NY Post: Libraries Getting Uneven $ Help by Frankie Edozien:
"July 13, 2007 -- There are wide differences in city funding for libraries depending on the borough, according to a new report.
The Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library and Queens Public Library are independent of city government, but get the bulk of their funding from the city.
Together, the three systems operate 208 local branches in the five boroughs. The Queens libraries got $5.09 per user's visit, compared to $7.95 for the Manhattan system and $7.42 for the Brooklyn system, the Independent Budget Office found.
George Sweeting, the deputy director of the IBO, said the setup for the funding was made long ago and is related more to population than to actual usage.
Meanwhile, for the next fiscal year, the city's subsidies for the three systems will total $295 million, up from $262 million last year, the IBO says.
frankie.edozien@nypost.com"
5 years ago
