Library likely hiring more staff

By Jay Gutteridge Simcoe.com Dec 10, 2010
Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library will likely hire at least three new staff members in the new year to help operate the new library building.
Town council gave preliminary approval to setting aside approximately $120,150 in the town’s 2011 budget for an additional full-time children’s services librarian and two part-time circulation staff members. Council must still give formal approval to the plan at its meeting Dec. 14.
Although the 2011 draft budget won’t come before council until the new year, the funding for the three positions in question must be approved by January to provide enough time for the new staff to be hired and trained before the new library opens in the spring, said a written report to council prepared by library CEO Liz Fenwick.
The new hirings will also be co-ordinated with the replacement of a staff member who is retiring at the end of February, the report stated.
The library will need the additional staff members to operate the new 42,000 square foot facility, the report stated.
Ward 3 Councillor Gary Lamb noted the new library building is about four times larger than the old one.
The report stated the library will request more money for staffing when the budget comes forward. This money would go toward promotion of existing staff, additional hours for the current part-time staff members and staffing for opening on Sunday, if council approves it.
Ms Fenwick told council if the money for Sunday staffing is approved when the budget comes forward, the library’s Sunday hours would begin around September.