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Good news for bookworms, parents, job seekers and anyone who just needs a cool, quiet place to breathe on the weekend: Eleven more New York City public libraries are bringing back Sunday service starting September 7.
The expansion—announced yesterday by the New York City Council—was made possible by a $2 million investment from Council, building on a broader $15 million bump in baseline funding for the city’s three library systems: Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), New York Public Library (NYPL) and Queens Public Library (QPL). The move comes after a rocky 2023, when Sunday hours were slashed due to budget cuts, prompting public outcry and a flurry of op-eds, rallies and testimony from library lovers across the five boroughs.
Now, with weekend access back on the rise, the total number of branches offering seven-day service will climb past 30, including fan favorites like Harlem Library, Jackson Heights Library and the iconic St. George branch on Staten Island.
“I proposed expanding seven-day library service across the city in my 2025 State of the City address,” said City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, “because libraries are among our most precious public resources, serving New Yorkers of all ages in every neighborhood.”
Among the branches returning to Sunday hours:
- Brooklyn: Bay Ridge and Bedford
- Bronx: Mott Haven, Baychester, Kingsbridge
- Manhattan: Harlem
- Queens: Glen Oaks, Hunters Point, Jackson Heights, Rochdale Village
- Staten Island: St. George
In addition, the Kew Gardens Hills branch in Queens will add Saturday hours starting Sept. 13, joining Central, Flushing and Far Rockaway as QPL locations with full seven-day access.
“With the city undergoing an affordability crisis and third spaces rapidly declining, libraries are increasingly the answer New Yorkers need,” said NYPL president Anthony Marx. From Wi-Fi and job support to children’s programs and ESL classes, the city’s libraries have long punched above their weight—and now they’ll have a few extra days a week to do it.
For full hours and programming, visit each library system’s website. Just don’t forget your library card!