News Releases - Toronto Public Library

Toronto Public Library Announces 2011 One Book Selection
Library’s fourth annual Community Reads initiative part of month-long reading festival

TORONTO (Friday, February 11, 2011) Toronto Public Library has announced its selection for the 2011 Keep Toronto Reading One Book community reads program. Midnight at the Dragon Café, by Judy Fong Bates is the book the library is inviting all Torontonians to read this spring. The announcement was made last night at the Book Lovers Ball, the Library Foundation’s annual gala fundraiser. 

The novel tells the story of a young Chinese girl who lives with her family in a small Ontario town.  The family runs the town’s only Chinese restaurant and struggles to find its place in this foreign culture.  

“For an immigrant kid like me, the public library was one of the primary building blocks in my love of words and stories,” said Fong Bates. “I am deeply indebted to the library of my youth. And so I am thrilled and honoured that Toronto Public Library, the busiest urban public library system in the world, has chosen Midnight at the Dragon Café for its 2011 One Book. I look forward to meeting with Toronto readers during the month of April.”

As part of this city-wide book club, readers can meet Judy at a variety of events beginning with an onstage conversation on April 1st.  Other events include panel discussions, a public lecture on the book’s themes, and a “Dragon Café” dinner with Judy at Spadina Garden Restaurant. 

Midnight at the Dragon Café is available in all library branches and at most bookstores in the city.  And on Feb. 28, in celebration of One Book, Queen Street streetcar riders will be treated to a special gift. Watch for more details at torontopubliclibrary.ca, or in your Monday Feb. 28 Toronto Star.

One Book is part of the Toronto Public Library’s annual reading festival, Keep Toronto Reading, which celebrates the joy of reading throughout the city.  The full festival line-up will be revealed on March 1st. Visit keeptorontoreading.ca for 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 & Special Events Programming
416-393-7098
[email protected]