this Toronto Public Library (TPL) is preparing to expand hours at multiple locations around the city, including adding Sunday service at eight more branches in the coming months, but the expansion will require a lot of work beyond initially securing a budget.
From June, eight branches will extend their opening hours from Monday to Saturday, and another eight branches will open on Sundays from September this year. TPL Library operations told Global News they are on track to implement the program.
“There's still a lot of work to do to make this happen,” said Vickery Powers, director of the city library. From recruiting an additional 60 staff members to training and introducing them to finding locations for them, everything needs to be done in the next few weeks.
City Library Director Vickery Bowles said many factors go into deciding which branches can extend their hours, including how busy the branches are and fair distribution.
Matthew Bentley
Expanding an important city service and filling a poverty alleviation gap while finding space for seniors, youth and newcomers is something Powers is excited about. She said her current staff is generally passionate about the public library system, so they are excited to improve the institution's accessibility. Meeting requests they often hear from people browsing the stacks is also a big plus.
“People are always asking for longer hours, it’s a consistent request we’ve received over the years,” Powers said. When Sunday service expands in September, 67 of the 100 TPL locations will be open all week — an achievement Powers said is extraordinary compared to other large cities around the world that have reduced hours.
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The Beaches branch on Queen Street East is one of the branches open on Sundays and Masheo Modipane, who doesn't have office space at home, is happy to see the extended hours. “Sometimes on Sundays you only need two or three hours a day to work, which is great,” she said.
Other customers said everything from easier parking to the convenience was worth the wait. “If you work full time, Saturdays are busy and on Sundays you can do your thing,” Cheryl Cox said.
The expansion will fulfill a campaign promise made by Mayor Olivia Chow in a by-election more than a year ago. Standing inside the TPL branch at City Hall, Chow said City Hall will start offering more city services when it is more convenient for people. TPL branch hours will be extended twice in the coming months.
“It means when people have time, they can go to the library and the doors are open,” Mr Chow said. Expanding services means new arrivals will have access to Wi-Fi and printers to help them with their job search, while families will be able to spend more time on Sundays improving their literacy skills.
“If we are to build a city that fosters a sense of belonging, the library is at the center,” she said.
The expansion is still months away from a tough winter budget process, but the city has been facing financial difficulties. Powers said she was pleased to have the support of the city council and staff, not only for this year, but also to secure funding for 2025 and 2026.
“We have approved these changes in operating hours through the budget process. It is truly unprecedented to get approval in advance for extended hours or any service enhancements,” Powers said.
The mayor revealed that the next phase of funding will begin in the next two years, and TPL's budget will double. “The smiles and anticipation of the people I talked to made me feel that every effort was worth it,” Zhou said.
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