Library head-hunts for new chief executive officer

Sault Ste. Marie Public Library is looking for a new chief executive officer/ director of libraries.

Roxanne Toth-Rissanen, who's been on leave from the position for almost a year and a half, won't be returning.

After the latest of many closed meetings over that time, the local library board decided last week to ask Ontario Library Service - North to assist in the recruitment of a new CEO.

Toth-Rissanen had a master's degree in library and information science from Western University and started with Sault Ste. Marie Public Library as children's librarian in June, 2005.

She was appointed director of public libraries in December, 2014.

Provincial funding slashed for library services

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen how much Ontario Library Service - North will actually be able to help with the Sault's CEO recruiting efforts, since the Ontario government served notice last week that it's slashing the service's funding in half.

"The Ford Conservatives are cutting the Ontario Library Service - North's budget in half this year, and they're slashing funding for the Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS) by more than 50 per cent," said a news release from Jill Andrew, Ontario New Democratic Party culture critic.

"This isn't the first time Doug Ford has targeted libraries for funding cuts," Andrew's release claimed. "As a city councillor, Ford enthusiastically supported a move to take almost $4 million away from Toronto libraries."

Ontario Library Service's northern and southern branches are designed to ensure all parts of the province get equitable access to library services and staff.

The full extent of the coming 50 per cent service cuts isn't fully known, but SOLS moved swiftly last week to shut down the province's interlibrary loan and delivery system.

"It is with great sadness that I have to inform public libraries in southern Ontario that the SOLS interlibrary loan delivery service will permanently cease to operate, effective April 26, 2019," Barbara Franchetto, SOLS chief executive officer, announced on Tuesday, four days after she first learned of the budget cuts.

"The end of the SOLS delivery service means that 24 drivers (full-time, part-time and occasional) will lose their jobs. Last year, they drove almost one million kilometres to deliver over 710,000 packages to 153 main library branches across southern Ontario."

"If you have books from other libraries that need to be returned after April 26, you must mail them," Franchetto advised librarians. "Libraries should be prepared to absorb the cost of postage."

"I know this is very sad and disappointing news, but given the enormity of the cut to our operating budget, there is no alternative," Franchetto said. "Even under our previous budget allocation, it was becoming difficult to sustain the service because of ever-increasing operating costs."

So far, Ontario Library Service - North has not issued a comparable notice about interlibrary loans and deliveries.

But on Thursday, Dryden Public Library announced it would no longer be accepting interlibrary loan service requests.

"The Dryden Public Library regrets to inform our patrons that, effective immediately, our interlibrary loan service is suspended until further notice," Dryden Public Library CEO Dayna DeBenedet said in a social media post.

"We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we hope to see this service restored," DeBenedet said.

Here in Sault Ste. Marie, library officials are monitoring the situation closely.

They are more inclined to act collectively with other northern libraries than to chart a purely local response, Matthew MacDonald, acting CEO/ director of public libraries, tells SooToday.

Reduced hours at Korah Branch

At last week's meeting, the library board put off making decisions about the future of its Korah branch.

A month ago, a wide range of cost-cutting options were under consideration, including a kiosk book machine, pop-up libraries and unattended self-checkout book shelves.

But board members are now leaning toward limiting staff hours to maintain a library presence at 556 Goulais Ave.

One proposal under consideration would have Korah Branch open as follows during winter:

• Wednesday - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Thursday -10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday - 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Over the summer, Korah Branch would be open four days a week, never on weekends:

• Tuesday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Thursday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Maintaining those limited hours would cost $82,684 in salary and benefits, which could be reduced further by assigning staff from other library locations to offer programming at Korah Branch.

Adding in operational costs such as janitorial services and collections would bring the total annual cost of a limited-hours Korah Branch to $109,684.

Complete elimination of the Goulais Ave. branch library doesn't appear to be under consideration.

"Citizens and schools in the area have expressed their concerns about the possible closure of the Korah Branch," MacDonald says in a report to the library board.

"Despite financial constraints, given how vocal the west-end community has been regarding their need for library services, it is not recommended the board adopt a 'no-service' option," MacDonald advised.

"City Counsel [sic] provides the library with the funding required to operate our libraries," library board chair Elspeth Belair wrote earlier this month to students and staff at Holy Family School, 42 Rushmere Dr.

"Thank you for your petition and overwhelming support for the Korah Library," Belair said.

"It is unfortunate that counsel [sic] did not approve enough funding to operate three library locations for 2019."

"We understand the importance a library branch can be and have heard the public's concerns regarding library services in the west end of our community."

"The library board is committed to providing the best library service to the citizens of Sault Ste. Marie. We will consider how best to serve the west end, investigating ways to keep the Korah Branch operational," Belair told Holy Family.