LibrarianActivist.org

Mayor Miller’s recently defeated proposal for two new municiple taxes didn’t take long to fall onto Toronto Public Library.

Spacing Wire reposts a piece from Eye Magazine on the issue.

The cuts are deep. If this is on some level a device to call attention to a crisis in funding for public libraries (and Toronto in general), it’s a good one. First came a threat to close the most recently built TTC subway line. Now the library and the police have been ordered by the city trim the ‘fat’ (as in, essential services).

To be expected, there are a few comments in response to the Eye article that suggest that the library needs to generate its own revenue. Fortunately user fees got shouted down - Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler quickly pointed out that they are “forbidden under section 23(1) of Ontario’s Public Libraries Act, 1990.” He also posted the reference to the Act.

Highlights as reported by Eye Weekly:

• a hiring freeze, which will affect staffing of service desks, program delivery, training sessions and branch closures. For example, the planned re-opening of the Jane-Dundas branch (which received 11,500 visitors a month) won’t happen until 2008 now.

• the elimination of Sunday service in all libraries, excluding those in priority neighbourhoods.

• a $330,000 cut to the library materials budget (which is equivalent to the entire adult book budget for 12 branches, or the entire children’s book budget for 25 branches).

TPL is the second most used public library system in the world, second only to Hong Kong. One of the Eye comments pointed out that TPL is one of Toronto’s unadulterated successes. In the midst of T.O.’s ongoing fumbling of such issues as waterfront development and unabashed condo development in the absence of affordable housing, the library deserves to shine as a pillar of this community.

If the province doesn’t pony up with some funding, this will mark a major blow to community services for the entire GTA.

****** Addendum. July 26.07

Now magazine reacts to the public service cuts in this column, comments on politicking with the province. All complete with Shakespearean references and a nod to Oscar Wilde.

At Quillblog, it’s mentioned that the municipality of Ottawa is also having budget problems.

****** Addendum #2. July 31.07

I’d hate for the folks in Calgary to think we’re neglecting them when we’re talking about municiple funding shortages. This Toronto Star article
outlines a similar battle by Calgary’s mayor from the province of Alberta. (Where the heritage fund is reportedly $16.6 billion).

Call me nostalgic, but does anyone remember the New Deal for Cities?

-PC-