TPL at a Glance
Toronto Public Library is very well-used by the residents of Toronto, with 19 million visits to branches annually and 32 million items borrowed last year alone.
While 50% of Torontonians own a library card, 72% of Torontonians use the library. One in six visit a branch at least once a week.
In 2013, the library commissioned the Martin Prosperity Institute to conduct the first Canadian study to measure the library's economic impact on Toronto. Key findings include that the library creates over $1 billion in total economic impact, and for every $1 invested in the library, there is a $5.63 return on investment.
Over the past 10 years, total library usage has increased by 13.4%.
2015 Operating Budget Request - Overview
The Toronto Public Library Board approved a revised budget request (PDF) that achieves the City staff-recommended budget increase of 2.3%, or $171.6 million (net) and maintains service levels, including collections and open hours.
Even with a 2.3% increase, the Library Board needs to find efficiencies and other savings to offset inflationary pressures and declines in library fines revenue.
The main cost increases in 2015 are related to:
- Cost of living increases for staff salaries
- The cost of operating the new Scarborough Civic Centre branch
- Inflationary increases for utilities, service contract and collections
- Declining fines revenue, which is an ongoing trend.
Efficiencies and savings that the Library Board has found include:
- Increased funding of development charges (PDF) for collections, which is relief to the budget because these funds do not have to have come from the operating budget
- Decrease of $350,000 to the budget for security guard services, which would result in the reduction or elimination of regularly scheduled guard service at some branches. The remaining budget would allow in-branch guard services to be maintained in the highest priority branches and provide guard service at other branches on an as-needed basis.
- Efficiencies related to labels and tagging collections
- Reducing the reliance on the operating budget to fund technology capital projects
- Increasing other revenue sources.
The operating budget request will allow the library to:
- Maintain collections, open hours, programs and services
- Open Scarborough Civic Centre branch, our 100th branch
- Implement programs that support children's initiatives, including a redesigned web presence for young children and parents
- Open Digital Innovation Hubs and offer maker space programming at various branches
- Expand access to digital content, including ebooks, digital magazines, streaming video and digital music
- Support the Pan Am / Para Pan Am Games through major program initiatives
Budget Process Timing
The City of Toronto's Budget Committee is reviewing recommended 2015 budgets this month. The public will have an opportunity to provide input on the 2015 budgets on February 2 and 3, 2015. The Executive Committee will consider the budgets on March 2, 2015, followed by City Council on March 10 and 11, 2015.