Toronto Public Library Catch-All

[dowlingm]

We only get one chance to "do it right" -- and a single-use Library only project on that parcel of land is not likely to proceed under the current Mayor's watch.

Pointing at every site and saying “zap, you’re residential” may not be the answer in all situations, especially if there was an opportunity to relocate a city department or agency office need above a library instead of shoehorning a residential lobby beside it.

 

[Northern Light]

Mayor Chow announces new Sunday hours for many locations, with plans on making all locations open on Sundays by 2026.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/libraries-opening-plan-1.7364459

That's encouraging. I'd be pleased if this were fully delivered.

We all know that lots needs to happen on the housing file, but that one is so large an issue, its hard to put it down to a simple unit count or number of sites under construction that would make a difference the average person could feel.

Things I would like to see in this budget or the next:

1) An open hours plan for Recreation Centres such that all of them are open for Saturday evenings (today most are closed).

2) Expanded/improved TTC service

3) A 40-ride fare cap per month for TTC.

4) Significant expansion of the availability of public washrooms, year-round, in both Parks and subway stations.

5) Significant expansion of access to drinking fountains with a minimum of one in every park, and one in every subway station with public washrooms.

6) A clearly signaled shift that permanent affordable housing is the solution over shelters. The City should consider prioritizing partnerships with Universities and Community Colleges should the latter agree to keep fees affordable.

7) A maximum temperature by-law for apartments

8) Increased fees for permit parking and on-street parking (pay and display), and reducing the amount of 'free' on-street parking.

9) A clear policy to have sufficient emergency housing capacity that no one is turned away.

10) Delivery of key infrastructure projects in Parks, Recreation and Public Realm (see John Street).

11) Finishing outstanding projects properly - see Union Station Great Hall Lighting, plus removal of Jersey barriers; see opening St. Lawrence Market North, see property investment in NPS and in Allan Gardens.

 

[Northern Light]

The revised Open Hours Strategy as announced by Mayor Chow yesterday, is now up on today's Toronto Public Library Board agenda:

https://torontopubliclibrary.typepad.com/board-meetings/2024-10-28/12a-2025-revised-open-hours-plan-and-implementation-combined.pdf

Of note, TPL has sidelined any plans for late night service (post 8:30pm) and for 8-hour service on Sundays (9am - 5pm) at District Class and Reference branches.

Apparently no provision was made for those hours during the last collective bargaining agreement. (despite said hours having been officially planned since at least 2018)

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From the above report:

This would change the hours in the bands above to:

68 hours weekly
64 hours weekly
52 hours weekly

I'm very pleased to see this vision move forward, with funding. I also think, in a world of finite dollars, we are better prioritizing the expansion of Sunday and Monday service to every branch vs late nights and Sunday mornings.

That said, I would love to see an 'Open Hours' phase 4, once this program has been rolled out.

My first change would to shift the closing time to 9pm wherever it is currently 8:30pm.

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Then I would like to see very branch with Wednesday evening service.

That would increase the lowest band of hours from 52 to 56 hours weekly.

While even more would be nice, I think there are so many other pressing priorities for finite City dollars, I would probably leave it there until we get some of those other items better addressed.