Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee after Pres. Obama’s State of the Union address Read more >>>

Local 1321's parent union DC 37 held its first bargaining session for a new economic contract on November 10, 2011. Read more >>>

Queens Library Guild, Local 1321 members and their partners fought to save New York City's libraries. Our advocacy campaign convinced our politicians that this city's libraries are an essential service and we needed full restoration. The Queens Library staff throughout Queens made a tremendous effort to advocate for their libraries. We held rallies, petition and postcard signing events, read-ins, hugs and other creative events.

Yesterday, New York City's Mayor and City Council agreed to a funding level that provides the citizens of this great city with 5-day library service and prevents the layoff of hundreds of library workers. For the coming fiscal year, library workers will continue to provide excellent customer service including free access to books, DVDs, CDs, programs, computers, Internet, space to mingle and learn, and everything else New Yorkers have grown to expect from their Libraries. This is great news!

Local 1321's gratitude goes to everyone who came out to support their public libraries.

• We thank our customers, some of whom went above and beyond in their support of their public libraries. Our thanks go out to the hundreds of thousands of customers who signed petitions and postcards in support of libraries. Without their support, we would never have demonstrated how important library services are.
• We thank Queens Library CEO Tom Galante, the Library's Government and Community Affairs office and the rest of the Administration for working with the Local. This cooperative effort was a success.
• We thank the staff at all the branches that held rallies and events - Far Rockaway, Seaside, Arverne, Peninsula, Laurelton, Rosedale, Langston Hughes, Flushing, Central, Long Island City, Woodhaven, North Forest Park, Jackson Heights, Richmond Hill and South Hollis. We brought attention to the potential devastation the proposed cuts would have on library services.
• We thank our fellow library workers from Urban Librarians Unite. Their innovative advocacy brought international attention to our plight.
• We thank all the people at DC 37 who used their expertise and knowledge to advocate for libraries: Political Action, Professional Division, Research and Negotiations, Purchasing Department (for getting us the tee shirts), Communications Department and the Executive Office. Without them, we would not have succeeded.
• We thank our fellow Library Unions for working with us to fight for library services: Eileen Muller, President Brooklyn Library Guild, Local 1482; Val Colon, President New York Public Library Guild, Local 1930, Cuthbert Dickenson, President Quasi-Public Employees, Local 374.
• We thank our fellow DC 37 Locals for showing their solidarity with library workers and participated in our rallies – Dennis Ifill, President 1359; Eddie Rodriguez, President Local 1549 and DC 37; James Tucciarelli, President Local 1320; Michael DeMarco, President Local 1455; Clifford Koppelman, President Local 1070 and Secretary of DC 37; Maf Uddin, President Local 1407 and Treasurer of DC 37 and anyone else we neglected to mention.
• We thank our Borough Presidents for advocating for NYC's libraries especially Borough Presidents: Mark Stringer, Marty Markowitz and Helen Marshall. They were instrumental in bringing attention to the public library crisis.
• We thank our Mayor Michael Bloomberg for providing enough funding to have 5 day service and avoid layoffs.
• We thank our City Council Members who made time in their very busy schedule to come to our rallies and events, including: City Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer, Elizabeth Crowley, Eric Ulrich, Leroy Comrie, James Sanders, Peter Koo, Karen Koslowitz, Julissa Ferreras, Dan Halloran, Mark Weprin, Danny Dromm and Vincent Gentile. We need to thank all the City Council Members who provided the necessary funding to have 5-day service throughout the city. We also need to thank Council Speaker Christine Quinn and City Council Committee on Finance Chair Domenic Recchia for making a special effort to ensure public libraries get proper funding.
• Finally and special thanks go to the amazingly hard-working and conscientious members of the Local's Budget Action Committee. Without their commitment our advocacy would not have happened. Everyone who cares about their public library must thank them for their tireless work.

On June 16, 2011, Queens Library, New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library gave Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and Mayor Michael Bloomberg over a 1/4 million petitions and postcards signed by the residents of New York City.  This stunning show of support is all the more remarkable because this was all done in just over three weeks.  Local 1321 members held rallies throughout Queens to highlight the drastic impact these cuts would have on public libraries and library users responded in a big way.  We do hope that the politicians the Citizens of New York elected to serve us and the City of New York listen to our voice and SAVE OUR LIBRARIES BY RESTORING FULL FUNDING FOR THEM!

On June 15th, the Woodhaven Community Library held a great rally.  Kids poured out of the branch holding signs.  They got passersby to sign petitions - 264 signautres and postcards - 52.  Nick Roloson representing Assemblyman Mike Miller and Katherine Mooney representing Council Member Elizabeth Crowley came out to speak to the crowd.  They both remarked on the very punitive budget that, if enacted, will be so harmful to our community.  The Friends of Woodhaven Library spoke.  Concerned parents spoke about how important their library has been to them and their kids. 

The staff did a great job.  Ken Gordon, with his guitar, sang a song about libraries.  Benjamin Colon promised to put it on iTunes.  Rickey Laster ran around keeping order and cleaning up popsicle sticks.  And Jiang Liu spoke about how important libraries are to our community.  Meanwhile Cheryl Godineaux and Abradella Addison held down the fort.

This was a great event.  Congratulations Woodhaven Community Library staff.

On April 28, 2011 DC 37 held an hearing to demonstrate New York City is not collecting all the revenue it can.  Read the report here.

North Forest Park Community Library had over 30 kids and their parents come out and show support for their community Library.  Frank Gulluscio of Community Board 6 spoke to the crowd and let them know that they need to let Mayor Bloomberg know that these cuts will devastate library services.  Volunteers got concerned 60 library supports to sign petitions and postcards.  The staff made tee shirts and postcards for the the rally.

Great job North Forest Park Community Library!

Don't know if you saw on NY 1, the Kids Rally looked awesome!  Lots of kids came out to show their love for their Library and Library staff.  The kids who were interviewed were great.  Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer came out to support the libraries.  Tom Galante spoke about how these cuts would destroy library services.

Great job LIC!

Really I've got to say Wow!  I know that sounded corny but truly, I'm impressed with the Local.  Over 40 Queens Library people joined 10s of thousands of DC 37 members and supporters came out to tell Mayor Bloomberg that this is our City and these budget cuts are not necessary.  This was the largest showing of Local 1321 members at a DC 37 rally since I've been involved.  Jackson Heights, Glendale, Cataloging, Steinway, Maspeth, East Elmhurst, Peninsula, Queens Village, ITS, Central, Woodside, Laurelton, Long Island City, Bay Terrace, Lefferts, Interlibrary Loan and others that I forgot were there to represent the local.

We had a strong presence, with our posters, flags and people.  Every politician and almost every labor leader that spoke mentioned how important libraries are to this city. Councilman Vincent Gentile used most of his speech to talk about how important libraries are.

Before the rally, while we waited for members to arrive, Kacper Jarecki and Margaret Gibson gathered petition signatures.  Danny Messina carried the flag, which could be seen from all over.  He and Salwa Elmeawad, made it to the stage, and Salwa's poster was constantly seen on the massive screen.  Jane Jacobs got interviewed by WNYC.

This was a great rally. We have to be proud of strong presence.

The Jackson Heights Community Library Staff whipped up a great rally.  Over 60 people came to Jackson Heights, a well air conditioned Cooling Center, to hear Council Member Daniel Dromm and Council Member Leroy Comrie's Community Liason Jamal Wilkerson speak about how important libraries are to New York City.  After the rally Council Member Dromm read to about 30 kids one of his favorite children's books House Mouse, Senate Mouse by Peter W. Barnes.  The Times-Ledger paper came out to cover the event.

June 7, 2011 Noon - 1:00 pm Local 1321 Queens Library Guild had a great rally.  We had supporters from all over Queens - Queensboro Hill, Far Rockaway, Flushing, Hollis, Elmhurst, Maspeth, Glendale, Jamaica, Laurelton and more. 

Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer came out to speak and Council Members Leroy Comrie, James Sanders, Danny Dromm, Elizabeth Crowley and Mark Weprin sent representatives.  They told the crowd that they support all the work the Queens Library employees provide and are behind us in this budget fight.

Dennis Ifill, President Local 1359,  Val Colon, President, Local 1930, New York Public Library, Cuthbert Dickenson, President 374, Barbara Edmonds and Aliqae Geraci of DC 37 and its members came out to support us.

Young women from The Young Women's Leadership School spoke about their love for libraries and other city services.

Thomas Galante, CEO Queens Library, Chrisitan Zabriskie, of Urban Librarians Unite, and Selina Sharmin of the Queens Library spoke about the importance of Libraries to their lives and the lives of Queens residents.

This was a great event with a lot of supporters.  We got over 700 petitions and postcards signed!

Politicians are faced with very difficult decisions in this budget.  What they decide will shape this city for years to come.  They need to take a stand.  They need to make sure that New York City funds its libraries.  They need to know that if they stand behind a budget that provides for the citizens of New York Local 1321, Queens Library Guild Members will stand behind them!

The staff at Richmond Hill Community Library had a great rally.  Council Member Elizabeth Crowley came out to show her support for NYC's libraries.  The Friends of the Richmond Hill Library and Girl Scout Troops 4002 and 4086 let her know how much the Library means to Richmond Hill.  We had a great time.

On Monday June 6 the Laurelton Community Library held a rally, petition and postcard signing event. At this event there were 12 ULU, 86 GCA cards and 129 petitions signed. Council Member James Sanders showed up to show his support for libraries.

In keeping the momentum of advocacy going at the South Hollis Community Library, we organized a postcard and petition signing event for June 3, 2011. Everyone helped in this hugely successful event. The staff at South Hollis Community Library, The Block Association and the local schools all played important roles in this advocacy effort. The numbers were outstanding as 326 people signed petitions and 222 postcards were signed. The residents of the South Hollis Community Library, much like every other Queens neighborhood, are concerned about the budget cuts and how they will affect their community. We are strongly urging the politicians to restore funds to Queens Library.

In June the City Council and Mayor are going to negotiate a budget.  For the next two weeks, Queens Library staff, Urban Libraries Unite, savenyclibraries.org, Local 1321 and other NYC Library supporters are holding events to bring attention to the potential destruction the 2012 budget cuts will have on NYC's libraries. Show your support Public Libraries and join an event.

 

• June 3 11-12:30 pm Postcard & Petition signing event South Hollis Community Library
• June 4 2 pm  Hug NYPL's Schwartzman Building, 42nd & 5th Ave
• June 6 4-5:30 pm Rally @ Langston Hughes Community Library
• June 6 3:30-5 pm Rally @ Laurelton Community Library
• June 7 12-1 pm Rally @ Queens Library's Central Library Jamaica
• June 8 4-6 pm Rally @ Richmond Hill Community Library
• June 9 3-4:30 pm @ Rally Jackson Heights Community Library
• June 11 2:30-4 pm Rally @ Broadway Community Library
• June 11-12 4-4 pm 24 Hour Read-in 2 @ Brooklyn Library's Grand Army Plaza Library
• June 14 10-1:15 pm Kids Rally @ Long Island City Community Library
• June 15 3:30-5:30 pm Rally and Read In Ice Cream Social @ Woodhaven Community Library

What a rally at City Hall! Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer, Peter Koo, Elizabeth Crowley, Mark Weprin, Dan Halloran, Vincent Gentile, Eric Ulrich, Karen Koslowitz, Julissa Ferreras and Leroy Comrie joined hundreds of Library supporters to voice their support of Libraries. The Council Members speeches were matched by boisterous chants of "Save our Libraries!" "No More Cuts!" Let's thank them for coming out to support New York City's Public libraries.

The world didn't end and we fought for Libraries on the Rockaway Boardwalk!  Library supporters marched down the Boardwalk from the Arverne Community Library and Seaside Community Library, chanting "1, 2, 3, 4 Libraries' have open doors! 2, 4, 6, 8 Use our Books to Educate!".  We met at Beach 94th Street and walked up to Peninsula Community Library.  There we listened to Council Members Eric Ulrich and James Sanders and community advocates talk about the importance of libraries to the citizens of the Rockaways and how we need to keep them open.  This was a great event.  Thanks to the staff of the Rockaway's community libraries, Council Members and supporters for coming out on our last day on Earth!

We need every Local 1321 member to be involved with this year's advocacy efforts.  Check out Budget Advocacy and Layoff Resources on the left hand side to see how. 

Also check the Calendar and Calendar by month for rallies by Local 1321 members and our partners!

If you are interested in having an event at your branch or volunteering for BAC events email local1321bac@gmail.com.

As a result of Mayor Bloomberg's proposed $25.3 million reduction for Queens Library for  fiscal year 2012, Queens Library's Administration issued layoff notices to 234 Union employees on Friday May 6, 2011.  If City funding is not restored, layoffs will take effect in August 4, 2011.

Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Library have petitions everyone must sign if they care about their Public Libraries.  Let your representatives hear your voice.

Brooklyn Public Library

Queens Public Library

As stated in the past few general membership meetings, in the Winter 2011 Newsletter,  and will appear in the next newsletter coming out soon, Local 1321 had to increase the dues $0.28 per paycheck. As stated in the Local's Constitution Article IV Section III, "All increases in dues mandated by Article IX, Section 6 of the International Constitution (AFSCME), and by Article III, Section 2b of the District Council 37 Constitution shall be passed along automatically to the member."  AFSCME raised the dues it charges its affiliates in 2010.  The Local's Executive Board voted not to do that in 2010.  Unfortunately, this has hurt us financially and now we need to pass it along.