Intellectual Freedom at TPL

Toronto Public Library is committed to protecting and defending intellectual freedom across our collections, programs and spaces.

Libraries are facing increasing intellectual freedom challenges on a wide range of issues, not just with physical materials like books and movies, but also with programs, e-content, Internet access, room bookings and exhibits. Intellectual freedom challenges can limit access to information, suppress civic engagement, and silence voices, especially those of more marginalized communities. These challenges are coming from all sides of the political and social spectrum.

Here's what TPL is doing to protect your intellectual freedom:

We've joined the Book Sanctuary Movement

Logo for the Book Sanctuary

TPL is proud to join the Book Sanctuary movement, declaring all of our spaces – in our 100 branches and online – as Book Sanctuaries. Simply put, whether in branches or online, TPL is a safe space for all stories and ideas.

A Book Sanctuary is a physical or digital space that actively protects the freedom to read.

Launched by Chicago Public Library in 2022, The Book Sanctuary initiative brings attention to challenged titles, and commits to making these books accessible.

Find out more about how you can get involved in the The Book Sanctuary Movement.

We've created The Book Sanctuary Collection

TPL's Book Sanctuary Collection display at the Toronto Reference Library

TPL's Book Sanctuary Collection represents books that have been challenged, censored or removed from a public library or school in North America. The 50 adult, teen and children's books in our collection are available for browsing and borrowing in our branches and online. You can have access to these titles at any time by visiting the Book Sanctuary Reference Collection at the Toronto Reference Library (4th floor) and North York Central Library (3rd floor). Explore the collection, either online, at Toronto Reference Library or at North York Central Library, to learn more about why these books were challenged.

Find out more about The Book Sanctuary Collection.

We've expanded our programming

Four lines of text that begin with I'm all for free speech, but. The rest of the text has been redacted, concealed with bold black lines.

We’re starting critical conversations with events and civil forums that explore what’s at stake when intellectual freedom is threatened. Hear from thought-provoking guests — from global activists to warrior librarians and big tech whistleblowers to human rights leaders — who are defending intellectual freedom in the face of war, legal harassment, misinformation and censorship. Challenge your perspectives, engage with new ideas, learn from one another and join the conversation.

Events and civil forums are part of our On Civil Society programming and generously funded in part by the Toronto Library Foundation.

We're giving you more insight

TPL strives to ensure transparency in everything we do and that we consistently apply the principles of intellectual freedom across all of our collections, programs and spaces.

Find out more about the basic principles that guide our work around intellectual freedom:

What is intellectual freedom?

Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause or movement may be explored. (American Library Association).