This week’s budget deliberations proved to be a bit of a horror story for the Orillia Public Library.
On Thursday, city councillors, in a narrow vote, rejected a request for a new staff member for the library’s busy children’s and youth services department.
The library was requesting $38,000 (in salary and benefits) to turn a part-time children’s service technician into a full-time position.
After hearing the “compelling” statistics presented by library CEO Suzanne Campbell, Coun. Ted Emond said the request for money is “not a staffing issue, but rather a service level” issue.
“By not supporting this, we are saying to the library to cut back the level of service in this area to the citizens of Orillia,” said Emond.
Coun. Pat Hehn, council’s appointee to the library board, also supported the new staffer.
“I really believe this position is very much needed at our library,” said Hehn, referencing statistics presented at a library board meeting this week.
Hehn said in October, there was a 122-percent increase in reference questions to desk staff, a 743-percent increase in ‘advisory’ questions and triple-digit increases in other categories.
She also noted the library’s size and its downtown location pose significant challenges to staff.
“As far as the library itself, our library has more floor space than a lot of libraries for communities of our size,” said Hehn, noting staff have to cover more space.
On top of that, she said in October, alone, there were 12 incidents at the library - eight triggering calls to the police - that consume a lot of staff time.
She said “it’s a very, very busy place” and noted staff working in the children and youth services department in today’s world, require specialized education and training.
Coun. Tim Lauer said he is “a big fan” of the library and “can’t dispute” any of the arguments.
“I do know we have a problem with our tax rate that we have to address,” said Lauer, referencing a projected 4.1 per cent potential tax hike as things stand.
“Probably every department here could bring forward a compelling argument they have critical staffing issues that effects their department,” said Lauer.
He said council “has to make some pretty significant decisions” and this is one of them.
Coun. Mason Ainsworth, who also said he’s a “big supporter” of the library, agreed.
However, he said the city is conducting a “big review” of staff, roles and city services that is expected to be presented next month.
“If that comes back in December (and) says it’s a priority, then that’s fine to do that,” said Ainsworth.
Staff confirmed later the library is not included in that review. In fact, the library is hoping to conduct its own review at some point.
However, Ainsworth also said he’s concerned about how much is being spent on the library. Earlier, city CAO Gayle Jackson noted per-capita funding of libraries is $43, on average in Ontario; Orillia funds the library at $71 per capita.
Emond cautioned about reading too much into those numbers and noted Orillia’s library “is the envy” of communities throughout Ontario and beyond.
Staff noted that $8 of Orillia’s $71 (per capita) is used to pay $240,000 in annual interest costs on the outstanding debenture used to fund the library’s construction.
It was also noted that 70-75 per cent of the library’s $2 million budget is dedicated to staff salaries and benefits, which is about average compared to other libraries.
Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke said he was “having a real problem” with this request due to the other “extraordinary” issues the city is facing this year.
He asked if staff had exhausted its options by reorganizing existing staff members.
Sarah Papple, who heads up the children and youth services department, said staff “have tried everything.”
She likened library staff to a hospital setting.
“You’re not going to pull someone to do triage who is inputting data,” she said, noting there are three categories of staff at the library: clerical, technical staff and librarians.
They are paid at different rates and have dramatically different levels of training and education, she explained.
“I will say we are the most efficient staff I’ve ever worked with,” said Papple. “We’re very industrious, really smart … there’s just no way I can work this. I can’t make miracles at this point. I’ve tried.”
Campbell noted core services would have to be cut as a result of council’s decision.
That’s something that is regrettable, said Emond.
“If we’re not maximizing and fulfilling the opportunity that the library is presenting … and if participation and use is any way dampened by a lack of staff, I don’t think we’re doing our citizens a fair shake on this,” Emond said.
Council also rejected a library request to develop a mobile hotspots lending collection, which carried a price tag of about $8,500.
The library’s proposal was to purchase 11 mobile hotspots - 10 of which would be available to be lent to library members and one used for library outreach programs.
The idea is to allow members who don’t have WiFi access to borrow the hotspots to “bridge the digital divide.”
In a report to councillors, staff noted the goal was to help address an ongoing problem: the lack of internet access at homes among low-income families.
Many libraries now offer this service. However, councillors rejected the idea.
Councillors spent two days poring over the approximately $60-million operating budget this week. Next week, they will delve into the capital budget and then determine funding levels for its various reserve accounts.
No decisions are final until the budget is ratified at a special meeting of council Dec. 9.
