It’s plastic and typically housed in your wallet. But it won’t earn you air miles or tempt you into debt. It will, however, connect you to a wealth of information, and even recreation – for free! As the economy continues to sour, with unemployment at almost eight per cent, the humble library card is proving to be the best deal in town. The Toronto Public Library is the busiest public library system in the world. Every year more than 16 million people borrow at least 30 million items from its 99 branches. And that won’t change any time soon. There has been an eight per cent increase in library usage from July to December 2008, according to Toronto Public Library officials. Busier libraries aren't unprecedented during troubled economic times, however. Dubbed the librarian’s axiom, it’s commonly believed that when the economy goes bust, libraries tend to boom. During the Great Depression, American branches expanded within 48 states, mostly with local funding. Toronto Public Library communications officer Edward Karek thinks the upswing in library usage is more than just a fleeting trend. “This is just the beginning,” he says. The 2009 Toronto city budget recommends nearly $162 million in funding for the Toronto Public Library, a four per cent increase from 2008’s approved budget. Additionally, Toronto Mayor David Miller recently announced an increase in evening jobsearch programs at the city’s libraries, along with the purchase of 35,000 employment-related books to help with resume writing, interview skills and entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurial spirit Bert Pilcher was laid off recently. But don’t expect an invitation to a pity party. He’s determined to get back on his feet – and this time he’s going to be calling the shots. Pilcher plans to start his own gum removal business, having even scouted specific types of gum removal machines. The aspiring entrepreneur is utilizing his local library’s business materials to brush up on how to raise capital and design a business plan. Pilcher’s marketing instincts are sharp. “I’m looking to promote my business as green,” he says. The third way In his book The Great Good Place, urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg explored the concept of the “third place,” spaces in which informal public gatherings occur, such as cafes, main streets, and pubs - in contrast to work and home. He suggested that these spaces are critical to democracy insofar as they encourage civic engagement and community building. Professor Kate Johnson of the University of Western Ontario is studying the social role of libraries. According to Johnson the library is a meeting place for members of a community. “Just being around people of diverse backgrounds and interests helps people become more aware of others in their communities, people they would not normally interact with, and this builds a stronger sense of community,” she says. It also provides a space for those who feel marginalized. “Libraries help reduce feelings of isolation for people on low incomes or who live alone. Sometimes a person's only social contact is when they come into the library to read the newspaper or browse the magazines or select new books or dvds to take home,” she adds. Helping newcomers to Canada In addition to providing career counseling resources, Toronto’s libraries are also a hub for immigrant settlement organizations. Groups like CultureLink and the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) collaborate with libraries to offer a one-stop shop for newcomers who need help in adjusting to their new communities. Many employment resource offices and community centers are located adjacent to libraries, and work closely with them. Without these services, many immigrants would be unable to integrate into the labour market. “Often libraries are the first point of contact for people experiencing stressful life issues where library staff can direct them to the appropriate resources to help them get through whatever situation is affecting them,” says Johnson. While it may be difficult to quantify the library’s contribution to the economy, its value is indisputable, says Johnson. “It is difficult to put a dollar figure on all these services and say that libraries contribute x amount to the local or national economies - but many people I have spoken to during my research say that if the library did not exist they would be in serious trouble,” she says. “There is so much more going on in the library besides loaning books, that you might say that the library is a community resource centre that is also in the business of loaning books,” she adds. Serving diversity Toronto’s libraries reflect the diversity of their neighbhourhoods, with some branches boasting books in a dozen different languages. Blogger and library fan Joe Clark appreciates the assortment of material on offer. He points out that his local branch carries the Advocate, a gay magazine, along with Muslim Girl
magazine, and notes that it’s important for the library to cater to different people. “Any local library is going to have those odd little conjunctions,” says Clark. “Vegetarian Times and Field and Stream, a fishing magazine and a vegetarian magazine, you’ll find those things. There’s always something you don’t like at the library, and that means it’s a good library.”
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FIND OUT MORE:
TPL's Strategic Plan 2008 to 2011
World Public Library Association
Urban Sociologist Ray Oldenburg
The Great Depressions and U.S. Libraries
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