The Toronto Public Library Board met on September 21, 2015 at the Toronto Reference Library. Key topics discussed include:
2016 Operating Budget Submission
The Board approved a budget submission of $175.3 million net, which represents a $3.1 million or 1.8% increase over the 2015 budget and allows Toronto Public Library to maintain service levels and avoids reductions to service hours and library materials.
The Board also approved additional enhancements totaling $0.96 million, and is comprised of two Youth Hubs, Sunday service open hours enhancement, Internet wifi hotspot lending and a digital innovation hub, which are also to be considered as part of the City of Toronto’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.
The library presented for consideration reductions to service hours and library materials that would be required to meet the City’s operating budget target of 1% decrease from the 2015 budget. The Board voted to reject these service reductions.
The City of Toronto’s Budget Committee will review recommended 2016 budgets, followed by the Executive Committee. City Council will give final budget approval in February 2016.
2016 Capital Budget and Plan Update
The Board approved a revised 2016-2025 capital budget and plan submission of $18.2 million debt for 2016 and $225 million debt over 2016-2025, which is an increase of $2 million debt over the original 2016-2025 submission related to additional funding requests for Bayview Library and Dawes Road Library, and exceeds the City’s debt targets by $71 million over 2016-2025.
The Board was also presented with a capital budget scenario that meets the City’s debt targets of $15.2 million debt for 2016 and $153.7 million debt over 2016 – 2025.
Property Redevelopment Feasibility
Library staff will build a business case for a pilot project to redevelop a Toronto Public Library property with the objective of rebuilding a library on site and generating funding that could be used to address the state of good repair backlog for branches in neighbourhood improvement areas, as directed by the Board. Library staff will work in consultation with the City Manager, Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, and other City and Build Toronto staff.
Pan Am and Parapan Am Art Exhibits
Between June and August 2015, Toronto Public Library hosted 17 art exhibits in 12 locations to celebrate the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.
In keeping with the spirit of the Games, these exhibits highlighted the work of local artists in several different categories: indigenous artists of the Americas; artists living with disabilities; and artists creating work on the theme of sports. The Board report includes examples of art exhibits at library branches and quoted enthusiastic customer response.
Toronto Public Library is one of the world's busiest urban public library systems. Every year, 19 million people visit our branches in neighbourhoods across the city and borrow 32 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131. To get the most current updates on what's happening at the library, follow us on Twitter @torontolibrary.
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Media Contact:
Ana-Maria Critchley, 416-393-7212, media@torontopubliclibrary.ca