Report: Long Overdue NYC’s $1 Billion Library Fine

8/9/2019 Report: Long Overdue NYC’s $1 Billion Library Fine

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LONG OVERD: NYC’S$1 BILLIONLIBRARY FINE

INVESTINLIBRARIES.ORG #INVESTINLIBRARIES

SPECIAL REPORT | MARCH 2015

AUTHOR

T I T L E

DATE DUE BORROWER’S NAME

INVEST IN LIBRARIESINVEST IN NEW YORKERS!


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125th Street Library | Manhattan | The New York Public LibraryUNUSED SPACE

VACANT TOP FLOORLocated just steps from the bus to the Wards Island homelessshelter, the 125th Street Library provides critical resources andopportunities, from computer access to job search help. This originalCarnegie Library suffers from leaks and outdated windows andfeatures a large, unused space on its third oor, which could beturned into a much-needed education center or computer lab.

LOCAL HEROLibrarian Crystal McKay isn’t letting the branch’scapital needs stop her from helping patronsget back on their feet. McKay, who is on thecommunity board, conducts outreach to bring thecommunity in and stocks the branch with materialsabout local social services and employment help.

#INVESTINLIBRARIES | PAGE 3

High school diplomaor lower

Household incomeunder $25,000

Speak another languageat home

COMMUNITY PROFILE

57%

60%

71%



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Median householdincome

COMMUNITY PROFILE

28%

$25,730

35%

Brownsville Library | Brooklyn Public LibraryCOOLING & HEATING PROBLE

TOO HOT TO HANDLEServing a high-need neighborhood in eastern Brooklyn, BrownsvilleLibrary is an essential community hub, providing computer accessand job search support for adults and homework help and a safeenvironment for kids. The branch faces chronic HVAC issues and isroutinely forced to close on hot days, even though four temporarychillers were brought in to replace the broken AC system.

LOCAL HEROSupervisor Paulette Silvera knows how importantit is to keep the branch running despite the HVACproblems. Many neighborhood kids have no otherplace to go after school or during the summer,while many adults have no other way to accesscomputers or the Internet.

#INVESTINLIBRARIES | PAGE 4SPECIAL REPORT | MARCH 2015


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Have no health insurance

Age 19 and younger

COMMUNITY PROFILE

27%

35%

86%

Corona Library | Queens LibraryOVERCROWDING

BURSTING, WITH PRIDELocated in a rapidly expanding immigrant community, Corona Libraryis exploding with families who rely on it for ESOL classes and after-school support for their kids. Adults crowd in throughout the day touse the computers, read newspapers in their native language, andattend English conversation groups. Programs for all ages frequentlydraw 100 people—more than double the room’s capacity.

LOCAL HEROAssistant Library Manager Karen Keys tries to ndcreative ways to meet her community’s growingneeds. The branch held a special Saturday programto highlight its new Family Place, which attractedfathers who aren’t able to bring their kids to thebranch during the week.



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#INVESTINLIBRARIES | PAGE 6




COMMUNITY PROFILE

67%

$37,608

50%


Ulmer Park Library | Brooklyn Public LibraryCHRONIC WATER DAMAGE

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURSUlmer Park Library, on the edge of Bensonhurst, serves a rapidly evolvingneighborhood that has seen an inux of new multigenerational families,primarily from China, the former Soviet Union, and South Asia. Thebranch suffers from chronic leaks and water damage, particularly on theceiling over the heavily used Chinese language section.

LOCAL HEROLibrarian Edward Flanagan is used to keeping aneye on the weather. During big storms, Flanaganand his team spring into action to hang up tarpsand split-open garbage bags to protect the books,block off ooded areas with caution tape, andplace garbage cans and buckets around the branch.


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Melrose Library | Bronx | The New York Public LibraryADA INACCESSIBLE

ENTRANCE BARRIERSMelrose Library serves a high-need neighborhood with many seniorcenters and adult day care facilities nearby. Despite this, the branchlacks both an elevator and an entrance ramp and requires majorrenovations to make it ADA accessible. Patrons face two steps upto the front door, another 14 steps up to the main oor, and evenmore stairs down to the Children’s Room on the lower level.




COMMUNITY PROFILE

60%

45%

61%

LOCAL HEROLibrary Manager Sadeqwa Atkinson refuses to letthe branch’s stairs keep patrons away. Atkinsonphysically helps patrons up and down the stepsand brings books down to patrons who can’t makethe climb. Atkinson also does outreach to localcenters to sign seniors up for books by mail.


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Rego Park Library | Queens LibraryTOO SMALL TO SERVE

NOT ENOUGH SPACEAt only 5,900 sq. feet of customer service space, Rego Park Libraryis inadequate for the needs of this densely packed community.Adults vie for access to the branch’s sole publicly accessibleelectrical outlet. Children dart through the computer area en routeto the very crowded Children’s Room, disturbing patrons who havedifculty nding a quiet place to work or study.

LOCAL HEROLibrarian Deborah Yorsaner would love to meet thediverse community’s needs with an array of freelm screenings, fairs, and other events. But facedwith limited space, she must frequently choosebetween competing needs since the branch hasonly one small area for programs.


Visitors to libraryin 2014


COMMUNITY PROFILE


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Port Richmond Library | Staten Island | The New York Public LibraryOUT-OF-ORDER BATHROOMS

DILAPIDATED LANDMARK Located in a gang-plagued neighborhood, the more than100 -year-old Port Richmond Library is a safe haven for countlesskids and teens after school. The landmarked branch, which is indesperate need of a full renovation, suffers from chronic leaks,water damage, and outdated plumbing, which causes burst pipes,backups, and frequently out-of-service bathrooms.

LOCAL HEROWhen burst pipes or other maintenanceissues cause the branch to close unexpectedly,Library Manager Patricia Kettles rallies her staffto call families and nd other creative ways tomake sure that the many kids and teens who relyon the branch get home safely.




COMMUNITY PROFILE

47%

29%

56%


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Hunts Point Library | Bronx | The New York Public LibraryMALFUNCTIONING WINDOW

CHRONIC DRAFTS & LEAKSLocated in a high-need neighborhood in the South Bronx, Hunts PointLibrary is a critical refuge, particularly for teen dropouts, out-of-workolder adults, and shelter residents. The 100 -year-old branch, whichfeatures a long-closed top oor that could house a much-needed careercenter, suffers from outdated windows that won’t close in the winter oropen in the summer, chronic leaks, and inadequate heat.

LOCAL HERONYPL staffer Caroline Magee doesn’t let thebranch’s capital needs stop her. On quietmornings, Magee runs a makeshift career centerout of the Children’s Room, where she providesresume help and one-on-one computer training—next to windows that won’t close and a garbagecan that catches leaks.




COMMUNITY PROFILE

61%

55%

75%


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Richmondtown Library | Staten Island | The New York Public LibraryBROKEN ELEVATORS

CHILDREN LEFT BEHINDRichmondtown Library in central Staten Island prides itself onproviding an array of core services for all members of its growingcommunity—from seniors to children with special needs. Theoutdated branch is especially challenged by its aging elevator,which goes up to the Children’s Room but routinely breaks down,stranding families with strollers, young children, and grandparents.

LOCAL HEROChildren’s Librarian Mary Pyrak hosts programsin the branch’s upstairs Children’s Room for kidswith special needs. When the elevator breaksdown, she scrambles to nd other locations in thebusy branch to make sure that all children have achance to discover the power of reading.




COMMUNITY PROFILE

27%

12%

31%


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Fort Washington Library | Manhattan | The New York Public LibraryINADEQUATE OUTLETS

BRIDGING THE TECHNOLOGY GAPAn original Carnegie Library, the historic Fort Washington Libraryprovides patrons with access to computers and technology as wellas giving local teens a safe place to study and hang out after school.The branch faces an array of capital needs—from chronic leaks andunused space to not enough computers or electrical outlets forpatrons to recharge their devices.

LOCAL HEROLibrarian Tara Johnson knows how importanttechnology is for her patrons. This winter, whenoutdated electrical wiring took half of thebranch’s public outlets out of service, Johnsonquickly reorganized the bottom oor to provideaccess to more outlets.




COMMUNITY PROFILE

73%

33%

49%

Documents

Report: Long Overdue NYC’s $1 Billion Library Fine