Public consultations to help set direction for next four years
TORONTO (Tuesday, June 26, 2012) – The Toronto Public Library Board met last night at Toronto Reference Library. Highlights of that meeting include:
Strategic Plan Draft Goals and Next Steps Approved
The Board approved the four draft priority areas, opens a new window and thirteen related goals for the library’s 2012 – 2015 strategic plan as a framework for public consultation. Priority areas are:
• Grow a City of Readers: Foster a love of reading as a first priority, helping residents overcome the barrier of low literacy levels;
• Develop a City of Learners: Support lifelong learning as fundamental to economic prosperity, social cohesion and civic engagement;
• Catalyze a City of Innovators, Entrepreneurs and Creators of All Ages: Spark experimentation, positioning Torontonians to succeed in a global knowledge economy;
• Deliver Excellent Public Library Service to Torontonians efficiently and effectively.
The Library will engage in community consultation and continue to update the environmental scan with newly released data about Toronto from the 2011 Census results. It is anticipated that priority areas and initiatives will evolve as a result of consultation with residents, stakeholders, community partners and staff.
New Branches Move Ahead with Anticipated Openings in 2014
The Board approved the awarding of the construction tender to Bondfield Construction Company Ltd. for a new library branch being built at 190 Fort York Boulevard in the Railway Lands area at the corner of Fort York Boulevard and Bathurst Street. The Board named the new site the Fort York Branch. The Board also named the second new branch, to be located in the Scarborough Centre area within the Civic Precinct at 150 Borough Drive, on the south side of the Scarborough Civic Centre, as the Scarborough Civic Centre Branch. The anticipated opening for both branches is summer 2014.
Requests for Reconsideration of Library Materials Remain Low
Challenges, opens a new window to titles in the Library’s collections received by the Materials Review Committee in 2011 remain generally very low relative to the population served, reflecting the public’s appreciation of the breadth of Toronto Public Library’s collections and understanding of the application of intellectual freedom in a public library setting. In 2011, there were complaints about four titles, all in English. Two were books – one adult and one children’s book; two were DVDs – one adult and one children’s DVD. The adult book and DVD were retained in the collection and the children’s book and DVD were withdrawn as the materials were deemed outdated.
Capital Budget Submission Approved
The Board approved the 2013-2022 capital budget , opens a new windowand plan submission for consideration by the City Budget Committee and Council.
Strengthening Protection for Reporting Wrongdoing
The Board approved a new “Whistle Blower Protection Policy, opens a new window” that provides for the protection from reprisal of any employee who, in good faith, reports wrongdoing.
Exploring Revenue Generating Ideas
The Board reviewed a number of revenue generating ideas, opens a new window and endorsed iloting an affiliate retail program that would enable books to be purchased through the library’s catalogue, and continuing the exploration of charging for parking at library locations.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Library Board is scheduled for September 24, 2012 at 6:00 pm at Toronto Reference Library.
Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 19 million people visit our branches in neighbourhoods across the city and borrow over 33 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.
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Media Contact:
Anne Marie Aikins 416-393-7212