Councilors find spines to stop library cuts

By Josh Bailie –

Dozens of downtown library hours, including all Sundays hours for Parliament St., were potentially salvaged by the Toronto’s library board’s December rejection of city demands for a 10 per cent budget slash.

What synthesized was a potential $164.5 million budget 5.9 per cent lower than 2011’s. While more modest, there could still be some noticeable changes—especially Downtown.

Toronto Public Library Workers Union president Maureen O’Reilly cautioned that 107 full-time staff cuts made possible by automatic book check-outs will affect Toronto’s busiest libraries—many of which are here in south Toronto.

“People are going to experience less staff in the branches,” she said. “They can experience frustration with longer line-ups—for everything, whether it be information services or circulation assistance.”

And with both libraries approximately averaging 215,000 visitors over the last two years, Parliament St. and St. Jamestown are two of the most visited neighbourhood branches in the city.

Increased fines and other revenue opportunities may be instituted into the library system, as well as efficiencies like merging book depots.

O’Reilly, whose union mobilized patron support during its campaign against library cuts, does offer some optimism to Downtown residents. She said citizens’ unprecedented concern for the library system’s well-being is an invigorating victory.

“I have been told by several councilors that the amount of emails and correspondence on the library issue was the greatest outpouring on an issue ever,” she said.

Ward 28 councilor Pam McConnell, in fact, said cutting library hours would be “devastating” in a November email rallying constituents against the cuts. McConnell presented her own deputation against them at December’s library board meeting.

Different persuasions exist, however, for other councilors. Scarborough councilor and library board chair Paul Anslie tabled an altered hour-reduction proposal that would preserve Sunday branch hours, and told the Globe and Mail he was “furious” after it was defeated 8-5.

Councilor and budget chief Mike Del Grande threatened the library board with a 10 per cent cut in funding no matter the decision.

And, of course, there’s Rob Ford, who may have to find yet another alleyway for city cuts if this library budget passes. It will go to executive committee and then council from Jan. 17 to 19.

Proposed hour cuts fluctuated over the course of several library debates. At their stingiest, Parliament St. and Parkdale stood to lose 13 hours and close on Sundays, Lillian H. Smith could have lost almost 10, Yorkville and Sanderson could have lost six, and the flagship Toronto Reference Library could have lost four. Palmerston, St. Lawrence and College/Shaw’s service also could have been reduced by 2.5 hours.

Despite the encouraging news, it may be a while before stress levels return to normal at branches. The TPL communications office declined interview requests with all frontline staff because of “political process” and “sensitive times.”