London Public Library cuts Sunday hours weeks after budget ask declined

The London Public Library has suspended Sunday service for the rest of the year, according to a statement from library officials that was posted to the library website and social media.

It's the first cut the library has made since it didn't get the money it asked for in the multi-year budget. 

Sunday service was a "value added" service which saw the Bostwick, Cherryhill and Masonville branches open on Sunday afternoons to provide space for programs and general library use, officials said.

"[The recent municipal budget] 100 per cent had an influence," Brian Gibson, the chair of the library's board, which oversees operations, said in an interview. "We have to be proactive in cost saving measures going forward. That's our expectation with the budget."

Library officials were vocal throughout the 2024 municipal budgeting process in its assertions that council's failure to meet its requests for more money would result in service cuts and closures, including the potential permanent closure of the Carson and Glanworth branches.

In an interview with CBC News during the budget process, Mayor Josh Morgan said the library "catastrophized a bit" over the possible closure of the branches.

"We now have to start playing with impacts on our service that will benefit our budget and have the least impact on service to the public," Gibson said.

Originally, Sunday service was supposed to run until May 7, before restarting in October of 2024. 

Now, with the service having ended early with no return scheduled, Gibson said an opportunity has arisen to gauge how important it is to patrons.

"I would love for people to e-mail the [library] board, email their city councillors, email the mayor, and give them their thoughts," he said.

Strain on relationship between city and library 'unnecessary,' says Mayor 

Since the original publishing of this article, London Mayor Josh Morgan said he was blindsided by news that Sunday hours have been cut.

Morgan said that while the library board is separate from the city, verbal agreements were made between himself and library officials to consult with one another regarding budgetary challenges, and he was under the impression that service cuts were off the table for 2024 due to concessions council made in budgetting.

"I'm disappointed that they've decided to cancel Sunday service without even having a conversation with council," said Morgan.

"It is surprising to me that the board chair would go in the media, making service changes that they did not talk to council about, especially given where the budget ended up landing."

The final budget approved for the library for 2024 included a base funding increase from $22.12 million in 2023 to $23.67 million, while the library initially requested a 19.9 per cent increase, to $26.53 million.

Instead of granting the full request, council agreed to give the library one-time funding above its base budget for important repairs and other services. That extra funding amounted to $5.82 million, for a total 2024 budget of $29.49 million.

For years after 2024, the library's initial funding requests were approved. However, once the one-time funding is spent, the library will ultimately end up with less than it said it needs by 2027.

"I do think it's a strained relationship (between the city and the library), and I think it's unnecessarily so," Morgan said. "I invited further conversations about the budget before it was tabled, which never happened until it reached the council floor."

"Now, again, without any sort of communication to us they're adjusting service levels without even having a conversation with us," Morgan added.

Morgan said he is in the process of organizing discussions with library officials, including Gibson and CEO Michael Ciccone to sort out issues that lead to the current situation.

Morgan also said he plans to bring motions to council, with the aim of increasing collaboration and support between the city and the various boards and commissions that run its services, including the library board.

"The fiscal situation in the city isn't going to get any easier anytime soon. We've got to move to an area of better collaboration and communication."