New York Libraries Need $1.1 Billion For Repairs

New York City's three aging library systems need more than $1 billion to address a range of issues, including failing mechanical equipment, leaky roofs and overburdened electrical systems.

That's the conclusion of a new report released Monday from the Center for an Urban Future.

The report notes that more than half of the city's 207 library buildings are 50 years old, adding that the deterioration of the buildings has caused extensive service disruptions.

Brooklyn libraries are in particularly bad shape, with 140 unplanned closures in 2013 resulting in about 540 lost service hours.