Urban Affairs Library Update
As of September 15, 2011, the Urban Affairs collection and staff at Metro Hall are re-locating to the Toronto Reference Library. The last day that the Urban Affairs Library is open to the public is Wednesday, September 14, 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Thank you to all of our customers who have used Urban’s collections and services over the years. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve you and we hope to see you at the Reference Library.
Here's an outline of what is happening:
The Urban Affairs Collection:
• After being moved to the Toronto Reference Library the week of September 19, Urban’s unique collections will be available for use at Toronto Reference Library for longer hours that include Saturdays, Sundays during the school season, and four evenings a week.
• Some items may be unavailable for a few days during moving and re-shelving but all should be available by Saturday, September 24.
The Urban Affairs Staff:
• All Urban Affairs staff members are re-locating with the collections to the 2nd floor of the Toronto Reference Library, Main Reference Department (soon to be the Humanities & Social Sciences Department).
• Urban Affairs librarians will continue to provide information service and access to City of Toronto publications.
Picking Up Holds and Returning Items:
• If you are still waiting for items requested to be picked up at Urban Affairs, the pick-up location has been changed to City Hall. If City Hall is not the most convenient location for you, you may change your own pick-up location, ask a staff member in any branch to make the changes, or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.
•Toronto Public Library’s Bookmobile will stop every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the King Street Laneway, adjacent to Penelope's Restaurant at the north side of Metro Hall. If the laneway is unavailable, a mini-bookmobile will be parked adjacent to the John St. entrance to Metro Hall instead. At the bookmobile you may pick up holds, return materials, and borrow new items. There is also a Bookmobile stop at Queen’s Quay on Fridays, 6:15 – 7:45 p.m.
• There are 4 branches within 2 km of Metro Hall:
City Hall, 100 Queen Street West;
Lillian H. Smith, 239 College Street ;
St. Lawrence, 171 Front Street East;
8 thoughts on “Urban Affairs Library Update”
I admire your restraint in describing TPL’s plans, but this whole situation is a travesty. Next up: We respond to TwinMayors’ demands by closing every library in Doug and Rob Ford’s ridings and nothing else.
Here, here!! Well said Joe.
Love your library Cynthia.
I am going to miss you.
Good luck at Toronto Reference Library.
Joe: Nah, it’ll hurt the libraries, more than help it.
Let’s instead invite them to the Keep Toronto Reading 2012, and taking part in any reading. Out loud too. Just tell him every good mayor has done so in the past. Mayor Miller has partaken in this activity. How hard could it be?
So TPL, what are we reading in 2012? “War and Peace”?
Anybody got suggestions what His Lordship should be reading?
Atwood!
bye bye 🙁
No… I use Urban Affairs about once a week. This move makes a lot of sense.
The library is a special interest library regulared by a select group of people for the most part, and not a general collection. Moving this reference material in with the reference material at TRL makes it easier to find, more convenient access, better hours, and more focus, as now the urban affirs collections of both libraries can be merged.
Do you know what the nect logical step is? Closing the archives and merging it with the library system.
Its such a travesty that the people at Metro Hall (aka rich condo owners), unwilling to go to one of the four libraries within walking distance of less than 30 minutes from Metro Hall, will now have to use a book mobile to get the exact same service they did before at a fraction of the cost.
OH THE HORROR!!! C’mon, even Atwood smartened up and realized you can’t spend more than you make. Restructuring doesn’t have to mean job losses or loss of services or cuts – This is a good example of restructuring done right.
In Kitchener, a public school has tried a very successful experiment, where a portico was added to the library so the general public could come in. During school hours, the school has first dibs on resources, and a security guard stands watch. After school, the school doors close and the library stays open. This has benefited the neighbourhood, the students and the adults. If Toronto were to do this, we’d have over 200 libraries.
In addition, most of the post secondary institutions (including Ryerson, U of T, York and Seneca) in the Toronto area allow public access to their monstrous libraries.
It isn’t “gravy”, its poor planning and lack of common sense leading to overservicing.
thanks a lot for this reference librerey its great and very completee!!!
all the best..!!
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