The City of Peterborough is not proceeding with planned staff reductions at the Peterborough Public Library, at least not for the time being.
In a media release on Monday (June 16), the city announced the staff reorganization at the library has been “paused” so that the city can “consider other options for meeting budgetary constraints.”
During deliberations on the 2025 budget last fall, councillors approved the elimination of two positions and the reclassification of some positions as lower-paid positions to save $120,000 of the city’s $411 million operating budget.
After the city’s budget was approved earlier this year, library management subsequently decided to lay off three of the library’s four full-time unionized librarians, including a children’s librarian, the adult and teen programming librarian, and the librarian who manages the library’s information systems. Two positions (an outreach coordinator and a programming assistant) would be created, resulting in a net reduction of one position.
The planned changes to staffing at the library resulted in strong community opposition, particularly by a number of concerned parents who launched an online petition that has garnered 2,480 signatures to date and founded the Our Future Peterborough grassroots advocacy group.
Last Tuesday (June 10), Our Future Peterborough issued an open letter signed by more than 100 celebrated writers, artists, educators, and performers — Margaret Atwood, Neil Young, and former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson among them. As well as received coverage from local media and national media including the CBC and The Toronto Star.
“The city has heard and appreciates the support for library services expressed by residents and others who have advocated for the Peterborough Public Library,” states the city’s media release.
“While the approved budget needs to be followed, the city is exploring all options to ensure the most effective means to reduce the budget while maintaining the same level and quality of service, through constructive meetings with Peterborough Public Library staff.”
The city adds that it is committed to continuing “an open dialogue with Peterborough Public Library staff and their union executive at Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1833 as discussions progress on how to implement changes within the library’s approved budget, and as the collective bargaining process continues.”
