City Librarian's Report for October 2024
Below is my report for the October 2024 Toronto Public Library (TPL) Board meeting. It summarizes key activities in support of the priorities outlined in our strategic plan. This report covers items that are not part of the Board agenda package.
Opening up our public space
Unexpected Treasures exhibit
From July 16 to September 15, we hosted our Unexpected Treasures exhibit in the TD Gallery at the Toronto Reference Library. Unexpected Treasures took visitors on a trip through time with artifacts dating from 1554 to 2022. The exhibit showcased original art, books, archival materials, maps, artifacts and more from TPL’s Special Collections. Additionally, visitors were provided with information on how to access these library materials and free guided tours were offered weekly.
2024/2025 After School Clubs
Last school year, we took a crucial step toward creating a supportive and effective learning environment for children by introducing nutritious, shelf-stable snacks across all 30 After School Club locations through the Feeding Young Minds Initiative. This year, the program expanded to 39 locations, allowing more participants to enjoy healthy snacks before engaging in weekly club activities that promote exploration, core STEM skills development and collaboration.
In addition to the expansion, fresh fruits and vegetables are now offered at three pilot locations: Goldhawk Park, Woodview Park and Hillcrest branches. Fresh snacks are high in nutritional value, contain less added sugar and preservatives, promote healthy eating habits and add variety – enhancing the snack component of the After School Clubs.
We are grateful to Lead Donor, the Moez and Marissa Kassam Foundation, for their visionary support of After School Clubs and establishing snacks as an important component of this program. We are also grateful to Supporting Donors, Phil Cowperthwaite and Sue Hunter, The Bennett Family Foundation, Adrian and Ange Rocca, J.P. Bickell Foundation, and Linda Dagg and Kenneth Wiener for their commitment to this program.
TPL at Word on the Street Festival
During the last weekend of September, TPL participated in the Word on the Street Festival, an annual celebration of literacy and Canadian writing. Our staff engaged with more than 5,000 visitors, issued 291 library cards, renewed 92 library cards and checked out 270 items.
Festival participants had the opportunity to explore our Bookmobile and attend two daily storytimes in our children’s reading corner. On Saturday, renowned storyteller and former TPL children’s librarian Dr. Rita Cox enchanted audiences with her wonderful stories. On Sunday, TPL hosted three programs on the festival’s Vibrant Voices of Ontario stage with authors including Shawn Micallef, Adam Bunch, Deidre Kelly and more, each drawing more than 100 attendees. Audiences enjoyed lively discussions about Beatlemania, Toronto’s unique neighbourhoods and the secret history of our city.
TPL at the Indigenous Legacy Gathering
This past September, we were honoured to take part in the seventh annual Indigenous Legacy Gathering (ILG), hosted by Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre at Nathan Phillips Square. The event featured information booths, Indigenous vendors, cultural activations and traditional workshops, commemorating residential school Survivors and children who were lost to their families and communities. The gathering culminated on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with the opening of the Spirit Garden.
More than 500 people visited TPL’s information booth, and many expressed their appreciation for the library. Others were eager to register for a library card and learn about our collections, programs and services. Over 170 library cards were issued or renewed at the event. Many visitors sought out copies of the 2024 Read Indigenous lists and spoke of sharing them with family, friends, and colleagues. One customer said, “I just shared these lists at our board meeting!”
Summer Wonder chess programming at Cedarbrae branch
This summer, Cedarbrae branch welcomed Anaya Lall, a 13-year-old chess player from Guyana who has defied the odds as a deaf chess champion. Anaya became the youngest player to represent Guyana at the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, competing against the world’s best players. She has since earned multiple titles, excelling on the international stage.
Anaya participated in Cedarbrae’s four-week Summer Wonder chess program, which brought together over 25 young chess enthusiasts from the community. Wearing her TD Summer Reading Club shirt, she showed her love for learning and reading. Anaya’s involvement highlights the importance of inclusive programs that engage all youth and build strong community connections. The Summer Wonder chess program is one of many initiatives that reflect TPL’s commitment to inclusivity, diversity and the joy of learning and sharing.
I’m Library People Day in the media
Mayor Chow proclaimed October 17 as I’m Library People Day in the City of Toronto. To set the stage for the big day, the Toronto Public Library Foundation (TPLF) organized a CP24 Breakfast Live Eye segment on location at the Toronto Reference Library.
Will Scott, TPLF CEO, chatted with journalist Jee-Yun Lee about the day and various ways the public could participate including through social media, donations and purchasing I’m Library People merchandise. Amanda Della Rocca, Senior Services Specialist for Children’s Services, then highlighted the many services and opportunities for kids at TPL, and the Let’s Go children’s library card registration campaign. Author Zain Bandali spoke about the importance of children’s literacy and his latest book for children, Mehndi Boy. Lastly, Stephen Arroz, Project Leader for Youth Services, took viewers on an engaging tour of the new Youth Hub at the Toronto Reference Library.
This coverage was a wonderful way to shine a light on TPL initiatives and spread the word about giving back to the Library! Watch the full segment.
Broadening Toronto's digital access and inclusion
Digital Expo: Championing Truth in the Digital Era
On September 28, we welcomed 120 guests to our second annual Digital Expo, "Championing Truth in the Digital Era," spotlighting the timely topic of misinformation and disinformation in emerging technologies.
The Expo kicked off with a keynote from Craig Silverman, an award-winning journalist and author, recognized globally as a leading expert on online disinformation, fake news and digital investigations. The keynote was followed by two thought-provoking panel discussions exploring the impact of misinformation on society and the critical role of public education in addressing these issues. The event also featured a marketplace of exhibitors, showcasing organizations such as the Competition Bureau of Canada, TVO, MediaSmarts, Steamlabs and ConnectTO.
Building pathways for workforce development
2024 Arts Mentor in Residence
Sharing her expertise as an award-winning freelance illustrator, Arts Mentor in Residence Kathryn Adams facilitated ten workshops for 193 aspiring artists at Gerrard/Ashdale branch from August to September. Kathryn also held 39 one-on-one consultations to review arts-based business ideas, artist statements and portfolios.
A crowd favourite during the residency was the guest panel titled "Know Your Worth: Setting Fees and Prices" that featured a lively discussion between DJ artist Helen Saygan, independent curator Karina Iskandarsjah and illustrator Suharu Ogawa. Riverdale Hub's grant writer Jessica Singh also gave a helpful presentation on applying for arts funding.
Customers thoroughly enjoyed the residency, with one participant saying, "Toronto Public Library is what makes Toronto a world-class city! I'm so grateful to live here and have the chance to attend these programs for free as a low-income senior."
Providing the vital ingredients for a democratic society
Breaking Barriers: The Power of Children’s Books
In September, the North York Central Library hosted “Breaking Barriers” with the Japan Foundation, a program about disability representation in children’s books. The program was presented in Japanese with English translation and featured Japanese author Rie Muranaka and illustrator Eriko Ishikawa. Based on their work in Japan, Rie and Eriko described how they use picture books to spark discussions with people of all ages in therapeutic settings about visible and invisible barriers.
Rie studied bibliotherapy with former TPL librarian Camilla Gryski 35 years ago in the Reading Room at Sick Kids Hospital. Upon returning to Japan, she started reading to children with disabilities and later wrote a book titled Kokun, which was included in the 2021 IBBY Selection of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities catalogue.
TPL hosts the IBBY Collection for Young People with Disabilities at the North York Central Library. The collection includes more than 4,000 titles in 50 languages and accessible formats, highlighting works for and about children and teens with disabilities.
TPL at the TIFF Street Festival
On September 6 and 7, TPL participated in the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Street Festival. Staff engaged with more than 2,000 visitors regarding TPL’s services and resources, and issued over 100 library cards.
Customers were grateful and amazed as they learned about the art and film related resources offered at TPL and discovered they could sign up for a library card at the festival. Many visitors were interested in our Spin to Win library trivia wheel and our Digital Innovation Hub equipment, specifically our 3D printers and video editing software. Between conversations, staff caught a glimpse of some celebrity arrivals, including Anthony Q. Farrell, creator of Shelved – the CTV show based on TPL’s Parkdale branch – who dropped by the booth and expressed his appreciation for the library.
Thank you to everyone who supported and worked the event, including our Youth Services, Outreach and Toronto Reference Library staff.
IV International Conference and IFLA MetLib Conference
This past month, I had the opportunity to speak at two conferences that brought together public libraries from around the world: the Ministry of Culture of Portugal and Municipal Libraries of the Aveiro Region’s IV International Conference in Ovar, Portugal, and the IFLA MetLib Conference in Barcelona, Spain.
The IV International Conference, “[Re]Thinking the Library,” encouraged various types of libraries to reflect on the processes of social change. I delivered a presentation on the social dimensions of public library service and measuring social impact, drawing on the pillars, priorities and research that have helped shape our services at TPL.
At the MetLib Conference, I was a panelist in a discussion on libraries and democracy, alongside colleagues from Sweden, Spain and Australia. We had meaningful conversations, covering topics including intellectual freedom, civic engagement and misinformation. Nearly 500 library professionals joined us for this informative session. It was a pleasure to meet and share information with library colleagues from other countries.
Investing in staff and an innovative service culture
TPL receives the ULC Top Innovator award
We are honored to receive a 2024 Top Innovator award in the Library Operations and Management category from the Urban Libraries Council (ULC), recognizing our cybersecurity response and business continuity efforts. ULC announced all Top Innovators and Honorable Mentions on October 3 through a video announcement, winner showcase, and national press release. As requested by ULC, we produced a short video highlighting our work during the cybersecurity incident. This award is a testament to the tireless efforts of everyone at TPL who worked diligently during an extremely challenging period. We are immensely proud of this recognition.
Digital Inclusion Thursdays
Over the course of September, staff from our Innovation and Learning & Development departments launched “Digital Inclusion Thursdays,” a learning campaign for employees. The campaign offered optional learning recommendations which included on-demand courses, books and articles covering topics such as artificial intelligence, data visualization, social media and critical thinking. Staff were encouraged to boost their learning in the lead-up to Digital Inclusion Week from October 7-13, an annual TPL event featuring online and in-person digital literacy programs for the public.
Digital Literacy, Innovation & Technology Conference
On September 26, TPL hosted its inaugural Digital Literacy, Innovation & Technology Conference for staff. Jason Trinh, Coordinator of Global Competencies & STEM for the Toronto District School Board, kicked things off with a keynote address discussing teachable moments, Universal Design for Learning principles and how new digital technologies can support learners.
The full-day event featured a panel discussion with senior staff on digital literacy program considerations for equity-deserving groups. Networking, table discussions and poster presentations on digital literacy initiatives rounded out the day. One participant commented, “[The poster sessions] were a terrific opportunity to see what staff are doing in other locations and learn from their experience. It was also very helpful to form connections face-to-face over a topic that they were passionate and knowledgeable about. We were buzzing with new ideas afterwards and ways that we could implement them!”
The next Digital Literacy, Innovation & Technology Conference will take place in September 2025.
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