The New York Public Library may well be the queen of municipal libraries. Featured in films and fabled among the public radio listening classes of the US, I’ve admired it from afar my whole life even though I’ve never climbed its famous steps guarded by stone lions.
But even such hallowed institutions are not immune from budget cuts and the New York Public Library system with all its many branches across the city was facing cuts of at least $37 million which would lead to reduced services across the city and opening hours slashed to a mere a three days a week in some branches.
But everyone knows how unpopular cuts to libraries area and NYPL leveraged social media to save its services. Many of its users are already remote as it has a significant e-library offering and online information services which are used by people across the city and state (and beyond).
NYPL used its Facebook page to campaign against cuts. You won’t see much there now, as the campaign was largely successful and a recent Facebook update linked to their website thanking those who campaigned on behalf of the library. (And interestingly there’s still a donate button, as in the US it’s accepted practice for people to donate to public library book funds.)
But while the campaign was going on, NYPL was using its Facebook page and its blogs as it always does, to promote its service in a a fun and uplifting way. For every message asking for support against cuts, there were two sharing stories of success, promoting reading programmes or letting people know about special events or sometimes just some fun link related to reading or libraries. (Like this one to the funniest library videos ever made )
Ingrid Koehler