Maureen O’Reilly, President of the Toronto Public Library Workers Union today issued the following statement following yesterday’s meeting of the City of Toronto Executive Committee:
“Mayor Ford’s statement yesterday concerning our public library needs to be taken with a huge grain of salt because he is also calling for a 10% cut to the TPL budget, a reduction that will all but guarantee the closure of branches in the future in spite of the Mayor’s promise yesterday.
“Mayor Ford’s promise to cut library hours and programs will limit access for those who pay for it with their tax dollars and those who need it off peak hours. Even banks have recognized that their branches need to be open when their clients need to access them.
“Will the Mayor cut employment skills programs for immigrants, learn to read programs for kids, programs for small entrepreneurs?
“Before blindly hacking away at our public library, its branches, hours of operation and programs, at a minimum the City should undertake a study to determine the value of the Toronto Public Library to Torontonians.”