Harness NYC’s libraries to spread equity

DAILY NEWS — December 01, 2021 — While there’s still a lot that’s unknown about the policies that Mayor-elect Eric Adams and the incoming City Council will choose to prioritize in 2022, it’s a good bet that the new leaders across city government will call want to develop strategies for building a more equitable city. No institution is better positioned to help them make progress toward this goal than New York’s public libraries.

Although many other entities will be pivotal to creating a more equitable city — including schools and hundreds of community-based nonprofits — libraries are uniquely equipped to help in so many critical areas, from expanding access to early education and closing the digital divide to strengthening minority-owned businesses and bolstering the language, literacy and technology skills needed to access the good jobs of tomorrow.