By Ivan Pereira
Potential budget cuts could disrupt service at the Laurelton library branch, but City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) and a group of southeast Queens leaders said they would not stand for it.
The councilman rallied with more than 40 patrons of the branch, at 134-26 225th St., Monday afternoon urging the city to rethink its stance on possibly slashing $16.9 million from the Queens Public Library’s budget. Sanders said the cuts could reduce the hours of operation and give its patrons one less venue in which to learn.
“Save our libraries! Save our libraries!” said the councilman and protestors.
Sanders said he has been working with other Council members and the mayor to try to prevent the cuts from becoming a reality. He noted that more than 160,000 people used the Laurelton branch last year and it positively enhanced the academics for many students in the area.
“Libraries are a place where young people develop,” he said. “When I was a young man, I spent my years in the library. It was a place where I learned many things.”
The library’s budget has seen significant decreases over the last two years, according to administrators. Over the last 18 months, it has lost $28.3 million in government funding, library officials said.
The reduced budget could lead to the shutdown of 14 libraries and fewer days of operation for 46 other borough branches, administrators said.
In addition to giving patrons access to thousands of books, the library provides southeast Queens residents with other needed services, such as computer and Internet access.
Dwight Johnson, of the civic group Federated Blocks of Laurelton, said older library users take advantage of the free access to new multimedia and learn a lot from the library staff.
“This is where the world opens up to everybody,” he said.
Democratic District Leader Jackie Boyce agreed. She applauded Sanders for taking a stand against the cuts and said she would continue to do so until the city reverses its budget decision.
“They will not cut our libraries,” she said. “Instead of fighting out here, we should be learning.”
Thomas W. Galante, chief executive officer of the Queens Public Library, said he would work with the city’s elected officials and he urged them to fight for their branches.
“Send a message, loud and clear: Keep Queens Library open,” he said in a statement.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
