The New York Public Library may lose more than $57 million in operating funds—$28 million of that from a cut in the New York City budget—at a time when, economic conditions being what they are, more New Yorkers are making more use of the library's facilities. (And we're not just talking books here; resources for job seekers, events programming, and many other aspects of the library's community service are at risk.)

To address this situation, the NYPL has augmented its annual letter-writing campaigns with an online component; New York City residents can email their City Council representative and emphasize how much they value a strong and active public library system in their city. You can also visit the NYPL homepage in order to make your own financial contribution.