{"id":4611,"date":"2016-09-28T02:00:24","date_gmt":"2016-09-28T06:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/engage\/?p=4611"},"modified":"2016-09-12T16:54:24","modified_gmt":"2016-09-12T20:54:24","slug":"library-lessons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/engage\/2016\/09\/library-lessons\/","title":{"rendered":"Library Lessons"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Document3\"A July article in the New York Times (Adding Classes and Content, Resurgent Libraries Turn a Whisper Into a Roar<\/a>) told of the resurgence of libraries in New York City. Many readers might focus on the following paragraph:<\/p>\n

In the 2016 fiscal year [New York City] libraries received $360 million for operating costs, $33 million more than the year before \u2014 the largest increase in recent times. For the 2017 fiscal year, which began on Friday, city financing for the libraries increased slightly to $365 million. But in a more significant victory, city leaders agreed to preserve past increases in future budgets, the difference, say, between getting a one-year bonus or a permanent raise.<\/em><\/p>\n

But my question was about what magic conjured public officials into approving such a thing, a major turnaround for library funding in the City. Public funding does not happen miraculously. It follows, in large measure, public will. These are the quotes from the article that suggest what’s happening:<\/p>\n