Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Friday, October 21, 2011

59 library branches may have hours chopped

Fifty-nine library branches would lose some of their operating hours under a cost-cutting proposal from the city’s chief librarian.

Of the 39 branches left untouched by Jane Pyper’s proposal, many are small branches open only 40 hours per week. The busiest libraries in the system, including the 17 high-circulation district branches and the two large research and reference libraries, would all lose hours.

Amid a public outcry, numerous city councillors spoke out this summer against a proposal, since abandoned, to close branches. Mayor Rob Ford may have difficulty convincing councillors to vote in favour of cutting hours at branches in their own wards.

Some councillors, however, are far more amenable to cuts than they were to closures. Councillor Karen Stintz, a Ford ally who was among the first councillors to publicly oppose closures, said she was willing to consider a proposed reduction of 9.5 hours per week at the Northern District branch at Yonge St. and Eglinton Ave. W.

“Every agency, board and commission is required to find savings. We had to do it at the TTC,” said Stintz (Ward 16, Eglinton-Lawrence), the TTC chair. “While I was very vocal that I don’t believe libraries should be closed, I think we do have to look at changes in the service level.”

Ford has demanded a 10 per cent budget cut from every city entity. The library system needs to cut $17 million to meet the target.

The proposed cuts to hours would save $5.4 million. A proposed 11 per cent cut to the circulation budget would save a further $1.9 million.

The list of branches targeted for cuts, which was obtained by the Star, has not yet been made public. A spokesperson for the library system, Anne Marie Aikins, said library officials will listen to residents’ concerns at consultation meetings before any cuts to hours are approved.

“We’re at the very early stages of discussion,” Aikins said. “There are going to be many more opportunities to discuss this.”

The branch with the highest circulation in 2010, the North York Central reference library, would lose 9.5 hours per week, falling from 69 hours to 59.5. The three highest-circulation district branches, Agincourt, Fairview and Richview, would suffer the same fate.

Two downtown neighbourhood branches, Parliament St. and Parkdale, would both lose 13 hours per week, falling from 69 hours to 56. Like six other neighbourhood branches, they would lose Sunday service.

The Parliament St. branch serves Regent Park. The Parkdale branch also serves low-income residents.

“The Parkdale library, on a Sunday afternoon, is literally jammed to the gills with young students, who probably don’t have a room to study in at home, who are fighting to make their place in this world. Taking those hours away from them takes away part of their hope for the future,” said left-leaning Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 14, Parkdale-High Park).

Ford’s left-leaning predecessor, David Miller, himself advocated Sunday library closures. Sixteen branches lost Sunday service in 2007, then regained it less than two months later following a union grievance.

With files from Stephanie Findlay

Branches most affected

Hours per week to be cut at each branch:

1. Parkdale: 13

2. Parliament St.: 13

3. Jones: 10.5

4. Oakwood Village: 10.5

5. Evelyn Gregory: 10.5

Origin
Source: Toronto Star 

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