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Toronto Public Library Board approves $2 million to beef up security

Toronto Public Library Board approves $2 million to beef up security
“Thanks in part to pandemic-related factors, the Toronto Public Library Board gave a thumbs up to $2 million in additional funding to improve security at its 100 branches in 2022. It’s not just about visitors who refuse to mask up, however; as Francine Kopun reports, the opioid crisis and worsening social issues like homelessness have changed how Torontonians interact with library services. Here’s more on the rationale for the funding bump.

  • By the numbers: In 2013, there were 103 violent incidents reported at the city’s libraries. That figure rose to 248 in 2019, 7.3 per cent of all incidents reported that year.
  • More numbers: Including an extra $1 million added to the TPL’s 2021 security budget, the latest increase raises the cost of security guard services to $4.9 million for 2022 — a 225 per cent increase on 2013’s $1.5 million security budget.
  • Go deeper: While a TPL report delivered Monday noted that security guards can help prevent and diffuse situations, they’re not the only measure in place to support vulnerable populations. TPL has employed a social worker since 2018 and all staff are trained to recognize overdoses, with some also being trained to administer naloxone.”
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Posted on: October 26, 2021, 9:25 am Category: Uncategorized

By: Stephen Abram

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