Library staff proposes cutting hours, jobs
Posted October 14, 2011 8:37 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The staff at the Toronto Public Library has proposed slashing service and jobs to comply with Mayor Rob Ford’s order to trim its budget.
In a report made public Thursday, Chief Librarian Jane Pyper outlines a slew of cuts including ending Sunday service at eight branches and reducing hours at dozens of others for the rest of the week.
Pyper also proposes cutting 100 full-time jobs and reducing collections by as much as 27 per cent in the first year and 11 per cent a year thereafter.
“Unlike the chief of police and the chief general manager of the TTC, who have defended the public interest served by their agencies, the library’s chief bureaucrat is doing the mayor’s dirty work, especially by describing these cuts as ‘minor service reductions'” Maureen O’Reilly of the Toronto Public Library Workers Union said in a statement.
“This plan, which would have such dire consequences for library users, will save residents only 2.5 cents a day. At a time when library usage has never been higher, this plan to cut services makes no sense.”
Pyper estimates the cuts will save $7.3 million and meet Ford’s target of a 10-per-cent smaller budget. And, she adds, staff will consider implementing new charges after the city manager releases his report later this year on a user-fee review meant to “identify any opportunity for new fees.”
As part of their core services review last summer, city consultants KPMG recommended reducing library service levels and closing branches to much public outcry.
The library board will vote on Pyper’s proposed changes Monday and, if approved, they must still pass council in January.
