http://www.thestar.com/news/article...will-reject-radical-cuts-vice-chair-says?bn=1
Library board will reject radical cuts, vice-chair says
The vice-chair of the library board says the board will reject the most controversial of the cost-cutting and money-making ideas contained in a new report from the city’s chief librarian.
In the report, city librarian Jane Pyper assesses more than 20 suggestions sent to her from individual board members. Many of them are eyebrow-raising.
They include closing the North York reference branch and the Yorkville branch, selling library properties, selling advertising, eliminating all computers and reducing the size of branches.
Vice-chair Mike Foderick said
more than half of the suggestions were sent to Pyper by one civilian board member whose “very strong views” differ from those of the other 12 members.
“The vast majority of these suggestions will never see the light of day,” Foderick said.
Benjie Wulffhart, another of the eight civilian members appointed in September, also said the “extreme” suggestions, such as branch closures, came from a lone civilian.
Foderick said the rest of the board is opposed to closing any branches, as is city council.
The North York reference library was by far the highest-circulation branch in 2010, and Pyper advised the board to dismiss the idea of shutting it down.
The sale of branch naming rights is among the other suggestions. Pyper said the library’s foundation has already tried, unsuccessfully, to entice potential major donors to sign deals on naming rights. But she notes that there is “considerable debate about the naming of public assets.”
Additional suggestions include charging for parking at some branches, charging more to rent out meeting rooms, introducing fines for items placed on hold but not picked up, further increasing fines for late returns, and reviewing library programs.
Mayor Rob Ford has demanded a 10 per cent budget cut from all city entities, though he made an exception for the police. The library board approved a 5.7 per cent cut on Oct. 17. It would need to find an additional $7.3 million to meet the target.
Pyper told the board that most of the needed savings could be achieved by closing eight branches on Sundays and reducing operating hours at 59 locations. The board voted to seek an alternative solution.
It remains unclear, however, if such an alternative can be found. Pyper said that the board members’ suggestions were unlikely to make a significant budget impact in 2012.
Foderick said the board is “still chasing a number of different possibilities.” Its budget committee meets Tuesday.
The board, chaired by Councillor Paul Ainslie, a Ford ally, includes five councillors and the eight civilians. The previous board, whose civilian members were appointed under former mayor David Miller, repeatedly defied Ford’s demand for cuts during the 2011 budget process earlier this year.
Councillor Janet Davis, a left-leaning board member, urged the new board to defy Ford’s 10 per cent directive and reject the Sunday closures and reductions in opening hours, noting that the police were permitted a budget increase. She also criticized the board members’ suggestions to Pyper.
“They’re new. They want to make a contribution. Clearly, their lack of experience is demonstrated in these suggestions,” Davis said.
) Sez #libraries will not be cut! 
