City Librarian's Report for December 2024
Below is my report for the December 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
Wychwood branch honoured by the Architecture Conservancy of Ontario
On October 17, the Architecture Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) awarded TPL and Shoalts and Zaback Architects (SZA) with the Peter Stoke Restoration Award: Large/Scale Corporate for the Wychwood neighbourhood branch project. The award honours and celebrates those who have made significant achievements in heritage preservation and recognizes the work of preserving community heritage.
Wychwood branch reopened in October 2022 after its original structure was completely restored and a new 9,000 square feet addition was seamlessly integrated.
The jury commented, “The Wychwood Branch serves as a model for communities seeking to revitalize historic Carnegie Libraries while creating modern, inclusive spaces. Lessons learned here—respectful restoration, innovative expansion, and a focus on community needs—can be applied to similar projects across North America. The library is no longer just a repository of books, but a vibrant social center, a testament to the power of thoughtful design.”
The James Bay Treaty visits TPL
During Treaties Recognition Week this past November, TPL brought together Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in a welcoming and respectful environment to help facilitate education about treaty rights and treaty relationships. This year, TPL had the privilege of hosting an original copy of The James Bay Treaty, also known as “Treaty No. 9,” at the Toronto Reference Library.
On November 4, nearly 400 customers visited the treaty, and more than 240 people attended a moving opening ceremony with representatives from the Mushkegowuk Council and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Members of the public also had the opportunity to view the MacMartin Diary, detailing oral promises made by the treaty commissioners, and photos selected from the “People of the Watershed: Photographs by John Macfie" exhibit. The event was held in collaboration with the Mushkegowuk Council, Archives of Ontario, McMichael Canadian Art Gallery, and Queen’s University Archives.
Later in the week, we hosted local classes to view the treaty and learn about its significance. Mushkegowuk Council Deputy Grand Chief Natasha Martin met with a number of these classes to share her knowledge. The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Edith Dumont, also joined a class to learn with students.
Dear Reader: Taylor Swift (TPL’s Version)
In response to widespread interest in Taylor Swift's Eras tour coming to Toronto, TPL hosted “Dear Reader: Taylor Swift (TPL’s Version),” an event in celebration of the pop star and her fans. The event took place on November 13 in the Toronto Reference Library’s Appel Salon, where 250 people came together for an evening of hands-on activities, conversation and community-building.
Attendees took part in Taylor Swift-themed crafts and activities, including friendship bracelet making, bookmark decorating and capturing moments at our photo booth, before sitting down for an engaging panel conversation about different ways to "read" Taylor Swift. Hosted by CBC Radio's Elamin Abdelmahmoud, panelists included culture writer Anne T. Donahue, bestselling Toronto novelist Uzma Jalaluddin, and writer and the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Taylor Swift “superfan adviser” Kelsey Barnes.
Mayor Olivia Chow offered remarks and made and exchanged friendship bracelets with attendees. The event was a hit and was covered by media outlets including the Toronto Star and CBC’s The National. Customers of all ages enjoyed the evening, with one attendee describing it as "a joy to attend."
New series of virtual programs for classrooms
This fall, our Children’s Services department launched a new series of virtual programs for elementary school classes in Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, connecting students with authors, artists and educators around the world.
In October, we were joined by educators from the Aga Khan Museum, who delivered “From Patterns to People,” an inspiring program that introduced participants to the art of Mehndi, in celebration of Islamic History and Culture. In November, Evelyn Sue Wong, author of Ready to Fly: The Incredible First Flight of Robert Shun Wong, joined us from Singapore to share the true story of her father, Robert Wong, and uncle, Tommy Wong. They were the first Asian Canadians to be inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame, decades after designing and engineering a real plane in their apartment in Vancouver's Chinatown when they were just teens.
The series will continue in 2025, with additional author visits being planned, including one from author and illustrator Jack Wong.
Broadening Toronto's digital access and inclusion
Celebrating Digital Inclusion Week
From October 7 to 13, TPL celebrated Digital Inclusion Week with more than 93 engaging in-person and online programs – our biggest lineup yet! Digital Inclusion Week is a North America-wide initiative that promotes digital literacy and inclusion through a variety of technology training programs. This year, Mayor Olivia Chow proclaimed the week in Toronto, highlighting the importance of accessible technology and digital skills in our community.
We kicked off the celebration with more than 130 customers at our Digital Expo, themed “Championing Truth in the Digital Era,” featuring panel discussions and a marketplace of exhibitors. Programs during the week covered a range of topics, including digital privacy, digital content creation, computer basics and more.
Among the many offerings, we launched a new program on misinformation and disinformation, providing strategies to help customers identify and combat misinformation. The week also featured “Tech Roots,” a program that discussed how Indigenous knowledge systems offer valuable frameworks for addressing contemporary digital challenges and issues.
Reaching new digital borrowing milestones
Through Libby and OverDrive, TPL provides access to an extensive collection of ebooks, audiobooks and magazines. This past November, we celebrated two major digital borrowing milestones. On November 17, we reached a record of 52,847 digital loans in a day, the highest single-day number of checkouts achieved by any library in North America with OverDrive. A few days later, we set a world record with an all-time milestone of 80 million digital loans.
TPL has also surpassed last year’s annual record of 11 million digital checkouts and is currently on track to reach 12 million by year-end.
Building pathways for workforce development
Autism Employment Resource Day
On October 9, more than 100 guests attended TPL’s Autism Employment Resource Day at North York Central Library’s Concourse Event Space. The event offered employment resources for Autistic job-seekers in a sensory-aware space.
Participants connected with representatives from organizations offering employment supports, services and opportunities for Autistic people. Attendees also heard from empowering Autistic speakers, Daniel Smeenk and Anne Borden King. Staff were available to share about TPL’s Career Coaches in Residence program and Accessibility Services, and showcased the library’s Job & Career Help resources.
The event featured a room with sensory-regulation aids where participants could take a break from the crowd or sensory overload, supported by the Retreat project. In a survey conducted after the event, one participant shared, “just being in an Autism-friendly and Autism-affirming environment (for free!) was amazing!”
Small Business Month at TPL
Small Business Month in Canada was established in 2006 to acknowledge and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit and economic contributions of small businesses.
This past October, library branches across the city offered programs and workshops to support emerging and established small business owners. Programs were hosted by diverse entrepreneurs and presenters, and covered topics such as market research, tax strategies and social media.
One program included “Patents: Protecting your invention,” led by certified Patent Agent Kazim Agha. Customers expressed how informative and helpful the session was, and one shared that the information provided was crucial to their business. The topic was made interesting with practical real-life examples, and many attendees requested to have Kazim return for another session.
TPL at the Small Business Forum
Members of TPL’s Small Business Services Committee participated in the City of Toronto’s Small Business Forum on October 30, at Meridian Hall. Library staff connected with more than 280 people during this all-day event, promoting resources for small businesses such as books, online databases, programs and library spaces.
Many visitors shared how much they enjoyed visiting their local library and appreciated TPL small business programs, and small business owners were eager to chat about collaborative opportunities. Popular topics included the Entrepreneur Suite, Entrepreneur in Residence, Business Inc., Toronto Reference Library and North York Central Library.
Providing the vital ingredients for a democratic society
Celebrating the newly renamed Daniel G. Hill branch
On November 19, we held an official ceremony to celebrate the renaming of the former Jane/Dundas branch to the Daniel G. Hill branch. This historic occasion marked the first time a TPL branch has been renamed after a Black Torontonian, celebrating the enduring legacy of Dr. Daniel G. Hill and his pioneering contributions to human rights in Ontario. Friends and family of Daniel G. Hill joined us, including his sons Dan and Lawrence Hill. Lawrence Hill said a few powerful words about his father’s legacy. Representatives from the Ontario Black History Society also spoke, along with Councillor Gord Perks.
As part of the larger Dundas Street Renaming Project, the branch renaming was requested by City Council. In 2016, the Ontario Black History Society and the family of Dr. Hill asked that a library branch be named in honour of Dr. Hill. That year, the Toronto Public Library Board directed staff to explore naming the Jane/Dundas branch after Dr. Hill. The November 19 event was the official celebration of the long-anticipated renaming.
TPL at Homeless Connect Toronto’s One-Stop-Shop
On October 27, TPL participated in Homeless Connect Toronto’s annual One-Stop-Shop event. The event is a drop-in program for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Toronto, held annually at Mattamy Athletic Centre. It brings service providers together to offer free on-site services and resources, including a clothing bank, haircuts, eye care, warm meals, legal aid, dental care, housing support, veterinary care and an ID clinic.
At this year’s event, our outreach team:
- spoke with more than 250 individuals
- issued nearly 100 new library cards
- reinstated expired accounts
- removed outstanding fines
- provided information about TPL programs and services
Participating in this event was a meaningful way to show that the library is a welcoming space for all and has resources to offer those in need.
Culture Days at TPL
Since 2009, Toronto Public Library has actively celebrated Culture Days, a nation-wide festival that highlights artists from all forms of arts and culture. Together with Ontario Culture Days, we hosted two 2024 Creatives In Residence: Camila Salcedo and Yasmeen Nemmatt Alla.
Venezuelan-born artist Camila Salcedo led the “UPCYCLED” workshop and exhibit at Bloor Gladstone branch, featuring large-scale self-portraits of the artist wearing upcycled wearable artworks that reflect their Venezuelan pop culture.
Egyptian-Canadian artist Yasmeen Nematt Alla led “Thread that Tangles But Doesn’t Knot,” a community kite building and flying workshop at Beaches branch. At this engaging event, where red kites took to the skies, Yasmeen asked participants, “What does it mean to be a kite that never takes flight? What does it mean to materialize a kite that will never fly, despite an undeniable abundance of wanting, of reaching, of hoping?”
TPL is excited to continue working with Ontario Culture Days and the arts community to bring interactive, community-focused arts opportunities to our neighbourhoods.
Library Settlement Partnerships celebrates its 17th anniversary
Library Settlement Partnerships (LSP) celebrated its 17th anniversary in October. Since 2007, TPL has helped newcomers with their settlement needs by working with seven local settlement agencies through LSP. Between October 15 to 26, 15 in-person events and programs took place to celebrate this milestone and this year’s theme of “Moving Forward Together” – a call to continue building on community resilience, strength and support. More than 900 participants attended LSP Week celebrations across the city.
All 15 LSP branches offer one-on-one referral support and group sessions. This service is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Investing in staff and an innovative service culture
Children’s Services Professional Development Day
In November, we hosted our annual Children’s Services Professional Development Day at the North York Central Library, where staff discovered the latest trends and topics affecting children, and participated in interactive learning experiences and networking opportunities.
This year’s agenda included a keynote address from the Geneva Centre for Autism, seminars from the SickKids Learning Institute on Infant and Early Mental Health and SteamLabs, and a series of lightning talks presented by Children’s Services staff from across TPL. Participants were also invited to visit an expo to learn about core programs and services for families, connect with colleagues, and interact with therapy dogs from One Health Partners, one of TPL’s newest collaborators in support of employee wellness.
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