What's On at the Library

RMS Titanic: Gilded Lives on a Fatal Voyage

One hundred years ago, on April 14, 1912, the great ocean liner Titanic went down. Toronto Public Library is pleased to welcome award-winning writer Hugh Brewster to talk about his new book on this disaster which continues to grip readers. A real expert on the Titanic, Brewster was for two decades an editor and publisher at Madison Press Books where he helped edit and compile the images for Dr. Robert Ballard’s bestseller, The Discovery of the Titanic and Titanic: An Illustrated History. 

Brewster’s R.M.S. Titanic weaves the story of that fateful crossing with compelling portraits of the people on board--those who survived and those who tragically lost their lives--allowing us to place ourselves on that sloping deck and ask, "What would we do?"

Tue Apr 3, 2:00 - 3:00 pm Toronto Reference Library Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium  Tue Apr 10, 7:00 - 8:00 pm Albert Campbell Tue Apr 17, 7:00 - 8:15 pm Port Union Wed May 02, 7:00 - 8:00 pm Danforth/Coxwell Tue May 08, 7:00 - 8:00 pm Annette Street

For more Thought Exhange Programs, visit: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/programs-and-classes/featured/thought-exchange.jsp

Hi. We are back on track with The eh List Author Series. Only one major hitch: Esi Edugyan will only be able to visit for the North York program. She will NOT be able to make the TRL appearance.
So, if you want to be there for Esi's interview with Susan Swan, that is the North York Central Library auditorium, April 4, 7 pm. Please call to ensure a seat! 416-395-5639.

Program Update

All library branches are now open, and all library programs are up and running, including our (almost) full roster of Keep Toronto events.  Please note the following:

Keep Toronto Reading Launch

Toronto Public Library kicks off its annual Keep Toronto Reading festival this  Monday, April 2 with an event featuring our One Book author Maggie Helwig. 

Come out and meet Maggie as she talks about her book Girls Fall Down with the CBC’s Anne Marie Mediwake, and hear some great music by singer/songwriter Jon Brooks.  The evening starts at 7pm in the atrium of the Toronto Reference Library.

Monday’s event is just one of 100 events taking place this April at 51 branches.  Come meet great writers like Esi Edugyan, David Gilmour, Lionel Shriver and Wayne Johnston.  Celebrate Toronto as a “Reader City” with local authors who live in your neighbourhood, take a literary walking tour of the Junction, and discover the history of  Leaside,  Rexdale and the Guild Inn.  There are photography and graffiti  workshops for teens and fun events for kids all over town. 

Come out and discuss the themes of our One Book.  Maggie will be reading at a few branches, as well as taking part in panels whose topics come right out of the pages of her book.  As photography figures prominently in the book, we’re also holding a “Hidden Toronto” photo contest. Send us a photo of your favourite Toronto spot for a chance to be published in the Toronto Star. 

We’re also inviting everyone to share the books they love.  Tell us what you’re reading and where you’re reading it by filling out a sticker at your local branch and posting it on our Reader City walls.  Or tell us online at http://www.keeptorontoreading.ca/, join the discussion on Twitter or Facebook, or upload a mini book-review to YouTube.

Full details on our website, or pick up a program guide at your local branch. 

Please note that Esi Edugyan's event at the Toronto Reference Library on Thursday, April 5, has been cancelled.  Esi will be at North York Central on Wed, April 4 at 7pm as scheduled.

 The Bram & Bluma Appel Salon Events:

Shakespeare Lectures: The two Shakespeare lectures that were cancelled are being rescheduled.  Check our website for details. 

Lionel Shriver in conversation with Anne Kingston, April 5: This event has moved back to the Appel Salon.   Tickets available at www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/appelsalon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program Update during Labour Disruption

During the current labour disruption, all library programs are cancelled. In addition, please note the following: 

Bram & Bluma Appel Salon Events:

Shakespeare Lecture, March 27: Cancelled

Harlan Coben in conversation with Peter Robinson, March 29:  Moved to different venue. Penguin Books is now hosting this event at Indigo Books, Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor Street West at 7pm.  The event is free and doesn't require tickets.  Salon tickets will be honoured, but  seating is first come, first served.  For more information visit www.indigo.ca/events  or on twitter @indigogreenroom.

Lionel Shriver in conversation with Anne Kingston, April 5:  Moved to different venue.  HarperCollins is now hosting this event at Ben McNally Books , 366 Bay Street, Toronto.  Doors open at 6.30 for a 7pm event. Please note that capacity is limited at this venue, and Salon tickets will be honoured on a first come, first served basis.   For more information, call 416-361-0032  or visit www.benmcnallybooks.com

 

 

 

Partner Venues To Host Special Keep Toronto Reading Events

This year’s Keep Toronto Reading Festival presents nearly 100 events, discussions and workshops. Several of these events take place at our partner venues – offering a unique setting for fascinating discussion, educational tours, hilarious literary mischief, and more.

 

Keep Toronto Reading Book Exchange

Join Misha Glouberman of Trampoline Hall fame (above left) and panellists Pasha Malla, Kristyn Dunnion, and Ryan Kamstra for our third annual Book Exchange, where books are the only currency. Bring a book you are willing to exchange and get ready to swap. Be warned of literary mischief: Swap contestants have been known to get feisty. Attendance limited to persons 19 years or older.

Thursday, April 26, 7:30 pm
Imperial Pub and Library

 

One Book Events

Lectures, discussions and tours bring the themes of our One Book – Girls Fall Down by Maggie Helwig – to life.

 

Explore PATH with Shawn Micallef

Follow in the steps of Girls Fall Down protagonists Alex and Susie-Paul in this walking tour of Toronto’s PATH system led by Shawn Micallef.

Tuesday, April 3, 6:30 pm
Meet at the front entrance of Roy Thomson Hall

 

The Damaged City: The Emotional Negotiations of Girls Fall Down

Lecture by Ryerson University English professor Jenny Sampirisi.

Friday, April 13, 3 pm
Ryerson University, Heaslip House, 7^th floor

 

Graffiti Talk and Tour

In Girls Fall Down, anonymous graffiti artists paint the word “Fear” across the city. Join Steve Ferrara and Lisa Martin of Well and Good Arts & Culture for an engaging talk on graffiti in Toronto and around the world and tour the Evergreen Brick Works.

Sunday, April 15, 12:30 pm
Tour at 1:30 pm
Evergreen Brick Works, BMO Atrium

 

Toronto’s Invisible Community

As portrayed by the character Derek, homelessness can be the ultimate disconnection from society. Activists Mike Creek and Cathy Crowe join author Maggie Helwig and Dr. Paula Goering (CAMH) to shed light on the challenges that the homeless community face, including poverty, mental illness, and abuse. Moderated by CBC’s Nil Koksal.

Thursday, April 19, 7 pm.
Saint Stephen-in-the-Fields Anglican Church

 

Unseen Toronto: The Shadow Worlds of Girls Fall Down

Subterranean Toronto – with its subways and ravines – can present hidden, shadowy dangers, as Helwig’s protagonists discover. A talk by University of Toronto Canadian Studies professor Andrew Lesk.

Thursday, April 26, 6 pm
University of Toronto, University College, Room 179

 

Ravine Walk: From Castle Frank Station to Evergreen Brick Works

Join John Wilson of Lost River Walks and Maggie Helwig for a reading and guided tour of the ravines toward the historical Don Valley Brick Works.

Sunday, April 29, 12:30 pm
Meet on Danforth across from Castle Frank Station