Mark your calendars, bibliophiles, because starting this Sunday, there's good news on the New York City front. Joining the existing roster of libraries with seven-day service, 11 additional branches are set to swing open their doors on Sundays. Citing a statement obtained by Gothamist, this expansion will bring the citywide total to over 30 libraries, ensuring that whether you're in Bay Ridge or Harlem, your literary or resource needs won't have to wait for Monday.
The extended service stems from a $2 million investment, a move by the New York City Council to cater to communities' calls for increased library access. Last year's budget cuts led to reduced hours, sparking a public outcry that clearly did not go unheard. In addition to the increase, libraries are receiving a $15 million shot in the arm for operating support for the upcoming fiscal year, as noted by the Timeout report.
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has been a vocal champion for the cause, stating that libraries are "among our most precious public resources," a sentiment echoed by finance committee chair Justin Brannan of Brooklyn by calling them "tabernacles of freedom and democracy," as per Gothamist.
Also noteworthy, the Kew Gardens Hills branch in Queens will add Saturday hours starting next Saturday, and the iconic St. George branch on Staten Island, is set to welcome weekend visitors as well. "With the city undergoing an affordability crisis, and third spaces rapidly declining, libraries are increasingly the answer New Yorkers need," NYPL president Anthony Marx told Timeout.
