NYC Libraries Warn Of Consequences From $90 Million Funding Cut
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Advocates were at City Hall Friday urging against proposed budget cuts that would eliminate workers and reduce hours at New York City's three library systems.
The $90.3 million in potential cuts to library services at the New York Public Library, Queens Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library would also have a significant impact on public Internet access.
NYPL President Paul LeClerc said that school children would be hurt the most by the proposed cuts.
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"Every afternoon, there are at least 100,000 children in public libraries in New York City doing good things -- reading, doing homework, being online for educational purposes," LeClerc said.
LeClerc went on to say that there were 40 million visits to libraries in the five boroughs last year. He also called the possible cuts "nuts."
With a new budget for 2012 due by the end of June, library programs and hours stand to face the ax if Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council don't restore the funding.
