News Releases - Toronto Public Library

TORONTO (November 19, 2013) – The Toronto Public Library Board met on November 18 at the Toronto Reference Library. Key topics discussed include:

Perth-Dupont Branch Expansion and Relocation

The Board authorized staff to negotiate terms for relocating the Perth/Dupont library to 299 Campbell Avenue, 350 metres from the branch’s current location.  The proposed relocation to 299 Campbell Avenue would create a 10,000 square foot branch with construction starting in 2015 at a cost of $2.79 million. The negotiated terms of the project will be approved at a subsequent Board meeting.

The Board has requested to City Council that proceeds from the sale of the current site go toward the development of the new site, and thanked Councillor Ana Bailão for her efforts to enhance library service in her ward.

Online Payment Service Charge Reduced

The Library will soon be introducing the option of online fines payment to all customers. At its meeting last night, the Board revised the online payment service charge to $0.50 per transaction from $1.00. The fee is being charged in order to recover the cost of providing the service.

Emergency Plan Approved

The Board approved the Toronto Public Library emergency plan, whose purpose is to ensure that the Library is able to prepare for and respond to organizational and city-wide emergencies. 

2014 Operating Budget

The Board approved expense reductions totaling $0.150 million or 0.1% of the budget for a revised 2014 operating budget request of $167.727 million net, which represents a  1.2 % increase.

The City’s Budget Committee will meet in November and December 2013 to review recommended 2014 budgets. The City’s Executive Committee will meet on January 22, 2014 to review recommendations from the Budget Committee. City Council will approve 2014 operating budgets on January 29 and 30, 2014. 

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 our website at 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, [email protected]