Queens Library President/CEO Tom Galante, Lauren Comito, ULU and President John Hyslop along with our counterparts at BPL and NYPL testified today at the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations and Select Committee on Libraries. The Council's website says we can view it here.

When you get a moment, thank the Council Members on the Committee:
Chairman Jimmy Van Bramer, 718-383-9566, 
Chairman Vincent Gentile, 718-748-5200
Council Member Leroy Comrie, 718-776-3700, 
Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, 718-366-3900
Council Member Inez Dickens, 212-678-4505
Council Member Daniel Dromm, 718-803-6373
Council Member Andy King, 718-684-5509
Council Member Domenic Recchia, 718-373-9673
 

Members of Local 1321 of District Council 37 and concerned patrons of the Queens Borough Public Library have filed a lawsuit in Queens County Court to obtain copies of the library’s Board of Trustees’ minutes.  Follow the link to the lawsuit. Read more >>>

Queens Library customers are telling the world why they love their Library in 30 seconds or less.  Here's a summary of what happened!

 Over 40 library supporters listened to Queens Library supporters, including NYS Senator Joseph Addabbo and City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley's representative Kate Mooney, talk about their love of libraries and how important we are to them. It was great to hear from the people who use our libraries. Their genuine, impromptu testimonies about how great our libraries are was very moving. Congratulations to the Richmond Hill Community Library staff for making this a success!

See past years of our fight to restore proposed budget cuts!

As many of you already know, in February Mayor Bloomberg announced his preliminary budget that cut the Queens Library’s budget $26.7 million. Obviously, this will impact us tremendously. In his testimony to City Council, our Local President John Hyslop acknowledged the staff’s frustration, discouragement, discontent and fear of job loss with the Mayor’s preliminary budget proposal.
 

Local 1321 is not taking this sitting down. We are re-forming our Budget Action Committee to mobilize everyone to fight for Libraries, for our Customers and for our Jobs!

Read more >>>

Local 1321 has so many people we need to thank for their support in this budget advocacy season, not least of all our elected officials. On behalf of Local 1321’s membership, I sent handwritten notes to the following elected officials thanking them for their support of Libraries.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

If you care about NYC's libraries and want to express your support for them download, printout and send the postcard Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer 47-01 Queens Boulevard Suite 205 Sunnyside, NY 11104.

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've got four events before Memorial Day Weekend!  Get out and participate.

1. May 21 Boardwalk Rally starting at 11 am
2. May 23 City Council Hearing on the Libraries' Budgets 10 am - 11:30 am
3. May 23 Langston Hughes Rally starting at 4 pm
4. May 26 Queens Library Rally at City Hall staring at 12 pm

What a great rally at the Flushing Community Library! Rambunctious library supporters from all over Queens came out to show their love of libraries. Through chants of “Save our Libraries!” and “No More Cuts!” we listened to politicians and library employees talk about the drastic cuts and how it would impact library services. Library staff members volunteered to get petitions and postcards signed. We had a great turnout. Let's all thank Council Members Peter Koo, Dan Halloran, Leroy Comrie and Jimmy Van Bramer, Borough President Helen Marshall and Assembly Member Grace Meng for coming out and showing support for us! This was a great start to our advocacy.  Let's keep up the pressure!

When you have your event, feel free to use this flyer.

Local 1321 members created these Tip Sheets that contain contact information to our Community Library's elected officials, police precincts, community boards and local press.  These contacts can be used to engage your community leaders for your library's events such as programs, rallies, etc.

You can also locate your Council Member by going to this website, http://council.nyc.gov/html/members/members.shtml

Local 1321 created a list of talking points staff can use when they hold events at their location.

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.

On March 24, 2011, along with the Presidents of the four unions representing New York City's Public Library employees, Local 1321 President John Hyslop testified at the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations' hearing on the Mayor's proposed budget.

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

Local 1321 formed its Budget Action Committee to concentrate and coordinate its budget advocacy efforts.  Members need your involvement.  If you want to get involved contact President John Hyslop.

This article explains NYC's budget process and was taken from a letter written to Local 1312 Membership regarding the FY 2012 budget.

DC 37 is holding a massive rally to Stop Layoffs, Stop Service Cuts, Stop Privatization.  We need everyone to come out and demonstrate to the Mayor that DC 37 is standing strong for New York City and its Citizens.