Thursday, December 8, 2011

Toronto Councillor on Likely Outcome of Proposed Library Budget Cuts: Doors Open but Little Going On Inside


Library chief eyes new fines, more service cuts in bid to preserve branch hours. (Toronto Globe & Mail, 12/8/2011)

Excerpt: Even before the board meets to discuss Ms. Pyper’s new cuts next week, some members are vowing to vote them down.

“The city librarian has put on the table another menu of very objectionable program cuts,” said Councillor Janet Davis. “They make sure that the library doors will be open, but very little will be happening inside.”

Ms. Pyper’s recommendations are made up of $2.8-million in program cuts, a $3-million shave to the collections budget and a $500,000 savings by replacing seven staff with automated sorters in some branches. She is also recommending branches impose $1 fines for holds not picked up. Taken together, the suggestions would terminate 37 jobs.

The program cuts would also eliminate the following:

  • high school and kindergarten outreach activities
  • library publications such as What’s On and What’s More
  • Keep Toronto Reading Festival
  • Adult literacy programs
  • pre-school Ready For Reading program
  • childhood Leading to Reading program
  • bookmobile service
The 3.0-million collections reduction would be followed by another $785,000 cut in 2013, bringing the total budget cut for new materials to 22 per cent.

Related posts:
How did allegedly cosmopolitan Toronto turn into such a laughingstock?  (10/30/2011)
Looking for the elusive gravy @ the Toronto Public Library.  (9/11/2011)
Margaret Atwood 1, RobDoug Ford 0.  (8/26/2011)
Curmudgeonly behavior @ Toronto City Hall.  (8/14/2011)
Speaking up for the Toronto Public Library.  (8/11/2011)
Toronto councillors not lining ujp to support mayor's call to close libraries.  (8/6/2011)
Library rallies its supporters.  (8/6/2011)
Toronto mayor Doug Ford goes hyperbolic. (7/29/2011)
Toronto councilor uses his position to bully Margaret Atwood  .(7/27/2011)

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