A second consultant report recommends closing library branches, weeks after Toronto city council rejected that as a way to meet budget cuts for next year.
The study, conducted by consultants DPRA and LeisurePlan International Inc. for the city as part of its so-called efficiency review, recommends closing at least 14 neighbourhood branches and cutting hours in the future.
It also suggests slashing educational library programs and increasing fees and fines.
During the summer, KPMG conducted a core service review for the city and recommended closing library branches, but council rejected that in September as a way to meet 2012 budget reductions.
The Toronto Public Library Workers Union said Friday in a release city manager Joe Pennachetti endorsed the latest recommendations and is pushing the chief librarian to adopt them.
"The city's top bureaucrat is out of touch with the residents he is supposed to serve," union president Maureen O'Reilly said.
"Missing in all of these reports and recommendations is the public who love their library and are quite prepared to pay for it."
In October, the library board voted to eliminate 100 full-time positions as part of its efforts to meet the mayor’s demand that all city departments reduce their budgets by 10 per cent.
Handing out pink slips would result in $9.7 million, or 5.7 per cent, in budget savings. The remaining $7.3 million or 4.3 per cent was supposed to come from reducing branch hours at 59 of 98 locations.
But the board decided Tuesday to find other ways to meet the rest of its cuts, such as possibly children’s programs and literacy programs.
The chief librarian is expected to make her recommendations at the library board's next meeting Dec. 12.
The study, conducted by consultants DPRA and LeisurePlan International Inc. for the city as part of its so-called efficiency review, recommends closing at least 14 neighbourhood branches and cutting hours in the future.
It also suggests slashing educational library programs and increasing fees and fines.
During the summer, KPMG conducted a core service review for the city and recommended closing library branches, but council rejected that in September as a way to meet 2012 budget reductions.
The Toronto Public Library Workers Union said Friday in a release city manager Joe Pennachetti endorsed the latest recommendations and is pushing the chief librarian to adopt them.
"The city's top bureaucrat is out of touch with the residents he is supposed to serve," union president Maureen O'Reilly said.
"Missing in all of these reports and recommendations is the public who love their library and are quite prepared to pay for it."
In October, the library board voted to eliminate 100 full-time positions as part of its efforts to meet the mayor’s demand that all city departments reduce their budgets by 10 per cent.
Handing out pink slips would result in $9.7 million, or 5.7 per cent, in budget savings. The remaining $7.3 million or 4.3 per cent was supposed to come from reducing branch hours at 59 of 98 locations.
But the board decided Tuesday to find other ways to meet the rest of its cuts, such as possibly children’s programs and literacy programs.
The chief librarian is expected to make her recommendations at the library board's next meeting Dec. 12.
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