Cuts to Service, New Fines Proposed to Slash Toronto Library Budget

The Toronto Public Library is the busiest urban library system in the world and the largest public library system in Canada (98 branches).
From The Globe and Mail:

Facing demands from Mayor Rob Ford to slash a further 4.3 per cent from her budget, Toronto’s chief librarian is proposing new fines and a slate of service cuts that would terminate literacy and school outreach programs.
Jane Pyper’s new recommendations would carve $7.3-million from the library budget and avoid a heavy reduction in branch hours currently being debated at city hall.
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The bulk of the savings from Ms. Pyper’s recommendations come from $2.8-million in program cuts, a $3-million shaving of the collections budget and $500,000 over two years by replacing staff members 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.
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The $3-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.

Read the Full Text Including a List of All Recommended Cuts

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