After months of what was described as dogged perseverance, District 11 City Council Member Eric Dinowitz, described by his office as a well-known champion for investment in local public libraries, confirmed that the previously proposed cuts to the public library budget will be fully restored as part of the latest FY 2025 $112 billion city budget, broadly agreed between Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council on Friday, June 28, as reported.

 

“The mayor’s decision to overturn his original cuts will fund the continued daily service of over 200 libraries in New York City,” said Dinowitz, a former teacher who represents much of the northwest Bronx. “This is a win for the community.”

 

As part of the handshake deal struck on Friday between Adams and the City Council, Dinowitz’s office confirmed that the new agreement would walk back the $58 million in cuts to the libraries, as had initially been proposed by the mayor. In a critical win for future budget negotiations, officials said the City Council was able to secure $43 million in baseline funding.

 

The latest announcement allows many across the City to breathe a sigh of relief. Students, young children, parents, and families alike had submitted countless write-ins to their respective elected officials to show their objection to the proposed budget cuts in recent months.

Of the deal, Dinowitz said this was the only feasible [way forward] because New Yorkers all across the city had raised their voices in support of a public service that fundamentally shapes their lives. “Libraries are a resource for many and provide all of us with a safe space for learning and recreation,” he said.

 

He added, “They are not only educational. They also serve as community centers through which constituents can receive free resources and
support from the city. Our undaunting advocacy in the Council ensures that a service needed by millions is not only given its due support but also better invested in.”

 

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