Toronto Public Library Must Trim $7-Million More For 10% Cut

Note: The Toronto Public Library is the busiest urban library system in the world.
From The Globe and Mail:

The city’s budget committee will impose a 10 per cent cut on Toronto’s libraries despite continued protests that it can’t be done without slashing hours.
During a rancorous budget committee meeting on Monday, Budget Chief Mike Del Grande insisted that the library board’s proposed cut of 5.9 per cent was not nearly enough and passed a motion to carve an extra $7-million from the Toronto Public Library budget.
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The library board has been grappling with Mayor Rob Ford’s demand of a 10 per cent trim for months. It has repeatedly voted against cutting hours to reach the mayor’s demand.
But the budget committee’s new tactic may force just such a measure. While Mr. Del Grande’s doesn’t prescribe how the library board must find the extra savings, both Chief Librarian Jane Pyper and several library board members have said they likely can’t shed $7-million without reducing hours.

Read the Complete Article
See Also: Cuts to Service, New Fines Proposed to Slash Toronto Library Budget (December 10, 2011)
See Also: Toronto Star: Should Libraries Be in the Video Business? (December 5, 2011)

Filed under: Libraries, News, Public Libraries