Toronto Public Library

Contact details:

Website address: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/

Goals/mission:

To promote equity, diversity, intellectual freedom, innovation, inclusion, integrity, accountability and service orientation in an open and inclusive space.
To encourage learning and increase knowledge of various forms of literature equally and conveniently to communities across the city.
To foster the free exchange of information and ideas in a democratic society, protecting intellectual freedom and creative expression, while also respecting individuals’ rights to privacy and choice.

Notable past and current activities:

Thought Exchange is a lecture and discussion series on what the community finds interesting. For example, an upcoming event “Einstein Was Right: The Discovery of Gravitational Waves” features experts in the field.
The eh List Author Series allows for the public to meet writers. Events are followed by book signings, funded by the Canada Council for the Arts for promoting Canadian literature. For example, Tim Falconer will discuss his book Bad Singer at the North York branch.
The Bluma Lecture is an annual lecture series with some of the world’s best opinion leaders. For example, the 2016 lecture with Margaret MacMillan, an expert in British literature.
Other activities/events include: Artists in the Library, Cosmopolis Toronto: The World in One City, Our Fragile Planet, Sophie’s Studio Workshops, etc.

Ways to get involved:

The TPL has a variety of after school programs for students at local branches. Examples include youth hub tutoring programs, reading and writing workshops, fun activities such as board games, etc.
Book clubs and writers’ groups for families, teens, adults, or children in fiction, plays, or poetry.
Volunteer programs include: Youth Advisor Groups for high school students needing community hours, Leading to Reading to help children advance reading skills, homework help for teens, adult literacy, English as a second language workshops, etc.
Writer-in-residence programs for aspiring writers in the community (other similar activities include entrepreneur-in-residence, innovator-in-residence).

Information compiled by Shahene Patel.