All topics / Building Human Potential
Public Libraries
New York City is served by three separate, independent public library systems rather than one citywide agency: the New York Public Library, formed in 1895 from the consolidation of the Astor and Lenox libraries with the Tilden Trust and serving Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island; the Brooklyn Public Library, established in 1896; and the Queens Public Library, whose network of neighborhood libraries formally united in 1901. Together the three systems operate well over a hundred branches and remain among the most heavily used civic institutions in the city, offering free books, programming, and digital access in every neighborhood.
What's working
- How much program attendance is there?: 616,051 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
- What is the total library attendance?: 4,232,000 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
- How many program attendance – Branches are there?: 968,570 branches — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
- and 14 more below
What's getting worse
- What percent of libraries open six days per week?: 84%
- How much circulation is there?: 7,755,000 — misses target by 1,845,000
- How much circulation is there?: 13,353,000 — misses target by 2,647,000
Critical indicators
With a numeric target
How much circulation is there?
7,755,000Misses target by 1,845,000
How much circulation is there?
7,755,000Misses target by 1,845,000
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 9,318,000 | 6,200,000 |
| FY23 | 9,867,000 | 10,300,000 |
| FY24 | 9,570,000 | 9,600,000 |
| FY25 | 9,786,000 | 9,600,000 |
| FY26 (YTD) | 7,755,000 | 9,600,000 |
7,755,000 in FY26 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (1,845,000 below the 9,600,000 target), though it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Brooklyn Public Library was established by an 1892 act of the state legislature and opened its first branch in 1897, with its founding mission to provide the people of Brooklyn free and open access to information for education, recreation, and reference. As a City-funded public system, BPL's performance is tracked through the Mayor's Management Report, which defines and reports indicators such as program attendance, active library cards, computer and wireless sessions, and branch visits. This reporting exists to give the public and City officials a factual basis for assessing whether the library, one of the largest public library systems in the country, is delivering on that founding mission.
Our History | Brooklyn Public Library, NYC Mayor's Management Report - Public Libraries Indicator Definitions
How many library card holders are there?
1,728,000 holdersBeats target by 228,000 holders
How many library card holders are there?
1,728,000 holdersBeats target by 228,000 holders
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 1,472,000 holders | 1,500,000 holders |
| FY23 | 1,409,000 holders | 1,500,000 holders |
| FY24 | 1,581,000 holders | 1,500,000 holders |
| FY25 | 1,728,000 holders | 1,500,000 holders |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 1,500,000 holders |
1,728,000 holders in FY25 — met the City's own target for this indicator (228,000 holders above the 1,500,000 holders target), and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Brooklyn Public Library was established by an 1892 act of the state legislature and opened its first branch in 1897, with its founding mission to provide the people of Brooklyn free and open access to information for education, recreation, and reference. As a City-funded public system, BPL's performance is tracked through the Mayor's Management Report, which defines and reports indicators such as program attendance, active library cards, computer and wireless sessions, and branch visits. This reporting exists to give the public and City officials a factual basis for assessing whether the library, one of the largest public library systems in the country, is delivering on that founding mission.
Our History | Brooklyn Public Library, NYC Mayor's Management Report - Public Libraries Indicator Definitions
How much circulation is there?
13,353,000Misses target by 2,647,000
How much circulation is there?
13,353,000Misses target by 2,647,000
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 14,310,000 | 12,000,000 |
| FY23 | 16,530,000 | 15,000,000 |
| FY24 | 17,168,000 | 14,500,000 |
| FY25 | 17,006,000 | 14,500,000 |
| FY26 (YTD) | 13,353,000 | 16,000,000 |
13,353,000 in FY26 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (2,647,000 below the 16,000,000 target), though it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The New York Public Library was formed in 1895 by merging the financially struggling Astor and Lenox libraries with the Samuel Tilden trust, creating a research library — but it had no neighborhood branches of its own. In 1901, industrialist Andrew Carnegie offered $5.2 million (roughly $200 million today) to build 65 circulating branch libraries throughout the city, on the condition the City provide the building sites and commit to maintaining them. That gift created the branch library network NYPL still operates today, distinct from its non-circulating research libraries.
Celebrating Carnegie's Gift to New Yorkers — nypl.org, History of The New York Public Library — nypl.org
How many library card holders are there?
2,375,000 holdersBeats target by 375,000 holders
How many library card holders are there?
2,375,000 holdersBeats target by 375,000 holders
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 2,111,000 holders | 2,100,000 holders |
| FY23 | 2,075,000 holders | 2,000,000 holders |
| FY24 | 2,310,000 holders | 2,000,000 holders |
| FY25 | 2,375,000 holders | 2,000,000 holders |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 2,100,000 holders |
2,375,000 holders in FY25 — met the City's own target for this indicator (375,000 holders above the 2,000,000 holders target), and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The New York Public Library was formed in 1895 by merging the financially struggling Astor and Lenox libraries with the Samuel Tilden trust, creating a research library — but it had no neighborhood branches of its own. In 1901, industrialist Andrew Carnegie offered $5.2 million (roughly $200 million today) to build 65 circulating branch libraries throughout the city, on the condition the City provide the building sites and commit to maintaining them. That gift created the branch library network NYPL still operates today, distinct from its non-circulating research libraries.
Celebrating Carnegie's Gift to New Yorkers — nypl.org, History of The New York Public Library — nypl.org
How much circulation is there?
8,511,000 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year dataBeats target by 1,511,000
How much circulation is there?
8,511,000 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year dataBeats target by 1,511,000
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 6,738,000 | 6,500,000 |
| FY23 | 7,719,000 | 7,500,000 |
| FY24 | 8,698,000 | 7,000,000 |
| FY25 | 10,875,000 | 7,000,000 |
| FY26 (YTD) | 8,511,000 | 7,000,000 |
QPL's circulation climbed steadily as the library system restored pandemic-reduced hours and services between Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2025. The Fiscal 2026 figure shown here is a partial-year total — QPL's own preliminary Fiscal 2026 report shows circulation for the first four months of the year running ahead of the same period in Fiscal 2025, so the apparent drop likely reflects incomplete-year data rather than an actual decline.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Queens Public Library traces back to a subscription library founded in Flushing in 1858 that went free in 1869; it was formally incorporated as the borough-wide Queens Borough Public Library in 1907, shortly after Queens joined the consolidated City of New York. Andrew Carnegie's philanthropic gifts funded seven of its branch buildings as part of his broader belief that free public libraries were the "best gift that can be given to a community." Public performance reporting lets residents and oversight bodies track whether the library system, one of the largest in the country, is meeting service goals across its many neighborhood branches.
Wikipedia - Queens Public Library, Carnegie Corporation of New York - Andrew Carnegie's Library Legacy: A Timeline
How many library card holders are there?
1,655,000 holdersBeats target by 155,000 holders
How many library card holders are there?
1,655,000 holdersBeats target by 155,000 holders
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 1,457,000 holders | 1,500,000 holders |
| FY23 | 1,548,000 holders | 1,500,000 holders |
| FY24 | 1,541,000 holders | 1,500,000 holders |
| FY25 | 1,655,000 holders | 1,500,000 holders |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 1,500,000 holders |
1,655,000 holders in FY25 — met the City's own target for this indicator (155,000 holders above the 1,500,000 holders target), and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Queens Public Library traces back to a subscription library founded in Flushing in 1858 that went free in 1869; it was formally incorporated as the borough-wide Queens Borough Public Library in 1907, shortly after Queens joined the consolidated City of New York. Andrew Carnegie's philanthropic gifts funded seven of its branch buildings as part of his broader belief that free public libraries were the "best gift that can be given to a community." Public performance reporting lets residents and oversight bodies track whether the library system, one of the largest in the country, is meeting service goals across its many neighborhood branches.
Wikipedia - Queens Public Library, Carnegie Corporation of New York - Andrew Carnegie's Library Legacy: A Timeline
Without a numeric target
On average, what is the weekly scheduled hours?
48 hrs
On average, what is the weekly scheduled hours?
48 hrs
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 47 hrs |
| FY23 | 47 hrs |
| FY24 | 48 hrs |
| FY25 | 48 hrs |
| FY26 (YTD) | 48 hrs |
48 hrs in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Brooklyn Public Library was established by an 1892 act of the state legislature and opened its first branch in 1897, with its founding mission to provide the people of Brooklyn free and open access to information for education, recreation, and reference. As a City-funded public system, BPL's performance is tracked through the Mayor's Management Report, which defines and reports indicators such as program attendance, active library cards, computer and wireless sessions, and branch visits. This reporting exists to give the public and City officials a factual basis for assessing whether the library, one of the largest public library systems in the country, is delivering on that founding mission.
Our History | Brooklyn Public Library, NYC Mayor's Management Report - Public Libraries Indicator Definitions
What percent of libraries open six days per week?
84%
What percent of libraries open six days per week?
84%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 100% |
| FY23 | 100% |
| FY24 | 100% |
| FY25 | 98% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 84% |
84% in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Brooklyn Public Library was established by an 1892 act of the state legislature and opened its first branch in 1897, with its founding mission to provide the people of Brooklyn free and open access to information for education, recreation, and reference. As a City-funded public system, BPL's performance is tracked through the Mayor's Management Report, which defines and reports indicators such as program attendance, active library cards, computer and wireless sessions, and branch visits. This reporting exists to give the public and City officials a factual basis for assessing whether the library, one of the largest public library systems in the country, is delivering on that founding mission.
Our History | Brooklyn Public Library, NYC Mayor's Management Report - Public Libraries Indicator Definitions
How much program attendance is there?
616,051 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
How much program attendance is there?
616,051 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 387,494 |
| FY23 | 596,753 |
| FY24 | 816,216 |
| FY25 | 840,287 |
| FY26 (YTD) | 616,051 |
Much of BPL's climb from FY22 through FY25 reflects recovery from COVID-19 pandemic closures -- the library system's own reporting says it "resumed providing all of these [in-person] services" as pandemic restrictions eased, rebuilding program attendance from a depressed FY22 base. The apparent FY26 drop is a preliminary, partial-year figure: BPL's own reporting for the first four months of FY26 shows program attendance actually running 6% ahead of the same period in FY25, so the full-year comparison is not yet complete.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2023 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Public Libraries, Preliminary Fiscal 2026 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Brooklyn Public Library was established by an 1892 act of the state legislature and opened its first branch in 1897, with its founding mission to provide the people of Brooklyn free and open access to information for education, recreation, and reference. As a City-funded public system, BPL's performance is tracked through the Mayor's Management Report, which defines and reports indicators such as program attendance, active library cards, computer and wireless sessions, and branch visits. This reporting exists to give the public and City officials a factual basis for assessing whether the library, one of the largest public library systems in the country, is delivering on that founding mission.
Our History | Brooklyn Public Library, NYC Mayor's Management Report - Public Libraries Indicator Definitions
What is the total library attendance?
4,232,000 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
What is the total library attendance?
4,232,000 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 2,979,000 |
| FY23 | 4,064,000 |
| FY24 | 5,984,000 |
| FY25 | 6,035,000 |
| FY26 (YTD) | 4,232,000 |
BPL's overall visit numbers climbed from FY22 through FY25 as the library system recovered from COVID-19 pandemic closures and resumed full in-person service. The FY26 figure is a preliminary, partial-year count; BPL's own reporting for the first four months of FY26 shows visit and program activity running at or above the prior year's pace, so the apparent FY26 decline likely reflects incomplete-year reporting rather than a real drop in attendance.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2023 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Public Libraries, Preliminary Fiscal 2026 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Brooklyn Public Library was established by an 1892 act of the state legislature and opened its first branch in 1897, with its founding mission to provide the people of Brooklyn free and open access to information for education, recreation, and reference. As a City-funded public system, BPL's performance is tracked through the Mayor's Management Report, which defines and reports indicators such as program attendance, active library cards, computer and wireless sessions, and branch visits. This reporting exists to give the public and City officials a factual basis for assessing whether the library, one of the largest public library systems in the country, is delivering on that founding mission.
Our History | Brooklyn Public Library, NYC Mayor's Management Report - Public Libraries Indicator Definitions
On average, what is the weekly scheduled hours – Branches?
48.9 hrs
On average, what is the weekly scheduled hours – Branches?
48.9 hrs
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 48.4 hrs |
| FY23 | 48.4 hrs |
| FY24 | 48 hrs |
| FY25 | 49 hrs |
| FY26 (YTD) | 48.9 hrs |
48.9 hrs in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The New York Public Library was formed in 1895 by merging the financially struggling Astor and Lenox libraries with the Samuel Tilden trust, creating a research library — but it had no neighborhood branches of its own. In 1901, industrialist Andrew Carnegie offered $5.2 million (roughly $200 million today) to build 65 circulating branch libraries throughout the city, on the condition the City provide the building sites and commit to maintaining them. That gift created the branch library network NYPL still operates today, distinct from its non-circulating research libraries.
Celebrating Carnegie's Gift to New Yorkers — nypl.org, History of The New York Public Library — nypl.org
What percent of libraries open six days per week – Branches?
94%
What percent of libraries open six days per week – Branches?
94%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 100% |
| FY23 | 100% |
| FY24 | 100% |
| FY25 | 100% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 94% |
94% in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has stayed essentially flat over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The New York Public Library was formed in 1895 by merging the financially struggling Astor and Lenox libraries with the Samuel Tilden trust, creating a research library — but it had no neighborhood branches of its own. In 1901, industrialist Andrew Carnegie offered $5.2 million (roughly $200 million today) to build 65 circulating branch libraries throughout the city, on the condition the City provide the building sites and commit to maintaining them. That gift created the branch library network NYPL still operates today, distinct from its non-circulating research libraries.
Celebrating Carnegie's Gift to New Yorkers — nypl.org, History of The New York Public Library — nypl.org
How many program attendance – Branches are there?
968,570 branches — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
How many program attendance – Branches are there?
968,570 branches — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 505,595 branches |
| FY23 | 1,031,424 branches |
| FY24 | 1,216,843 branches |
| FY25 | 1,239,847 branches |
| FY26 (YTD) | 968,570 branches |
NYPL's branch libraries were still restoring pandemic-era hours and programming through Fiscal 2022, so program attendance more than doubled once a full year of expanded service was in place by Fiscal 2023. Attendance kept climbing even through a citywide budget cut that briefly eliminated Sunday hours in late 2023 (funding was fully restored in mid-2024). The Fiscal 2026 figure shown here is a partial year total — the City's preliminary Fiscal 2026 report shows attendance for the first four months of the year actually running ahead of the same period in Fiscal 2025, so the dip likely reflects incomplete-year data rather than a real decline.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYPL, Statement on Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Cuts (with BPL and QPL), CNN, "NYC public libraries have their funding restored, will reopen on Sundays", NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
The New York Public Library was formed in 1895 by merging the financially struggling Astor and Lenox libraries with the Samuel Tilden trust, creating a research library — but it had no neighborhood branches of its own. In 1901, industrialist Andrew Carnegie offered $5.2 million (roughly $200 million today) to build 65 circulating branch libraries throughout the city, on the condition the City provide the building sites and commit to maintaining them. That gift created the branch library network NYPL still operates today, distinct from its non-circulating research libraries.
Celebrating Carnegie's Gift to New Yorkers — nypl.org, History of The New York Public Library — nypl.org
What is the total library attendance – Branches?
6,616,000 branches — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
What is the total library attendance – Branches?
6,616,000 branches — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 5,346,000 branches |
| FY23 | 7,341,000 branches |
| FY24 | 8,006,000 branches |
| FY25 | 8,695,000 branches |
| FY26 (YTD) | 6,616,000 branches |
Total branch attendance follows the same pattern as NYPL's program attendance: Fiscal 2022 was still a pandemic-recovery year with limited hours, and attendance grew steadily as full service returned through Fiscal 2025, weathering a brief 2023 budget cut to Sunday hours that was restored the next year. The Fiscal 2026 figure is a partial-year total — the City's preliminary Fiscal 2026 report shows the first four months of the year running ahead of the same period in Fiscal 2025, suggesting the apparent drop is a reporting-lag effect rather than an actual decline.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYPL, Statement on Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Cuts (with BPL and QPL), CNN, "NYC public libraries have their funding restored, will reopen on Sundays", NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
The New York Public Library was formed in 1895 by merging the financially struggling Astor and Lenox libraries with the Samuel Tilden trust, creating a research library — but it had no neighborhood branches of its own. In 1901, industrialist Andrew Carnegie offered $5.2 million (roughly $200 million today) to build 65 circulating branch libraries throughout the city, on the condition the City provide the building sites and commit to maintaining them. That gift created the branch library network NYPL still operates today, distinct from its non-circulating research libraries.
Celebrating Carnegie's Gift to New Yorkers — nypl.org, History of The New York Public Library — nypl.org
On average, what is the weekly scheduled hours – Research?
51 hrs
On average, what is the weekly scheduled hours – Research?
51 hrs
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 49.4 hrs |
| FY23 | 51 hrs |
| FY24 | 49.7 hrs |
| FY25 | 51 hrs |
| FY26 (YTD) | 51 hrs |
51 hrs in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
When the New York Public Library was formed in 1895 by combining the Astor Library, the Lenox Library, and the Samuel Tilden trust, the result was a non-circulating reference and research institution, not a lending library. That research mission is preserved today in NYPL's research libraries (including the flagship Fifth Avenue building), which remain functionally distinct from the branch library system that Andrew Carnegie's 1901 gift later created for everyday neighborhood lending.
History of The New York Public Library — nypl.org, New York Public Library — Wikipedia
What percent of libraries open six days per week – Research?
100%
What percent of libraries open six days per week – Research?
100%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 100% |
| FY23 | 100% |
| FY24 | 100% |
| FY25 | 100% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 100% |
100% in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has stayed essentially flat over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
When the New York Public Library was formed in 1895 by combining the Astor Library, the Lenox Library, and the Samuel Tilden trust, the result was a non-circulating reference and research institution, not a lending library. That research mission is preserved today in NYPL's research libraries (including the flagship Fifth Avenue building), which remain functionally distinct from the branch library system that Andrew Carnegie's 1901 gift later created for everyday neighborhood lending.
History of The New York Public Library — nypl.org, New York Public Library — Wikipedia
How many program attendance – Research cases are there?
111,349 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
How many program attendance – Research cases are there?
111,349 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 101,663 |
| FY23 | 126,555 |
| FY24 | 151,468 |
| FY25 | 154,828 |
| FY26 (YTD) | 111,349 |
NYPL's research libraries (the four scholarly research centers, separate from the branch system) show the same pandemic-recovery pattern as the branches: attendance grew steadily from Fiscal 2022 as hours and programming were fully restored. The Fiscal 2026 figure is a partial-year total; the City's preliminary Fiscal 2026 report shows program attendance for the first four months of the year running well ahead of the same period in Fiscal 2025, so the apparent dip likely reflects incomplete-year data rather than a real decline.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
When the New York Public Library was formed in 1895 by combining the Astor Library, the Lenox Library, and the Samuel Tilden trust, the result was a non-circulating reference and research institution, not a lending library. That research mission is preserved today in NYPL's research libraries (including the flagship Fifth Avenue building), which remain functionally distinct from the branch library system that Andrew Carnegie's 1901 gift later created for everyday neighborhood lending.
History of The New York Public Library — nypl.org, New York Public Library — Wikipedia
What is the total library attendance – Research?
3,225,000 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
What is the total library attendance – Research?
3,225,000 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 1,796,000 |
| FY23 | 3,456,000 |
| FY24 | 3,953,000 |
| FY25 | 4,201,000 |
| FY26 (YTD) | 3,225,000 |
Total attendance at NYPL's research libraries roughly doubled from Fiscal 2022 to Fiscal 2024 as pandemic-era hours and access restrictions were fully lifted. The Fiscal 2026 figure shown here is a partial-year total — the City's preliminary Fiscal 2026 report shows attendance for the first four months of the year running ahead of the same period in Fiscal 2025, so the apparent dip likely reflects incomplete-year data rather than a real decline.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
When the New York Public Library was formed in 1895 by combining the Astor Library, the Lenox Library, and the Samuel Tilden trust, the result was a non-circulating reference and research institution, not a lending library. That research mission is preserved today in NYPL's research libraries (including the flagship Fifth Avenue building), which remain functionally distinct from the branch library system that Andrew Carnegie's 1901 gift later created for everyday neighborhood lending.
History of The New York Public Library — nypl.org, New York Public Library — Wikipedia
On average, what is the weekly scheduled hours?
45 hrs
On average, what is the weekly scheduled hours?
45 hrs
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 37.8 hrs |
| FY23 | 44.3 hrs |
| FY24 | 45 hrs |
| FY25 | 45 hrs |
| FY26 (YTD) | 45 hrs |
45 hrs in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Queens Public Library traces back to a subscription library founded in Flushing in 1858 that went free in 1869; it was formally incorporated as the borough-wide Queens Borough Public Library in 1907, shortly after Queens joined the consolidated City of New York. Andrew Carnegie's philanthropic gifts funded seven of its branch buildings as part of his broader belief that free public libraries were the "best gift that can be given to a community." Public performance reporting lets residents and oversight bodies track whether the library system, one of the largest in the country, is meeting service goals across its many neighborhood branches.
Wikipedia - Queens Public Library, Carnegie Corporation of New York - Andrew Carnegie's Library Legacy: A Timeline
What percent of libraries open six days per week?
87% — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
What percent of libraries open six days per week?
87% — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 55% |
| FY23 | 86% |
| FY24 | 90% |
| FY25 | 92% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 87% |
This indicator directly measures how many Queens Public Library branches kept expanded, six-day-a-week schedules, which QPL restored progressively as pandemic-era staffing and hour reductions were lifted between Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2024. The Fiscal 2026 dip shown here is a partial-year figure — QPL's own preliminary Fiscal 2026 report shows six-day service running at 90 percent through the first four months of the year, close to Fiscal 2025's full-year level of 92 percent, suggesting little real change rather than a sharp drop.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Queens Public Library traces back to a subscription library founded in Flushing in 1858 that went free in 1869; it was formally incorporated as the borough-wide Queens Borough Public Library in 1907, shortly after Queens joined the consolidated City of New York. Andrew Carnegie's philanthropic gifts funded seven of its branch buildings as part of his broader belief that free public libraries were the "best gift that can be given to a community." Public performance reporting lets residents and oversight bodies track whether the library system, one of the largest in the country, is meeting service goals across its many neighborhood branches.
Wikipedia - Queens Public Library, Carnegie Corporation of New York - Andrew Carnegie's Library Legacy: A Timeline
How much program attendance is there?
762,437 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
How much program attendance is there?
762,437 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 540,604 |
| FY23 | 879,173 |
| FY24 | 966,054 |
| FY25 | 964,018 |
| FY26 (YTD) | 762,437 |
QPL's program attendance grew sharply as the library restored pandemic-reduced hours and in-person programming from Fiscal 2022 through Fiscal 2024, weathering a brief 2023 citywide budget cut to Sunday hours that was fully restored the next year. The Fiscal 2026 figure shown here is a partial-year total — QPL's own preliminary Fiscal 2026 report shows program attendance for the first four months of the year running well ahead of the same period in Fiscal 2025, so the apparent dip likely reflects incomplete-year data rather than a real decline.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYPL, Statement on Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Cuts (with BPL and QPL), CNN, "NYC public libraries have their funding restored, will reopen on Sundays", NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Queens Public Library traces back to a subscription library founded in Flushing in 1858 that went free in 1869; it was formally incorporated as the borough-wide Queens Borough Public Library in 1907, shortly after Queens joined the consolidated City of New York. Andrew Carnegie's philanthropic gifts funded seven of its branch buildings as part of his broader belief that free public libraries were the "best gift that can be given to a community." Public performance reporting lets residents and oversight bodies track whether the library system, one of the largest in the country, is meeting service goals across its many neighborhood branches.
Wikipedia - Queens Public Library, Carnegie Corporation of New York - Andrew Carnegie's Library Legacy: A Timeline
What is the total library attendance?
4,795,000 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
What is the total library attendance?
4,795,000 — increasing as pandemic-era hours were restored; FY26 dip is partial-year data
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 3,945,000 |
| FY23 | 5,676,000 |
| FY24 | 6,332,000 |
| FY25 | 6,586,000 |
| FY26 (YTD) | 4,795,000 |
Total attendance at Queens Public Library rose steadily as pandemic-era hours and service limits were lifted between Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2025. The Fiscal 2026 figure shown here is a partial-year total — QPL's own preliminary Fiscal 2026 report shows attendance for the first four months of the year running ahead of the same period in Fiscal 2025, so the apparent drop likely reflects incomplete-year data rather than an actual decline.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Public Libraries, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Queens Public Library traces back to a subscription library founded in Flushing in 1858 that went free in 1869; it was formally incorporated as the borough-wide Queens Borough Public Library in 1907, shortly after Queens joined the consolidated City of New York. Andrew Carnegie's philanthropic gifts funded seven of its branch buildings as part of his broader belief that free public libraries were the "best gift that can be given to a community." Public performance reporting lets residents and oversight bodies track whether the library system, one of the largest in the country, is meeting service goals across its many neighborhood branches.
Wikipedia - Queens Public Library, Carnegie Corporation of New York - Andrew Carnegie's Library Legacy: A Timeline