The city officials of Newark, NJ have drastically cut the Newark Public Library’s (NPL) budget forcing the NPL to reduce or discontinue vitally important services. The NPL is the largest and most used library system in the state of New Jersey. Therefore the impact of shrinking the budget will only have dire consequences on the Newark community as a whole. Newark residents rely and depend on the NPL to be a facility to enrich there lives with free access to literacy and computer programs, books, videos, computers and the internet. As a result of the NPL $2.45 million budget deficit many of the services that library patrons have become accustomed to using will be gone. • 2 branch libraries will be permanently shutdown on Aug. 27 • All libraries will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays as of Aug. 16 • All branch libraries will be closed on Saturdays as of Aug. 16 • The book budget will be decreased • Many programs for both children and adults will be cut • At least 31 employees face layoffs • Most employees face a 40% reduction of hours and pay We the residents of Newark, NJ are asking all who value and support the NPL to fill out and sign this online petition as a way to let our city officials know that we intend to improve the NPL and do not support the absurdity of taking anything away Newark libraries.