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Libraries, arts leaders ask aldermen for capital, staffing and cultural funding amid federal cuts
Summary
Library and arts leaders told the finance committee that the city must invest in library infrastructure (a $500,000 capital request), stronger arts department funding and staffing for cultural programs as federal grants shrink. Speakers warned that proposed cuts to librarians and arts educators would reduce services and community programming.
Representatives of the New Haven Free Public Library system and the city’s arts community urged aldermen to protect and expand funding for libraries and arts and culture programs as part of the municipal budget.
City Librarian Maria Bernain and Kim Rogers, identified in testimony as lead librarian for New Haven Public Schools, described capital and equipment needs across five library buildings and requested $500,000 in city capital funding and $400,000 for IT upgrades. "We are community hubs that offer meeting rooms, book clubs and programs — we are safe spaces for residents — and our buildings need upgrades," Bernain told the committee.
Library testimony emphasized heavy usage: the system reported about 918,000 visits and more than 2,700 programs last year. Speakers described deteriorating roof and HVAC needs at branches including Ives and Mitchell and noted that library facilities are used as cooling and warming centers in extreme weather. Bernain said Ives’ last major renovation dated to 2017 for the makerspace addition, while portions of the building had not been touched since 1989.
Arts and cultural leaders warned that federal reductions and an executive order affecting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and other federal arts programs put local cultural organizations at risk. Hope Chavez of the Arts Council of Greater New Haven said the city's arts department budget, at about $190,000, is too small to sustain programming and staff. "Arts plus anything equals accelerated and sustained growth," Chavez said, urging expanded municipal support.
Several cultural-affairs commissioners and nonprofit arts leaders described partnerships with the city — festivals, neighborhood events and artist support programs — and asked for modest city investments to protect an ecosystem that they argued drives local economic activity and quality of life.
No formal funding allocations were made during the hearing; aldermen said the testimony will inform capital and operating budget discussion in the coming weeks.
