Toronto Public Library
Strategic Plan 2012-2015
July 2012
Strategic Plan 2012-2015
Toronto Public Library is creating a new
Strategic Plan
We want your input
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Context
• 4th Strategic Plan since amalgamation in 1998
• Sets priorities for the next four years
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• Framework for the operating and capital budgets
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Key Facts
Demographics
• City of Toronto’s population 2,615,060
• Fifth largest city in North America
• Growth rate of 4.5% since 2006 – five times the growth of the
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previous census but slower than GTA
• City of Toronto accounts for 43.2% of the GTA region’s
population but has about:
39% of children
65% of low income children and 61% of families below the poverty
line 
53% of seniors 
52% of immigrants 
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Key Facts
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Achievements of Our Last Strategic Plan
Five areas of focus
1. Engaging Toronto’s Diverse
Communities
2. Addressing the Growing Income Gap
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3. Expanding Access to Technology and
Online Services
4. Supporting Creativity and Culture
5. Supporting a Sustainable Library
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Achievements of Our Last Strategic Plan
• Overall library usage increased 14.4% with significant increases
in circulation (11.6%) and visits (17.9%)
• Expanded Ready for Reading, preschool literacy services with
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a strong branch based presence
• Greatly expanded youth services and youth involvement in
library services
• Improved virtual services and increased digital content
• Expanded wireless service to all branches
• Established new cultural partnerships and enhanced the role of
the library in providing accessible cultural programs
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Ongoing Priorities from Our Last Strategic Plan
• Excellence in customer service
• Econtent development and delivery
• Services for children in the middle years (ages 6-12)
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• Services to older adults and seniors
• Online, self-service features
• Access to technology in library branches
• Continued focus on efficiency and improvement
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Draft Vision 2012-2015 for Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Library will be recognized as the world’s leading
public library, helping make Torontonians smarter, successful and
resilient, through excellent and responsive service
Words for consideration:
• Successful
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• Resilient
• Responsive
As the themes for the Strategic Plan 2012-2015 are presented in the
following slides, consider whether they support the achievement of
this vision
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Four Themes
1. Grow a city of readers: Foster literacy and a love of reading as a
first priority; support readers of all ages in improving print literacy
skills and in discovering great stories and books
2. Develop a city of learners: Support lifelong learning as
fundamental to economic prosperity, social cohesion, and civic
. engagement
3. Inspire, support and catalyze a city of innovators,
entrepreneurs and creators of all ages: Spark experimentation
positioning Torontonians to succeed in a global knowledge economy
4. Deliver excellent library service to Torontonians efficiently
and effectively
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Theme 1: The Facts
Grow a city of readers
Foster literacy and a love of reading as a first priority;
support readers of all ages in improving print literacy skills
and in discovering great stories and books
Why?
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•
•
•
•
•
Reading
is the foundation of school and life success
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Poor literacy and numeracy skills limit Toronto's productivity and
competitiveness
Toronto children are generally engaged readers, but too many struggle
and do not enjoy reading
Girls outperform boys on school success and standard literacy tests – a
growing achievement gap
Rates of illiteracy will increase, impacting health and quality of life
The current state of the ebook industry is making it difficult for libraries to
keep up with demand for access to ebooks
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Theme 1: The Goals
Grow a city of readers
How?
• Bring the joy of reading to people of all ages as they learn to read,
discover great stories and books, and connect with authors, illustrators,
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graphic novelists, comic makers and other readers
• Promote the value of reading as a strong foundation for life success
• Lead the way in providing wide access to ebooks and econtent for
library users in Toronto
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Theme 1: Priority Check
What do you think?
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Should Grow a city of readers be a first priority for
the Strategic Plan 2012-2015?
What initiatives could the library engage in to
support literacy/reading?
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Theme 2: The Facts
Develop a city of learners
Support lifelong learning as fundamental to economic
prosperity, social cohesion, and civic engagement
Why?
• In. a knowledge-based society, lifelong learning is essential to economic
prosperity, social cohesion and quality of life
• An innovative and creative workforce builds prosperity for all; youth are
experiencing a difficult transition from school to the workforce; newcomers
are underemployed and older workers are working longer and entering
second careers
• To compete in a global economy, all Torontonians need to be more
creative, innovative and productive
• Using technology is a fundamental 21st century skill for residents of all
ages
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Theme 2: The Goals
Develop a city of learners
How?
• Provide easy access to knowledge in a range of formats, including
information about Toronto's economy, history, communities and culture
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• Support Torontonians through life’s transitions from home to school,
school to work, work to second career, and retirement
• Help learners of all ages develop skills to access and use technology
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Theme 2: Priority Check
What do you think?
.
Should Develop a city of learners be a priority for
the Strategic Plan 2012-2015?
What initiatives could the library engage in to
support lifelong learning?
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Theme 3: The Facts
Inspire, support and catalyze a city of
innovators, entrepreneurs and creators of
all ages
Spark experimentation positioning Torontonians to succeed
.in a global knowledge economy
Why?
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•
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•
Cities like Toronto must compete in a global economy
To be competitive, businesses must innovate and adapt quickly
Access to public space encourages conversation and collaboration to foster new
creative ideas
Investment and effective use of technology increases productivity among all ages
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Theme 3: The Goals
Inspire, support and catalyze a city of
innovators, entrepreneurs and creators of
all ages
How?
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• Create online library services with new and emerging technologies
• Animate library branches to encourage collaboration through great
design, access to technology, and hours to support access by all
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Theme 3: Priority Check
What do you think?
.
Should Inspire, support and catalyze a city
of innovators, entrepreneurs and creators
of all ages be a priority for the Strategic Plan
2012-2015?
What initiatives could the library engage in to
position Torontonians to succeed in a global
knowledge economy?
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Theme 4: The Facts
Deliver excellent library service to Torontonians
efficiently and effectively
Why?
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•
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. Residents
tell us Toronto Public Library staff provide excellent customer
service
As Toronto grows in size, demand for library services grows and evolves
Toronto’s population is aging and Toronto is home to a higher
percentage of low income families than the GTA; at risk groups require
targeted services
The public sector is in a period of restraint; the library must develop new
revenue streams to maintain services
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Theme 4: The Goals
Deliver excellent library service to Torontonians
efficiently and effectively
How?
• Help
. the Toronto Public Library Foundation raise money to support
Toronto having the best public library system in the world
• Work with community partners to explore new opportunities to deliver
better services while keeping costs down
• Ensure easy access to help from library staff; give staff the tools and
training they need to meet the needs of all Torontonians
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Theme 4: Priority Check
What do you think?
Should Deliver excellent library service to
. Torontonians efficiently and effectively be a
priority for the Strategic Plan 2012-2015?
What initiatives could the library engage in to deliver
excellent, efficient and effective library service to
Torontonians?
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Draft Vision 2012-2015 for Toronto Public Library
Review the draft vision for Toronto Public Library now that you’ve heard about
the Strategic Plan 2012-2015. Do you agree with this vision?
Toronto Public Library will be recognized as the world’s leading
public library, helping make Torontonians smarter, successful
and resilient, through excellent and responsive service
Words for consideration:
.
• Successful
• Resilient
• Responsive
Words you would suggest:
•A
•A
•A
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Next Steps
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Consultations with
stakeholder groups,
staff and public to
take place throughout
the summer/early fall
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Results of
consultations to be
presented to the
Library Board in
October 2012
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How to Comment
Website www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/stratplan2012
Email:
strategicplanconsultation@torontopubliclibrary.ca
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Comment forms in the library
Answerline for accessibility and translation:
416-393-7131
Talk to staff in any library branch
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