It has been made painfully clear that anti-Asian racism is on the rise in the wake of the tragic events in Atlanta, as well as the large number of anti-Asian attacks in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m condemning these acts and reaffirming that there is no place for racism or violence at TPL or […]
Toronto Public Library (TPL) is eliminating children’s overdue fines in a move to remove barriers to library access, especially for those who need it most. Late fines have a disproportionate impact on racialized and low-income communities in Toronto. Five percent of children from these communities have blocked TPL library cards because of overdue fines compared […]
Why did TPL decide to remove fines from children’s library cards? Libraries remove barriers and open doors. There is growing evidence that overdue fines do not encourage the return of material as intended and may actually act as a barrier to the use of all library services. Our data indicates the disproportionate impact late […]
In celebration of National Seniors Day and the kick-off to National Library Month, this morning Toronto Public Library (TPL) and CanAge announced a new strategic partnership that will strengthen each organization’s ability to support and serve Canada’s seniors. The partnership was announced by Toronto Public Library’s City Librarian at a national virtual event to celebrate […]
Like so many of you, I am angered and saddened by the events that have transpired in the United States over the past several days. At the same time, we must recognize and acknowledge the inequities in our own communities that cause so much injustice, poverty and suffering here as well. At this time, I […]
Toronto Public Library (TPL), in partnership with Renewed Computer Technology and with support from the Toronto Public Library Foundation, recently launched its Internet Connectivity Kit program. The initiative provides vital connections for some of our city’s most vulnerable residents by equipping them with a free laptop and WiFi hotspot with four months of unlimited data. […]
The Toronto Public Library Board today announced that the recently negotiated five-year collective agreement between the Board and the Toronto Public Library Workers CUPE Local 4948 has been ratified by both parties. The new collective agreement is fair and reasonable to both parties and to Toronto residents. “This collective agreement was negotiated under unprecedented circumstances, […]
As part of its ongoing support of Toronto’s food banks, Toronto Public Library (TPL) is providing brand new books for children, free of charge, in the food hampers it is distributing through its pop-up food banks. TPL’s food banks have been set up in partnership with North York Harvest Food Bank, Daily Bread Food Bank, […]
New digital card provides access to TPL’s extensive eBook and eAudiobook Overdrive collection Toronto Public Library (TPL) is pleased to announce the launch of an Instant Digital Card, which gives Torontonians who do not already have a library card, free, temporary access to OverDrive, TPL’s largest collection of ebooks and eaudiobooks. The Instant Digital Card […]
Toronto Public Library (TPL) has partnered with the North York Harvest Food Bank, Daily Bread Food Bank and Second Harvest to set up food bank distribution from library branches across the city to provide alternate service locations for existing food banks that are now closed. Since the implementation of measures to slow the spread of […]