News Releases- Toronto Public Library

Toronto Public Library Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Asian Heritage Month

Annual city-wide events throughout May

TORONTO (Wednesday, April 25, 2012) - Toronto Public Library is celebrating the 10^th anniversary of Asian Heritage Month with dozens of free events for people of all ages at branches across the city.  In a special anniversary event, Asian Heritage Month founder Senator Vivien Poy will host an evening featuring music, poetry and dance.

What:      A Night of Music, Dance & Poetry Celebrating 10 years of Asian Heritage

When:     Thursday, May 10, 2012

                6:30 – 8:30 pm

Where:     North York Central Library, Auditorium

Once again this year the library will feature eight Asian Homelands Festivals, highlighting East, West, South Asia and China.  Among the featured guests at these festivals are master sitarist Anwar Kurshid, The Persian-Canadian Music and Dance Quartette, Tyko Drummers and author Arlene Chan.

And new this year, the library teams up with the National Film Board of Canada to offer a cross-town Asian Heritage Film festival, featuring NFB films for audiences of all ages. There are also dozens of other opportunities for children and families, teens and adults including author visits and story times, cooking and tai chi demos, puppet shows, henna tattooing and origami, and much more.

Thanks to the generous support of RBC Foundation, Toronto Public Library is able to host all the Asian Heritage Month events.

For more information and a complete list of all Asian Heritage Month events, pick up an event guide and recommended reading list at any Toronto Public Library branch, call Answerline at (416) 393-7131, or visit torontopubliclibrary.ca/asianheritage

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 19 million people visit our branches in neighbourhoods across the city and borrow over 33 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131. For all the latest buzz about the library follow us on Twitter @torontolibrary.

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Media Contact:

Tina Srebotnjak, Manager – Cultural & Special Events Programming

416-393-7098

media@torontopubliclibrary.ca

Toronto Public Library Hosts 3rd Annual Book Bash

Celebrating Canadian children’s literature

TORONTO (Thursday, April 19, 2012) – Toronto Public Library is excited to once again host Book Bash, the Canadian Children's Literature Festival as part of  Keep Toronto Reading, the popular month-long celebration of books. Now in its third year, Book Bash returns to Northern District Branch (Yonge & Eglinton) on Saturday, April 21.

Book Bash is a free, entertaining afternoon featuring renowned Canadian children’s authors, illustrators, storytellers and musicians. This year’s exceptional list of guests includes authors Philippa Dowding, L.M. Falcone, Andrew Larsen, Richard Scrimger, Chad Solomon and Ted Staunton, author/illustrators Jeremy Tankard and Martin Springett, storytellers Aubrey Davis and Laurel Dee Gugler, and singer/songwriter Leah Salomaa.

“We’re pleased to once again present Book Bash and, as with previous years, we expect a great turnout of enthusiastic children and their families,” said Lisa Heggum, Toronto Public Library’s Children and Youth Advocate. “This spring the Library is celebrating 100 years of providing quality children’s services across the city, and Book Bash is a prime example of our commitment to nurturing and celebrating literacy and the joy of reading.”

A full slate of activities, including storytimes, face painting, book signings, crafts and puppet shows, will keep children of every age busy all afternoon.  Emerging and curious authors ages 10 and older will have the opportunity to participate in a hands-on writing workshop with award-winning author Erin Bow.  Toronto Public Library children’s staff will also be available to offer parents expert pointers on how to raise a reader. 

What:         Third-Annual Book Bash Canadian Children’s Literature Festival

Where:       Northern District Branch

                  40 Orchard View Blvd. (north of Eglinton Subway Station) 

 When:        Saturday, April 21, 2012

                  12:30 – 4:00 pm

The festival is supported by the Muller Scholastic Endowment Fund for Canadian Children’s Literature, honouring Lawrence Muller, retired president of Scholastic Canada, and the Toronto Public Library Foundation. The goal of the annual children’s literacy festival is to promote reading, and recognize the wealth of Canadian talent writing for children.

The Toronto Star is the media sponsor for Book Bash.

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 19 million people visit our branches in neighbourhoods across the city and borrow over 33 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:

Melanie Boatswain-Watson 416-397-5936

media@torontopubliclibrary.ca  

10th Anniversary Edition of Hana’s Suitcase Launch

Students invited to Barbara Frum branch for special event

TORONTO (Wednesday, April 11, 2012) – Toronto Public Library has invited Toronto students to attend a special book launch with Karen Levine, author of the critically-acclaimed non-fiction book, Hana’s Suitcase at Barbara Frum branch (Lawrence Ave. West and Bathurst) on April 19, 2012 at 1:00 pm. 

Levine will be launching the 10th anniversary edition of Hana's Suitcase with a presentation to about 100 middle school children. 

Accompanying her will be Fumiko Ishioka, the Japanese educator whose search for the owner of the old suitcase planted the seed for Levine to write the moving story of Hana Brady, a 13-year-old Jewish girl who was murdered in the Holocaust. Ishioka is flying in from Japan for three days to attend the launch. George Brady, Hana's brother who lives in Toronto will also attend the invitation-only event.

Media are welcome to attend.

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 19 million people visit our branches in neighbourhoods across the city and borrow over 33 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 416-393-7212

media@torontopubliclibrary.ca  

Culture Days @ The Library Back for Second Year

Partnership seeks Toronto talent to offer free, interactive activities

TORONTO (Tuesday, April 3, 2012) – Toronto Public Library, the Neighbourhood Arts Network and Culture Days are pleased to continue Culture Days @ The Library for a second year on September 28-29, 2012. This exciting partnership was created to help artists and arts groups share their creative work with the public in free, accessible space.

Toronto-based individual artists, small and medium-sized professional arts groups as well as volunteer-run cultural organizations, collectives or groups that wish to organize their events at a TPL branch are invited to submit an application by April 30, 2012. Activities in all artistic disciplines are encouraged as well as those that appeal to families and to audiences of diverse ages. To be considered for a space, the arts activity must be free and interactive.

The partnership enables artists to take their practice out of their private studios into the accessible spaces of library branches so that the public can discover and engage with their work. Past participants describe Culture Days @ the Library as a great opportunity to connect with new audiences and to build strong community relationships. From Etobicoke to Scarborough, North York and downtown, 40 library branches will provide venues at no cost.

Successful applicants will be chosen based on the suitability of the activity for the branch’s venue space and the interactive nature of the activity. The program cannot provide any financial assistance for supplies or equipment; however, participants do receive administrative, marketing and promotional support for their activity through the joint efforts of the sponsors.

The following branches have committed to hosting Culture Days activities. The majority of activities will be scheduled on Saturday, September 29, with a limited number scheduled on Friday, September 28. For location and other details about each branch, go to http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/hours-locations/index.jsp

 Participating Branches:

Agincourt	Evelyn Gregory	Mount Pleasant
Albert Campbell	Gerrard/Ashdale	North York Central Childrens’ Dept
Amesbury Park	Guildwood	Northern District
Annette Street	High Park	Pape/Danforth
Beaches	Humberwood	Parliament Street
Bendale	Jane/Sheppard	Queen/Saulter
Brentwood	Kennedy/Eglinton	Riverdale
Bridlewood	Leaside	S. Walter Stewart
Centennial	Lillian H. Smith	Sanderson
College/Shaw	Main Street	Spadina Road
Don Mills	Malvern	Taylor Memorial
Downsview	Maryvale	Weston
Dufferin/St. Clair	McGregor Park	York Woods
Eglinton Square	Morningside

How to Participate

A simple application form is now on-line. Applications will be accepted until April 30, 2012. 

Applicants will be matched with the appropriate library branches based on the suitability and interactive nature of the activity. Branches will send out confirmation notifications by May 30, 2011.

About Culture Days

Culture Days is a collaborative, Canada-wide volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities. Launched in 2010, the annual Culture Days event takes place in more than 800 Canadian cities and towns during the last weekend of September, generating an extraordinary amount of enthusiasm in the process. This year’s Culture Days weekend will take place on September 28, 29 and 30, 2012. Once again, the event will feature free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate “behind the scenes”—and to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, and designers at work in their community. Culture Days in Ontario is supported by the Ontario Arts Council, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Government of Ontario in recognition of Celebrate the Artist Weekend. To learn more, please visit www.culturedays.ca

About Neighbourhood Arts Network

Neighbourhood Arts Network is the place where arts and community engagement meet. NAN helps artists and community organizations do what they do best: enrich Toronto and transform it into a more vibrant, beautiful, and liveable city. We catalyze new relationships and conversations, collect research and share information. We envision a Toronto where all residents are empowered to discover and shape the cultural life of their communities. Neighbourhood Arts Network is a project of the Toronto Arts Foundation. To learn more, please visit www.neighbourhoodartsnetwork.org

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Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 19 million people visit our branches in neighbourhoods across the city and borrow over 33 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 Contacts:

Toronto Public Library :

Anne Marie Aikins 416-393-7212

media@torontopubliclibrary.ca  

Culture Days:

Aubrey Reeves

Culture Days Ontario Manager

(416) 646-7469

aubreyreeves@culturedays.ca

 

Library Board Approves Fundraising Priorities 2012 - 2014

Library Board Approves Fundraising Priorities 2012 - 2014

TORONTO (Monday, April 2, 2012) – The Toronto Public Library Board met this evening at Toronto Reference Library.

Highlights of April 2 meeting of the Board:

Fundraising Priorities 2012 - 2014

The Toronto Public Library Board approved fundraising priorities to be shared with the Toronto Public Library Foundation for funding consideration this year and beyond. Priorities are focused on enhancing the library's welcoming places and spaces; collections, literacy and the joy of reading; lifelong learning and skills development; and cultural and social connections. Funds raised by the Foundation are in addition to the Library’s operating and capital budgets, and provide enhanced funding to support the identified projects. A full list of fundraising priorities is available here. 

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Library Board is scheduled for April 30, 2012 at 6:00 pm at Toronto Reference Library.

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 19 million people visit our branches in neighbourhoods across the city and borrow over 33 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 416-393-7212

media@torontopubliclibrary.ca