A better way to organize New York’s libraries

In March, Mayor Eric Adams proposed cutting spending at the city’s three public library systems – the New York Public Library, the Queens Public Library and the Brooklyn Public Library. The mayor has since reversed course, but his proposal underscores the need for reform. To ensure that the city’s libraries remain financially and politically viable, authorities should merge the NYPL, the QPL and the BPL into a single institution: the New York City Public Library.

Today, the NYPL serves Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx, while the QPL and BPL serve their namesake boroughs. The three systems provide vital educational, civic, and social services to countless New Yorkers. The libraries rely on a combination of private philanthropy and municipal funding, with the latter accounting for between 40 and 50 percent of their operating budgets. In fiscal year 2023, the three systems’ combined budgets exceeded $760 million.

Consolidating the systems would make the cities’ library network more efficient and effective. First, by combining their philanthropic and lobbying power, the three systems could increase revenue and reduce unnecessary administrative costs. Second, given the substantial budget that a unified system would require, a merger would ensure that procurement needs could be met more competitively than before. A larger organization would attract more vendors to the competitive bidding process, and the resulting price competition would save the system millions in contract costs. Third, a unified system would experience greater community participation and be less likely to be financially neglected by city and state legislators.

A merger would also save the city millions of dollars by reducing the number of full- and part-time administrative positions and non-essential operating costs. It would eliminate redundant (and highly paid) senior management positions and reduce costs associated with procurement. Centralizing management systems, including IT, payroll, and legal services, would also reduce costs. These savings would allow the libraries to cover urgent renovation and program costs and ensure they remain open to New Yorkers seven days a week.

The merger of the three giant systems would require a great deal of restructuring and adjustment. The project would have to deal with the power of unionized workers. Since part of the savings from the merger would come from labor costs, implementing the new system would mean satisfying the larger number of unionized workers with job security and continued respect for their collective bargaining power.

The merger would not result in immediate job losses. Over a multi-year process, the three systems can gradually eliminate redundant positions following retirements and layoffs. The library workers’ union would be involved in the planning process, which would include the inclusion of new services and positions. Successful mergers of the city’s public schools show that it is logistically and politically feasible to manage the personnel turnover.

Past integration efforts provide cause for optimism. In 2013, for example, the NYPL and BPL integrated their technology services departments. The agreement saved the two systems between $1.5 million and $2 million annually in maintenance and storage costs.

Without decisive action, Gotham’s libraries will face financial difficulties. Consolidating the three existing systems into the New York City Public Library would provide a stable future for the city’s libraries and their countless users.

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