The president of the Queens Public Library on Friday touted the services beyond books at libraries, which are facing millions of dollars in cuts under the city's proposed budget.

“We’re looking at a $58.3 million cut,” Queens Public Library CEO and president Dennis Walcott said. “I’m not sure always why we’re the political game, back and forth. And I know the mayor believes in libraries. I definitely know the speaker believes in libraries, our City Council members."

"We are free and open to the public. We are trusted by the public. We provide services to the public. We provide books, materials and programs. We respond to the diversity of New York City and the greatness of New York City," Walcott added. "So, I’m not sure why we’re always put on that chopping block.”

Mayor Eric Adams unveiled a $111.6 billion budget on Wednesday that restored funding to some agencies, but libraries were not among them. Since November, libraries have been closed on Sundays following budget cuts Adams said were necessary due to migrant-related spending.

Walcott said Sunday service is the most expensive day to run libraries due to staff being paid time-and-a-half, but libraries are responsible with the money allocated to them.

“We’re a great return on investment, and we’re very responsible for the use of the city’s dollars as far as how we invest our money," Walcott said.

The three basic expenses for libraries are personnel, books and materials and capital needs, but they also serve as education centers, cooling sites, vaccination sites and polling locations in communities, he said.

“We should be at a point of having money in our budgets to allow us to provide the services, but to even expand our services to the public. Because the city knows what it gets with the library, the public knows what it gets with us," Walcott said.