libraries
Impact - September 2024
CUF Sparks ESOL Investment in LibrariesNew York City’s public libraries received a $4 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation that will in part support English language and literacy programs for the asylum seeker population. Our recent report called for an increased investment in ESOL programs to prepare asylum seekers to enter the city’s workforce.
Impact - March 2024
Council Speaker Proposes to Redevelop Libraries Into Affordable Housing, Echoing CUF RecommendationDuring her 2024 State of the City address, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams announced that the City Council is committing to an initiative to develop affordable housing on existing library branches, mirroring CUF's recommendations across a series of publications.
Impact - January 2023
CUF shapes new efforts to fix city's broken capital construction processThe Adams administration’s Capital Process Reform Task Force released detailed recommendations, which drew heavily from the ideas and policy recommendations in the Center’s previous three reports calling attention to the city’s delay-ridden and overly costly capital construction process.
Impact - December 2022
CUF influences the mayor and governor's New New York reportIn December, Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul released the recommendations of the "New" New York Panel. Three recommendations were directly inspired by CUF's research, including: modernizing libraries to support remote work; reducing employment barriers for people with disabilities; and creating workforce infrastructure to connect New Yorkers with good jobs.
Impact - October 2022
NYC invests in teen library spaces, echoing CUF's recommendationsMayor Adams announced a $15-million investment in dedicated teen spaces and programs across New York City’s public libraries, reflecting key recommendations from CUF's history of research on libraries.
Impact - August 2022
CUF shapes a major city budget increase for public librariesThe city announced a major $20 million dollar increase for its public libraries for the 2023 fiscal year. This budget win comes after CUF has consistently called for increased funding for libraries, proven to be the most democratic and versatile type of social infrastructure in New York City, yet one of the most underfunded.
Impact - March 2022
CUF shapes Mayor Adams's economic recovery blueprintMayor Eric Adams released “Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery,” which outlines the mayor’s vision for an economic recovery focused on equity and economic mobility. Several of the mayor’s proposals align with recent research and recommendations from the Center for an Urban Future.
Impact - June 2021
CUF forum series helps spark Queens Public Library business incubator programThe new initiative will connect aspiring entrepreneurs with small business experts, drawing on insights from CUF's five-part series on encouraging and supporting low-income entrepreneurship.
Impact - June 2019
CUF research influences city’s 2020 budget to support libraries and older adultsThe city's FY 2020 budget includes new resources for New York City’s public libraries and added support for the city’s rapidly growing population of older adults. CUF has elevated the importance of this funding through our extensive research and advocacy around both issue areas.
Impact - January 2019
CUF Report Inspires Capital Construction Process Reform in NYCNew York City's Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announces a major plan to overhaul the city’s capital construction process, mirroring key recommendations from CUF's 2017 Slow Build report.
