Library Tech Confidential

Library cuts may have backfired, board says [Toronto Star] : “Library board officials said they were notified last week that the Toronto Civic Employees’ Union (CUPE Local 416) had won a grievance filed against the board over the Sunday closings.”

Ever since a planned crucial revenue-raising tax measure unexpectedly failed to pass earlier this year, various departments of the City of Toronto have tried to find ways to cut costs the TTC offered up a slew of ‘poor performing’ bus routes plus a fare increase, the police insisted it couldn’t spare a penny, and the library resigned itself to closing on Sundays.

Now TPL may have to pay it’s staff for Sundays either way — that is, whether their branches are closed or not — because their legal advisors apparently failed to acount for the effect of the collective agreement. The 11 branches located in ‘priority’ (read: disproportionately impoverished) neighbourhoods were to remain unaffected. With luck, if this development negates much of the hoped-for cost savings, perhaps the city will relent and revert to normal hours of operation.

UPDATE: Subsequent media coverage confirms the reversal on the Sunday closures.

• Library branches to reopen on Sundays [Globe and Mail]
• Ruling overturns library closings [Toronto Star]

“CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill says a decision late yesterday to close Canada’s only in-house public library bindery is a disgrace to the Vancouver Public Library board members who voted to close it down.” [Press Release @ CNW Group]

Legislative library should stay open - “The provincial government’s decision to close the B.C. legislature library is difficult to comprehend, even taking into account the apparent need for a seismic upgrade of the 90-year-old building… A [a] core collection of materials will be moved from the library, at the back of the legislature building, to another government building on Superior Street. But many of the items found in the library — and not available elsewhere — will be carted off to a warehouse…” [Victoria Times Colonist]

Legislative library will be closed to make space for offices - “About half the 30 librarians will be sent to other jobs in government. As for the millions of precious, and in some cases priceless, materials in its dusty stacks, a treasure trove of Canadian history filled with the esoteric businesses of governments dating back before Confederation, will be sent to a warehouse. It’s also not clear the institution will ever come back to the legislature since the politicians, who are are short on space, have been eying the cavernous space for a warren of offices.” [Vancouver Sun]