Six-Day Library Service in NYC Lauded

Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 9/4/2007

The restoration of six-day library service in New York City is a much bigger deal than most New Yorkers acknowledge, according to an August 2007 essay by New York City’s Center for an Urban Future (CUF), titled Branching Out. CUF called it "a landmark achievement for boosting the competitiveness of the city’s future workforce and improving the quality of life for untold numbers of seniors, parents, children and immigrants." CUF pointed out that the three systems—the New York Public Library, the Queens Public Library, and the Brooklyn Public Library, both complement the public schools and equip adults with important tools.

CUF noted that the city’s libraries were open an average of 39 hours per week, the lowest number among the country’s 20 largest cities. While six-day service was a reality just seven years ago, after 9/11, Mayor Mike Bloomberg had to cut city services, including libraries. "[N]o other institution serves such a diverse mix of New Yorkers," CUF stated, adding that "[t]hey are also probably the one public institution that is trusted by immigrants." Concluded CUF, "Though libraries might not seem to have as dramatic an impact on the city as congestion pricing or higher-profile issues, this overlooked aspect of the budget agreement will quietly improve the quality of life for countless New Yorkers."