a chance to be a true library champion and commit to giving 0.5% of the City Budget to our public libraries. We urge you to lead the Council Majority and pledge to support the vital work of our City’s 3 library systems! 📸 Roxas Timmons w/ Human Flower Productions

@speakermenin.bsky.social You have a chance to be a true library champion and commit to giving 0.5% of the City Budget to our public libraries. We urge you to lead the Council and pledge to support the vital work of our City’s three library systems! 📸 Roxas Timmons w/ Human Flower Productions

Mayor Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov broke his promise to allocate 0.5% of the budget when he released his preliminary budget last month. The good news? The City Council can secure the funding our libraries so desperately need, but they need to hear from us! Send them our letter: shorturl.at/UK71f

@chiosse.bsky.social Thanks for being an ally to libraries and pledging to fight for 0.5% of the budget for libraries. We hope that you will keep your commitment in mind and help advocate on the behalf of patrons and library workers alike as budget season comes to a close! 🤞

Mayor Mamdani’s Executive Budget is $97 million short of his commitment to fund libraries at 0.5% of the city expense budget, and NYC deserves better. @mayor.nyc.gov : Keep your promise and ensure the FY 2027 Adopted Budget will include at least 0.5% for libraries. We’re counting on you!

@virginiamaloney.bsky.social Thanks for being an ally to libraries and pledging to fight for 0.5% of the budget for libraries. We hope that you will keep your commitment in mind and help advocate on the behalf of patrons and library workers alike as budget season comes to a close! 🤞

forms.gleOpen letter from NYC based writers, authors, and scholars to the Mayor re: public library budgetNYC Public Library Action Network is asking writers, authors, and scholars based in New York City’s five boroughs to sign on to an open letter to Mayor Mamdani asking him to fulfill the promise he mad...

Are you a writer, author, or scholar based in NYC? New York City deserves the kind of writers and thinkers that only consistently well-funded public libraries can ensure. Help us call on the Mayor and City Council to fund our library systems with our open letter: forms.gle/SvQYwiyiHqXT...

There are less than two weeks left to secure 0.5% of the NYC City Budget for libraries! Help us hold @mayor.nyc.gov accountable to his promise - write to your @council.nyc.gov Member today + let them know how vital funding our libraries is for our communities. shorturl.at/UK71f

22 May

On June 13th, we’re hosting a Library Art and Propaganda Fair! It’ll be an all-ages artistic celebration: library-centric art, zines, and ephemera - plus activities for kids, readings, a photobooth and more. The event is free and open to all, RSVP here: www.eventbrite.com/e/public-lib...

13 May

Yesterday Mayor Mamdani released his executive budget for FY27, and NYC PLAN is disappointed to see that it falls $97million short of his promise to fund our libraries at 0.5% of the city expense budget. Our libraries deserve stable and increased funding, and we’re ready to continue this fight!

9 May

NYC PLAN is at the Black Zine Fair in Brooklyn today talking to New Yorkers about our demand to dedicate 0.5% of the city expense budget to our library systems Come by and say hi!

6 May

We’re hosting a Library Propaganda & Art Fair on June 13! Would you like to share your library related art and propaganda with other New Yorkers? We invite tablers to sell items AND share free items with the public. Submit an application to table here : forms.gle/8yyADQGqV7jn....

forms.gleforms.gle

6 May

We’re thrilled that 11/51 Council Members know how important our libraries are, and are publicly supporting our call to dedicate 0.5% of NYC’s budget to libraries. Is your CM on the list? Check out our scorecard! Or use our guides, & tell your CM this matters to you! nycplan.org/scorecards/

withfriends.eventsBlack Zine FairSat, May 9 in Brooklyn, New York

2 May

NYC PLAN is delighted to be tabling at next wknds Black Zine Fair at Powerhouse Arts in BK: BZF is free and open to the public, and will be full of zines, workshops, creativity and joy. We hope to see you there - come say hello to us! Sat, May 9 11am-6pm withfriends.events/event/WFzHwJ...

council.nyc.govDistrict 2New York City Council

30 Apr

Excited to share that Council Member Harvey Epstein has signed on in support of our demand to benchmark public library funding at 0.5% of the city expense budget. Thanks to CM Epstein for being a library champion! council.nyc.gov/district-2/

librarypunk.gay164 - NYC PLAN | librarypunkWe’re talking with Abby and Hal about NYC Public Library Action Network (PLAN)! Learn about what they’re doing, how you can help, how you can copy them, and what’s working for them by having a communi...

25 Apr

What a delightful episode! Listen to two of our own talk about NYC PLAN, the NYC Library budget dance, the power of having a community-led library advocacy group separate from the library itself, and how you can join our work. Perfect listen for a rainy day! www.librarypunk.gay/e/164-nyc-pl...

council.nyc.govDistrict 4New York City Council

22 Apr

What a good morning to say a huge thank you to CM Virginia Maloney in District 4 for supporting our demand to dedicate 0.5% of the city expense budget to our NYC library systems! Thank you for being a library champion! council.nyc.gov/district-4/

15 Apr

Did I hear additional funding for NYC?? Sounds like a great opportunity for @mayor.nyc.gov to keep his campaign promise, and fund NYC Library systems at a minimum of 0.5% of the city’s expense budget.

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani@mayor.nyc.gov

Happy Tax Day, New York. We’re taxing the rich.

nycplan.orgCall your City CouncilmemberA guide and script for calling your city councilmember…

15 Apr

NYers, you can help us make this happen by letting the @council.nyc.gov know you demand stable and increased funding for our libraries! Take 5mins to send a letter to your CM, and then follow up with a call or voicemail using this easy script: nycplan.org/actions/call...

nycplan.orgLibrary Funding Stances by City Council MembersNYC PLAN is asking all City Council members in NYC to commit to fighting for increasing public library funding to at least half of 1% of the annual city expense budget in each financial plan released while they are in office.

Out of 51 NYC Council Members, 9 have committed to fight for increasing public library funding to at least 0.5% of the annual city expense budget in each financial plan released while they are in office. Is your CM a public library defender? Find out here: nycplan.org/scorecards/l...

actionnetwork.orgCity Council, we demand half a percent of the overall city budget for libraries!In response to the NYC FY2026 Budget, adopted this June, the Brooklyn Public Library, the New York Public Library, and the Queens Public Library released a joint statement thanking City Leaders for investing in public libraries (https://investinlibraries.org/). As the demand for library services continues to grow, sustained funding is essential for stable infrastructure and library services. In addition to the essential reading materials and public programming they offer, the NYC library systems are critical civic infrastructure. As extreme weather intensifies and free and open spaces become vanishingly rare, they offer valuable public space that is needed now more than ever. While the expansion of seven-day service will absolutely help communities who don’t yet have it, we take seriously the concerns of library union locals that represent library staff, who warn that already underpaid workers are stretched beyond their job descriptions just to meet regular six-day service demands. We strongly support the union’s call for higher wages and the hiring of more workers to correct this before seven-day service is expanded. We demand increased funding, and will continue to act and organize for the future of our library systems. Our libraries deserve more than stagnation – they deserve our enthusiastic and material support. NYC PLAN continues to demand that at least one-half of 1% (0.50%) of the total New York City expense budget be committed to our library systems, both now and in the future. The current FY ‘26 funding is only .45% of the total expense budget, so an increase to .50% would mean an additional $56.4 million for our libraries. This is a realistic but significant number which will allow libraries to better serve NYC. Join NYC PLAN as we continue to fight for dedicated and sustained library funding.

Is your CM not on this list? Help us tell them we need their support to provide stable and increased funding for our libraries: You can do this in less than 5 mins: Send them a letter with this link! actionnetwork.org/letters/city... Or call them with this script! nycplan.org/actions/call...

Thank you to Council Member Julie Won who has committed to support NYC PLAN’s demand to fund our libraries at 0.5% of the city expense budget! We appreciate your support for our libraries!

council.nyc.govDistrict 46New York City Council

NYC PLAN appreciates Council member Mercedes Narcisse from district 46, who supports funding the public library at a minimum level of 0.5%. Thank you CM Narcisse! council.nyc.gov/district-46/

A big thank you to Council Member Rita Joseph, who is proud to stand with the NYC Public Library Action Network and fight for 0.5% of the budget to be allocated to libraries! We appreciate your commitment to NYC libraries!