From: Vickery Bowles [mailto:vbowles@torontopubliclibrary.ca] Sent: May 1, 2017 5:40 PM To: Peter Wallace Ce: Daniela Magisano ; Larry Hughsam ; N Marshall ; Ron Carinci Subject: Provincial Funding Cut Hello Peter, | am emailing you with some concerning news | received last Friday from Kevin Finnerty, ADM for Culture at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. ‘The Ministry has cut TPL's provincial funding by 20%, funding that has been received annually for almost the past 20 years, although flat-lined, This represents $1.4 million with an in-year 2017 budget cut of $700,000 and the remaining $700,000 in 2018. This appears to be related to @ recent provincial announcement of a $1 million investment in rural, emote and Indigenous libraries. We applaud this much needed investment. However, this corresponding reduction in funding at TPL cannot be absorbed and there will be service impacts. ‘This provincial funding is a major source of revenue for TPL’s digitization program including content development, web development, and online services for all Ontarians. This program provides online access to the Toronto Reference Library's vast and unique collection of historical materials about Ontario and Canada from pre-1900 to present day, as well as our deep staff expertise n this area. | am attaching a briefing note | sent you and others last August when the Province announced a review pf public library funding as part of its Culture Strategy. We are anticipating formal notification from the Ministry soon and will be reporting about this at the Board's May ‘meeting. | will continue to keep you informed. If you have any questions, please let me know. Regards, Vickery