Impacts of Budget Cuts to OLS-N & SOLS on “day-to-day operations of Ontario’s Public Libraries”

April 19, 2019

Ontario Library Service – North and Southern Ontario Library Service are arm’s length agencies that have no involvement in the day-to-day operations of Ontario’s Public Libraries.
— Michael Tibollo, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

In 2017-18, SOLS facilitated almost 440,000 borrowing requests from libraries and delivered almost 710,000 packages on our courier routes.
— Southern Ontario Library Service. 2017-18 Annual Report

On April 16, 2019, Barbara Franchetto, Chief Executive Officer of Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS) announced that the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport would be cutting the SOLS 2019-20 budget by more than 50%. Ontario Library Service-North (OLS-N) was also presented with a 50% budget cut for the current fiscal year.

In a statement on April 18, 2019, Michael Tibollo, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, said that SOLS and OLS-N “have no involvement in the day-to-day operations of Ontario’s Public Libraries.”

On the same day, SOLS announced that its interlibrary loan delivery service will permanently cease to operate, effective April 26, 2019. The 24 drivers (full time, part time and occasional) employed by SOLS to deliver the interlibrary loans would be losing the jobs. In 2017-18, SOLS facilitated almost 440,000 borrowing requests from libraries and its drivers delivered almost 710,000 packages.

Public libraries across Ontario followed with announcements to their communities.

Southern Ontario Library Service

Read our post on SOLS Budget Cuts in 2019/2020: https://t.co/7xFxMuVAic

— SOLS (@solslib) April 16, 2019

Please read this statement from our CEO on how operating cuts to SOLS will affect Interlibrary Loan and Delivery starting April 26th: https://t.co/y61Ty2QeDc

— SOLS (@solslib) April 18, 2019

SOLS delivery service will permanently cease to operate, effective April 26th, 2019. Read on: https://t.co/qFrICSqDpG

— SOLS (@solslib) April 18, 2019

Aurora Public Library

Barrie Public Library

Bonnechere Union Public Library

Bracebridge Public Library

(County of) Brant Public Library

NO!!! All inter-library loan services provided by SOLS have been suspended until further notice. This is due to the recent cuts to SOLS (https://t.co/dYNTE2xQXU). If you have requested something using our ILLO service you will NOT receive your request. pic.twitter.com/RjqrWZ82t7

— Brant Public Library (@brantlibrary) April 18, 2019

Brantford Public Library

Brighton Public Library

Brockville Public Library

Bruce County Public Library

Carleton Place Public Library

Chatham-Kent Public Library

Clarence-Rockland Public Library

Our hearts are going out to those at SOLS who are losing their jobs because of the cutbacks. https://t.co/Dy94TFaVUc

— C-R Public Library (@BPCRPL) April 18, 2019

Please note that effective immediately, we will no longer be able to provide interlibrary loans to our patrons.

— C-R Public Library (@BPCRPL) April 18, 2019

Clearview Public Library

Collingwood Public Library

Deep River Public Library

East Gwillimbury Public Library

Due to the provincial government’s severe budget cuts to the Southern Ontario Library Service, Interlibrary loans will no longer be available after April 26th.
Please continue to support #mylibrary by returning your books and other items to your local branch by the due date pic.twitter.com/W3RKdsugrX

— EastGwillimburyPL (@EGPublicLibrary) April 19, 2019

Essa Township Public Library

Fort Frances Public Library

Gananoque Public Library

Georgina Public Library

Greater Sudbury Public Library

Haldimand County Public Library

Haliburton County Public Library

Hornepayne Public Library

Kawartha Lakes Public Library

Kitchener Public Library

Leeds and the Thousand Islands Public Library

https://t.co/1KdczBtNWF
Due to budget cuts Leeds and the Thousand Islands Public Library will no longer be able to offer Inter library loans. This includes bookclub sets.

— LTI Public Library (@ltipl) April 19, 2019

Madoc Public Library

Meaford Public Library

Merrickville Public Library

Middlesex County Library

Midland Public Library

Mississippi Mills Public Library

Newmarket Public Library

Niagara Falls Public Library

Niagara on the Lake Public Library

Norfolk County Public Library

Due to provincial budget cuts to @sols, interlibrary loans have been suspended until further notice. In 2017 (our most recent stats), 12,593 items were borrowed using this service. #NorfolkCounty

— NCPL (@norfolklibrary) April 18, 2019

North Bay Public Library

North Grenville Public Library

North Perth Public Library

Orillia Public Library

Otonabee – South Monaghan Public Library

Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library

Pelham Public Library

Due to provincial government cuts at @solslib (Southern Ontario Library Service), interlibrary loans and LiNC services will no longer be offered. #mylibrary pic.twitter.com/MyRmWpFRAp

— Pelham Public Library (@Pelham_Library) April 18, 2019

Pembroke Public Library

Perth & District Union Public Library

Perth East Public Library

Petawawa Public Library

Peterborough Public Library

Port Colborne Public Library

Powassan & District Union Public Library

Rainy River Public Library

Red Rock Public Library

Richmond Hill Public Library

St. Mary’s Public Library

Schreiber Public Library

Scugog Public Library

Shelburne Public Library

Six Nations Public Library

Springwater Public Library

Stratford Public Library

Thorold Public Library

Trent Hills Public Library

Vaughan Public Libraries

Waterloo Public Library

Whitewater Region Public Library

Woodstock Public Library