Communications General Correspondence Toronto
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COMMUNICATIONS GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MEETING – April 18, 2017 It is recommended that the Toronto Public Library Board: 1. receives Communication (a) representative of approximately 2,200 emails sent to Ron Carinci, Chair, Toronto Public Library Board between March 22, 2017 and April 6, 2017 regarding the Library’s extended open hours pilot; 2. receives Communication (b) from Ron Carinci in response to the approximately 2,200 emails [see (a) above] regarding the Library’s extended open hours pilot; 3. receives Communication (c) representative of approximately 1,200 emails sent to Ron Carinci, Chair, Toronto Public Library Board between April 1, 2017 and April 6, 2017 regarding survey results related to the extended open hours pilot; 4. receives Communication (d) from Ron Carinci in response to the approximately 1,200 emails [see (c) above] regarding the survey results related to the extended open hours pilot; 5. endorses sending Communication (e) to The Honourable Eleanor McMahon, Minister, Tourism, Culture and Sport expressing appreciation for the extension of full funding for the Centre for Equitable Access to all Ontario public libraries for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2017 and emphasizing the importance of the Ministry’s continued financial support for all Ontario’s public libraries. Communications 1 Nancy Marshall a From: Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2017 2:31 PM To: Nancy Marshall Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Not a library Mr. Ron CaHnci Chair, Toronto Public Library Board Dear Mr. Carinci, thatthink a library without librarians is not a library at all. I am writing to let you know When you are evaluating the staffless library pilot project at the Swansea and Todmorden branches, please record my vote as being opposed to this idea. asset for our realize idea is in response to a dwindling budget. In my opinion, the Toronto Public Library is a great I this will diminish its quality and city. It should be celebrated and valued with new investment, not programs such as this that services. Yours sincerely, Avrum Jacobson Toronto cc: Councillor Mary Fragedakis cc: John Tory Mayor of Toronto cc: Councillor Paul Ainslie Toronto Library Board Member cc: Councillor Sarah Doucette Toronto Library Board Member 1 cc: Councillor Mary Fragedakis Toronto Library Board Member 2 Nancy Marshall Ii From: Nancy Marshall Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2017 10:52 AM To: Subject: TPL Board Chair Response to Your Email Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your concerns. at two library The extended open-hours pilot aims to increase community access to library services and collections library hours at branches, Swansea and Todmorden Room. The pilot program introduces card access outside of regular branches across these two small branches. Both branches currently have the lowest number of open hours of our 100 pick-up, library material the city. The pilot will expand self-service options when the library isn’t open, such as holds lending and returns. be present at The hours of service that library staff are currently providing will not change. TPL staff will continue to at other branches these two branches for existing core hours every day the library is open. For extended hours, TPL staff will provide remote support. and will be gathering ongoing The pilot will begin later in the fall of 2017 for one year. We are still in the planning stages feedback from staff, customers and our community partners. Regards, Ron Carinci Chair, Toronto Public Library Board 1 Nancy Marshall C. From: Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2017 10:32 AM To: Nancy Marshall Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Most of us reject staffless libraries Mr. Ron Carinci Chair, Toronto Public Library Board Dear Mr. Carinci, bring to your attention that a strong majority of Toronto residents reject the notion of I am writing to invite you to staffless libraries, according to a new survey by MAINSTREET Research. to review the survey report: http://ourpubliclibrary.to/Mainstreet-Toronto-Public-Library-Workerspdf I invite you record my When you are evaluating the staffless library pilot project at the Swansea and Todmorden branches, please vote as being opposed to this idea. is a great asset for our this idea is in response to a dwindling budget. In my opinion, the Toronto Public Library I realize will its quality and city. It should be celebrated and valued with new investment, not programs 5uch as this that dimini5h services. Yours sincerely, Lynne Kutsukake cc: Councillor Paul Ainslie Toronto Library Board Member cc: Councillor Sarah Doucette Toronto Library Board Member cc: Councillor Mary Fragedakis Toronto Library Board Member 1 cc: John Tory Mayor of Toronto cc: Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam 2 Nancy Marshall From: Nancy Marshall Sent Tuesday, April 04, 2017 4:32 PM To: Subject: Response toFeedback on Extended Hours Pilot Thank you for bringing the survey results to my attention. We will take them into consideration as we implement the pilot program. The intent of the pilot, which will begin later in the fall of 2017 for one year, is to see what works and what doesn’t as we extend hours at these two locations. Staff and customer feedback is integral to this project. Please be assured the hours of service that library staff are currently providing will not change. TPL 5taff will continue to be present at these two branches for existing core hours every day the library is open. If you are intere5ted in more information on the pilot, please visit: http://www.torontopubliclibrar.ca/hours locations/extended-hours-pilot-program/index.sp Thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback. Regards, Ron Carinci Chair, Toronto Public Library Board 1 e. www.torontopubliclibrary.ca April 19, 2017 The Honourable Eleanor McMahon Minister, Tourism, Culture and Sport 9th Floor, Hearst Block 900 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario M7A 2E1 Dear Minister McMahon: On behalf of the Toronto Public Library Board and staff, please accept our appreciation and gratitude for your Ministry’s extension of full funding for the Centre for Equitable Access (CELA) to all Ontario public libraries for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2017. Toronto Public Library (TPL) is a champion for services for Canadians with print disabilities, including visual, physical and comprehension disabilities. TPL has partnered with CELA on a number of initiatives, including promotion and service development, and has played a supporting role in the formation of the new organization. CELA delivers an essential service for people with print disabilities by providing access to a tremendous range of information and resources in alternate formats that would otherwise not be available to them. The Ministry’s plans to continue to improve the lives of Ontarians through initiatives such as The Ontario Culture Strategy is also greatly appreciated. TPL is pleased to have participated in the strategic roundtables during the Culture Talks engagement process and the development of the strategy, and continue to participate in the ongoing public library roundtable discussions. Culture enriches every part of our lives and TPL is proud of the way in which we and other Ontario libraries contribute to this essential element of society. …/2 Library Board Chair Ron Carcini Councillor Paul Ainslie Strahan McCarten Councillor Mary Fragedakis Ross Parry Vice Chair Councillor Sarah Doucette Archana Shah Lindsay Colley Sue Graham-Nutter Eva Svec City Librarian Dianne LeBreton Vickery Bowles 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4W 2G8 Tel: 416-393-7215 Fax: 416-393-7083 – 2 – The Ministry’s current review of the provincial funding formula is another important aspect in ensuring the viability of public library service in the province, now and in the future. We ask that every consideration be given to leveraging and maximizing the impact of the provincial investment in the capacity of Ontario’s public libraries. Sincerely, Ron Carinci Chair, Toronto Public Library Board /nrm cc: The Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario The Honourable Charles de Sousa, Minister of Finance, Province of Ontario Kevin Finnerty, Assistant Deputy Minister, Culture Division, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Ciccone, Executive Director, Centre for Equitable Access .