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In the fiscal age of restraint many communities are face with cutting services, in a large city of over five million people you would think Toronto would be immune. However, this is not the case. In the municipal election last year Mayor Ford campaign on the promise that he would save the city two billion dollars and stop the gravy train at city hall. Over the past year a consulting firm was hired to help find the waste at the city hall, the report recommend to the city that they could close branches of Toronto Public Library or sell it to a private business.
The public reaction to the report was quite swift. Notable Canadian authors such as Margret Atwood, have launched a campaign called “My Library Matters to Me” contest. The citizens of Toronto are encouraged to submit an essay in which the winner is selected to have lunch with their favorite Canadian author. Initially Atwood spoke about the possible library closures on her twitter account which sparked a reaction the mayor’s own brother, who is also an elected official on council. Councilor Doug Ford made a comment that he did know who Margret Atwood was even if she passed him at city hall. Councilor Ford also stated that he more Toronto Public Library branches in his district than Tim Horton’s which was later corrected.
Libraries are not a wasted expense, its an investment into the community and the people of Toronto. Every day nearly a hundred thousand people move into Toronto, most of them do not speak English but will get assistance from a library. Kids will learn and pick up a new skills through various programs offered over the summer months. Its also a gathering place for the young and old to exchange ideals and offer support, its place of learning and an investment with future dividends coming from the public.
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