News Releases- Toronto Public Library

City Officially Declares April ‘Keep Toronto Reading Month’

Toronto Public Library celebrates 6th annual city-wide reading festival

TORONTO (Wednesday, March 30, 2011) - April was officially declared Keep Toronto Reading Month this morning at an event at Hunter’s Glen Junior School in Scarborough. On behalf of Mayor Rob Ford, Toronto Public Library Board member Councillor Sarah Doucette read the official proclamation in front of over 250 enthusiastic primary school students gathered in the school’s gym.

Through a partnership with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), 15 Scarborough primary schools are holding their own Keep Toronto Reading Day in April, and 14 high school classes across the city are reading this year’s One Book community read selection, Midnight at the Dragon Café, by Judy Fong Bates.

“We’re very happy to have so many Toronto students taking part in our festival this year,” said City Librarian Jane Pyper.  “And so we thought Hunter’s Glen Junior School would be the perfect location to kick off our sixth annual city-wide celebration of reading.”

This morning’s event featured a story time and performance by children’s author and illustrator Robin Muller, as well as a surprise “flash mob” by the students that musically celebrated their love of reading.  

“This year's literacy focus is about giving students the knowledge and skills to make good decisions and think critically about their surroundings," said Kurt McIntosh, Principal of Hunter's Glen Junior School. "Our partnership with the Toronto Public Library, and today's launch, will highlight our month-long celebration of the many forms of literacy, both locally and across the Board.”

The first of Toronto Public Library’s Keep Toronto Reading Festival events is an onstage conversation with Judy Fong Bates at the Toronto Reference Library on April 1.  There are more than 80 other free events spread across the city all month long.  Visit www.keeptorontoreading.ca for complete details. 

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 18 million people visit our 99 branches and borrow more than 32 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.
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Media Contact:
Tina Srebotnjak, Manager, Cultural and Special Events Programming
416-393-7098
media@torontopubliclibrary.ca

 

 

Official Launch of Keep Toronto Reading Month

Flash mob at Hunter’s Glen School to kick off April festival

TORONTO (Monday, March 28, 2011) - April will be officially declared Keep Toronto Reading Month at a special event at Hunter’s Glen Junior Public School in Scarborough on Wednesday, March 30, 2011.  City Librarian Jane Pyper will be in attendance along with Toronto Public Library Board member Councillor Sarah Doucette who will read the official proclamation on behalf of Mayor Rob Ford. 

Children’s author and illustrator Robin Muller will also be in attendance to demonstrate how he brings his art to life. And for a unique twist, 200 kids gathered in the school gym will surprise the officials with an enthusiastic Keep Toronto Reading “flash mob.”

What:        Official launch of Keep Toronto Reading Festival
                www.keeptorontoreading.ca

When:        Wednesday, March 30, 10:00 am

Where:        Hunter’s Glen Junior Public School gymnasium
                   16 Haileybury Drive, Scarborough (South of Lawrence and Midland)

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 18 million people visit our 99 branches and borrow more than 32 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.
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Media Contact:
Anne Marie Aikins, Manager, Community Relations
416-393-7212
media@torontopubliclibrary.ca

Toronto Public Library Invites Public to Help Shape New Vision for Mount Dennis Branch

TORONTO (Wednesday, March 23, 2011) - Toronto Public Library is inviting members of the public to help shape a new vision for Mount Dennis Branch by sharing their opinions at a community open house on Thursday, April 7, 2011.

Toronto Public Library senior staff and architects from G. Bruce Stratton Architects will be on hand to seek input from the public on the proposed renovation plans which will improve accessibility, enhance customer service and provide a larger, more welcoming space for the community.

The Mount Dennis Branch renovation is scheduled to begin in late 2011. 

What:           Mount Dennis Community Open House    
Where:         Mount Dennis Branch (1123 Weston Road, below Eglinton Avenue
                    West, between Keele Street and Jane Street)
When:          Thursday, April 7, 2011

Drop in anytime between 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 18 million people visit our 99 branches and borrow more than 32 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.

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Media Contact:
Anne Marie Aikins, Manager, Community Relations
416-393-7212
media@torontopubliclibrary.ca

Toronto Public Library Invites You to Share the Books You Love

170 journals spread across city as part of Keep Toronto Reading Festival

TORONTO (Tuesday, March 22, 2011) Toronto Public Library’s popular red journals are back for a second year. The library’s 99 branches today each launched a journal inviting Torontonians to write about books they love. The journals left their home branches this morning, and were launched into their neighbourhoods by library staff and customers. Anyone finding one of the journals is encouraged to write about a favourite book and then release the little red book back into the community.

The journals are part of the library’s annual Keep Toronto Reading Festival, which takes place each April.  The festival’s theme this year is Let Books Transform you this April and so people are especially encouraged to share a transformative read. The journey of the journals can be tracked through Twitter (@torontolibrary and #ktrjournal), or through the journal blog on the Keep Toronto Reading website (keeptorontoreading.ca).

In addition to the roaming journals, the library has this year placed stationary journals in 40 independent coffee shops and book stores.  Readers who want to share a book that really mattered to them are invited to drop by one of these locations and make an entry. A map showing all locations is located on the website.  In addition, the library’s Bookmobiles will each carry a journal on their regular routes around the city.

The festival media sponsors, the Toronto Star and CBC, will also circulate a journal among their staff. And 15 Scarborough primary schools will be filling their own journals leading up to their special day-long celebrations of reading on April 29.

The library asks that anyone finding a traveling journal after April 20 return it to their local branch.  Stationary journals will be collected at the end of the month, and a comprehensive “Books Toronto Loves” list will be compiled and posted on the website. 

For complete event listings, visit keeptorontoreading.ca

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 18 million people visit our 99 branches and borrow more than 32 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.
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Media Contact:
Tina Srebotnjak, Manager – Cultural & Special Events Programming
416-393-7098
media@torontopubliclibrary.ca

Toronto Public Library Announces 6th Annual Book Festival

Toronto Public Library Announces 6th Annual Book Festival
80 events across the city during April will “Keep Toronto Reading”

TORONTO (Thursday, March 10, 2011) Toronto Public Library is celebrating the transformative power of books in its sixth annual Keep Toronto Reading Festival this April. The month-long celebration of books and reading offers 80 free events at 40 library branches across the city, inviting Torontonians to “Let Books Transform You this April”.

Highlighting this year’s festival are internationally acclaimed authors Howard Jacobson, Donna Leon and Tim Flannery, as well as Canadian luminaries David Bezmozgis, Stephen Hayward, Alissa York, Michael Winter, Gail Bowen and first time novelist Sylvia Tyson.

The library will also be celebrating its 4th annual 2011 One Book community read, Midnight at the Dragon Café, by Judy Fong Bates. As part of this city-wide book club, Torontonians can meet Judy, discuss her book, and go to one of more than a dozen One Book events, including a performance of Chinese Opera, a public lecture at the University of Toronto, and a sampling of Chinese dumplings.

Keep Toronto Reading also offers poetry recitals, storytelling for both adults and kids, anime, and crafts for kids.  Book Bash, a special day-long event celebrating Canadian children’s literature, will take place on April 30th. 

Toronto schools are a big part of this year’s festival, with 13 high school classes studying Midnight at the Dragon Café.  In addition, 15 primary schools in Scarborough will hold their own Keep Toronto Reading Day filled with fun activities celebrating the joy of reading.

Keep Toronto Reading will be officially launched on March 30 at Hunter’s Glen school in Scarborough, where April will officially be declared “Keep Toronto Reading Month.”

For complete event listings, go to keeptorontoreading.ca

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 18 million people visit our 99 branches and borrow more than 32 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.

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Media Contact:
Tina Srebotnjak, Manager – Cultural & Special Events Programming
416-393-7098
media@torontopubliclibrary.ca

Toronto Public Library Invites Artists to Exhibit

Toronto Public Library Invites Artists to Exhibit

TORONTO (Wednesday, March 9, 2011) - Toronto Public Library invites artists to submit their work for possible exhibition at 14 branch locations throughout the city during the September 2011 to August  2012 exhibit season.

An Art Selection Committee including community jurors Pamila Matharu, artist, and Nancy Newton, artist and educator, will consider works prepared for hanging in all media, including photography (no sculptures).  Selected artists will be given one month showings.

If you would like to submit an application for consideration visit the library website at http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/programs-and-classes/exhibits/art-exhibit-space.jsp or contact the Art Exhibits Office at 416-393-7224 for more information.  Deadline for submission is April 1, 2011.

EXHIBIT LOCATIONS:

Deer Park Branch
40 St. Clair Avenue East

Don Mills Branch
888 Lawrence Avenue East

Fairview Branch
35 Fairview Mall Drive   

Leaside Branch
165 McRae Drive

Mimico Centennial Branch
47 Station Road

North York Central Library
5120 Yonge Street

Northern District Branch
40 Orchard View Boulevard

Oakwood Village Library and Arts Centre
341 Oakwood Avenue

Pleasant View Branch
575 Van Horne Avenue

Richview Branch
1806 Islington Avenue

Runnymede Branch
2178 Bloor Street West

S. Walter Stewart Branch
170 Memorial Park Avenue

Woodside Square Branch
1571 Sandhurst Circle

Yorkville Branch
22 Yorkville Avenue

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 18 million people visit our 99 branches and borrow more than 32 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.

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Media Contact:
Edward Karek, Communications Officer (416) 397-5925 
media@torontopubliclibrary.ca