The New York Public Library Increases Branch Hours Throughout System, Effective Today

JANUARY 4, 2016 – The New York Public Library has expanded hours at branches throughout the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island, with a focus on evenings, weekends, and other periods of high demand.

A historic $43 million increase in operating funding to the city’s three library systems in Fiscal Year 2016 has allowed NYPL to add 293 more public service hours per week at branches across the system, bringing average weekly branch hours up from 46.6 hours to 50.

The Library system has been rolling out new hours over the last few months, but as of today all increases are in place. All new hours can be viewed at the Library’s website at nypl.org.     

“New York Public Library branches offer a wide variety of free resources to strengthen individuals and their communities, including ESOL classes, story times, coding classes, and more,” said NYPL President Tony Marx. “Thanks to a historic investment by Mayor de Blasio, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and the City Council, as well as the hard work of our growing, talented staff, we can grant New Yorkers increased access to these irreplaceable, critically important services.”

The increased hours follow the Library’s efforts to hire approximately 100 new librarians, the majority of whom are children and young adult specialists, contributing to the Library’s strong focus on early literacy and preparing New York City children for school. 

In total, Bronx branches added 120 hours of service, Manhattan branches received 133 hours, and Staten Island branches increased operating hours an additional 40 hours. Sunday service was added to four branches - the Grand Concourse and Parkchester Libraries in the Bronx, and the Inwood and Jefferson Market Libraries in Manhattan – in September. The increase in hours also benefits two of NYPL’s research centers – the Library for the Performing Arts and the Schomburg Center.

Media Contact:

Angela Montefinise / angelamontefinise@nypl.org

About The New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves more than 18 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.