New York City's three library systems have at least $1.1 billion in capital needs with 59 branches requiring at least $5 million in maintenance, according to a report published Monday.
The think tank Center for an Urban Future said in its report, titled "
The center in March issued a report, "Caution Ahead," that called for a $47 billion investment in city and regional infrastructure over five years.
"Mayor [Bill] de Blasio recognizes the important role that libraries play in providing critical services to New Yorkers, which is why this administration is taking a new approach to invest in and partner with and support libraries," said de Blasio press officer Marti Adams. "In his first executive budget, the mayor and City Council increased capital funding for libraries, and Mayor de Blasio also ended the budget dance, which held library funding hostage in prior years."
Queens and Brooklyn have separate library systems from the New York Public Library, which serves Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island.
The Queens Library is immersed in controversy. Last week its board of trustees, after de Blasio and borough President Melinda Katz replaced some of its members, placed chief executive Thomas Galante on paid administrative and agreed to cooperate with an audit by city Comptroller Scott Stringer's office.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Attorney's Office are investigating Galante, who makes $392,000 annually, for possible misuse of funds. Published reports said Galante had built a $27,000 private smoking deck next to his executive office and held a consulting job for a Long Island school district that paid him more than $100,000 a year.
Of the $1.1 billion the three systems have prioritized in capital needs, according to Center for an Urban Future, roughly $812 million is for state of good repair and interior renovation projects, and $278 million is for site acquisition and new construction.
The report says the average branch library in the city is 61 years old, with a quarter of the city's 207 branches built more than a century ago. The study said several other cities have more capably invested in their branch library system.
"For instance, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Columbus have all launched major capital campaigns in recent years that have resulted in new or fully renovated libraries for over half their physical plant," the report said. "In contrast, only 15 new libraries have been built in New York City over the past 20 years - 7% of the system."
Charles H. Revson Foundation funded the report.
Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's rate the city's general obligation bonds AA, while Moody's Investors Service assigns an Aa2 rating. "Adequate funding for aging infrastructure and expansion initiatives in the context of already-high debt levels will continue to be a challenge," Fitch wrote of the city overall.
