WSJ: Library Systems in Four NYC Boroughs Plan to Unify Some Tasks

From The Wall Street Journal*:

For two years, New York’s three separate library systems have been working on a plan to offer a single, seamless library account for all New Yorkers that would unify checkouts, returns, deliveries and even late fees for the New York, Brooklyn and Queens public libraries.
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By May, the New York Public Library—which serves Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island—will consolidate operations with the Brooklyn Public Library at the New York library’s book-processing center in Long Island City, Queens. The move will save the two systems about $3.5 million per year combined, the libraries said.

According to the Queens Public Library (QPL) President Thomas Galante said his library is not participating in the consolidated processing center since it’s location would increase transport costs thereby not achieving any savings.
However, Galante said that QPL hopes to be a part of a program that would bring a single library card to all three systems.

The “Book Ops” merger is expected to save the Brooklyn Public Library $2 million per year and the New York Public Library about $1.5 million per year, the libraries said.

Much More in the Complete Article
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