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<P><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-SIZE: 22px; FONT-WEIGHT: normal">The first
order of business of Mayor Ford’s handpicked Toronto Library Board was to
cut 100 librarians and other staff.</SPAN></P>
<P>Even though there is not a single children’s librarian in the entire
system and library staff has already been reduced by 10% since
amalgamation of the City, the Library Board dutifully cut the budget by
millions with little discussion. </P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-SIZE: 22px; FONT-WEIGHT: normal">Now, more
destructive plans have emerged from the Board. </SPAN></P>
<P><A
href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/new-library-board-proposes-shutting-38-branches/article2218240/"><IMG
border=0 alt="New library board proposes shutting 38 branches"
align=right src="http://ourpubliclibrary.to/alerts/images/globe-story.gif"
width=290 height=305></A>Among other things, they propose to <STRONG>close
38 neighbourhood branches</STRONG> of our public library and
<STRONG>increase children’s overdue book fines by 150%</STRONG>. They
would allow <STRONG>corporate sponsors</STRONG> to attach their names to
prized and historic book collections and <STRONG>shut down the North York
Central Library</STRONG> which circulates more than one million items
every year. </P>
<P>Also on the table is a proposal to <STRONG>cut almost 20,000 hours of
service</STRONG> which would close neighbourhood branches during evenings
and on weekends when most people need their library. </P>
<P>I don't have to tell you how these massive cuts would be disastrous for
users of the Toronto Public Library.</P>
<P><STRONG><A href="http://ourpubliclibrary.to">We’ve got to make it clear
that there is no gravy in libraries.</A></STRONG></P>
<P>Unless we send a clear and strong message right now that these
proposals are unacceptable, Mayor Ford and company will get the idea that
they are wearing us down and it's just a matter if time before they can
cut our public library as much as they like. </P>
<P>We have drafted a <STRONG>new petition</STRONG> that will send your
message loud and clear. When you sign a message will automatically be sent
to the Chair of the <STRONG>Library Board</STRONG> with copies to your own
City Councillor and Mayor Ford. </P>
<P>No one in the city will be left unscathed if such drastic plans are
adopted. Neighbourhood branches in every corner of the city would be
closed, service will decline to unacceptable levels and the best library
system in the world will reduced to a shadow its former self. </P>
<P>Final decisions about the future of our public library rest with City
Council which will be voting on budget matters in January. </P>
<P>Until those final decisions have been taken we must stay vigilant and
stand up for the library we love. We could lose the world class library we
now have if we don't. </P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-SIZE: 22px; FONT-WEIGHT: normal">That's
why it is crucial for us to take action right now. </SPAN></P>
<P><STRONG>Please sign the petition and share it with your network.
</STRONG></P>
<P><A href="http://ourpubliclibrary.to"><IMG
style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" border=0
alt="Please sign the petition right now"
src="http://ourpubliclibrary.to/alerts/images/takeaction-petition.gif"
width=355 height=40></A></P>
<P>Yours sincerely,</P>
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<TD vAlign=top rowSpan=2 width=110><IMG border=0 alt=Maureen
src="http://ourpubliclibrary.to/alerts/images/Maureen-at-work.jpg"
width=100 height=130></TD>
<TD vAlign=top><IMG border=0 alt="Maureen Signature"
src="http://ourpubliclibrary.to/alerts/images/Maureen-sig.gif"
width=175 height=51></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>Maureen O’Reilly
<BR>OurPublicLibrary.to</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P>P.S. Even if you have taken action already it is crucial that we reject
this latest proposal that will devastate our public library if it is
adopted. <A href="http://ourpubliclibrary.to">Please take action
now.</A></P>
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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><EM>OurPublicLibrary.to is a network of
people dedicated to preserving the integrity of one of the world’s
greatest public library systems, the Toronto Public Library and is
sponsored by the Toronto Public Library Workers Union.</EM></P>
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