Month-long series of
events leads up to October 23 all day birthday party
TORONTO (Tuesday September 17,
2013) - Toronto Public Library’s Bloor/Gladstone branch, a much-loved community cornerstone, will celebrate 100
years of service with events featuring local celebrity authors, community
historical walking tours, festivities for kids and teens, and an all-day
birthday party on Wednesday, October 23, exactly 100 years to the day the
library originally opened. Everyone is invited to join in the centennial
celebrations.
The
first event is this Wednesday, September 18, with an author reading by award-winning
author Shyam Selvadurai. A complete list of events is below.
The Bloor/Gladstone branch has been a community
cornerstone for the past 100 years and is busier than ever today. Almost
400,000 people of all ages visited the branch last year to read, study, work,
relax, meet and attend programs - and to borrow almost half a million library
materials.
Bloor/Gladstone joins three other Toronto Public
Library branches providing a century of service to their communities: Yorkville
(1907), Annette Street (1909) and Riverdale (1910) branches.
Historical
Highlights
Bloor/Gladstone
(then known as Dovercourt branch) officially opened on Thursday, October 23,
1913. Designed by Toronto architects Alfred H. Chapman & Robert B.
McGiffen, the branch was then the largest branch library in Canada. It was also the first library building in the
city of Toronto to be constructed solely with municipal funds, and without the
aid of Carnegie grants at a total cost of $60,000 plus $5,000 for books. Like many branch libraries of the day, it featured
a separate entrance for “boys and girls”.
In 1993, the branch was listed on Toronto
Historical Board's Inventory of Heritage Properties. In 2007, the branch closed
for restoration, renovation and expansion; reopening in July 2009. The
renovation and restoration architects were rounthwaite, dick and hadley
architects inc in association with Shoalts and Zaback Architects Ltd. and ERA Architects
Inc. Bloor/Gladstone is Toronto Public Library’s first building to feature an
environmental green roof and has won numerous awards for its 2009 renovation,
dramatically blending the architecture of the early 20th century
with the modernism of the 21st century.
Toronto Public Library is one of the world's busiest urban public
library systems. Every year, 19 million people visit our branches in
neighbourhoods across the city and borrow 32 million items. To learn more about
Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call
Answerline at 416-393-7131. To get the most current updates on what's happening
at the library, follow us on Twitter @torontolibrary.
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Media Contact:
Edward
Karek, Communications Officer, 416-397-5925
Bloor/Gladstone
Branch Centennial Activities
All day Birthday
Party:
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
10 am: Soli & Rob sing-along-concerts for local
preschoolers
3 pm: Family entertainment with a performance by
Centre of Gravity. Meet a local police
officer on horseback and have your picture taken on a Toronto Fire Services
fire truck!
4 pm: Strolling magic inside the library
6 pm: Meet Toronto Public Library Board Chair Paul
Ainslie, local Councillor Ana Bailão and Bloor/Gladstone Branch Head Gloria
Jacobs
6:30 pm: Official ceremony
6:45 pm: Refreshments and entertainment
Events for Adults:
Meet
author Shyam Selvadurai, author of The
Hungry Ghosts
Wednesday,
September 18, 7 pm
Walking Tour: The
Homes of Rusholme Road: Uncommon Beauties
Discover one of the best Edwardian streets in the city, renowned for its
gracious homes of infinite variety. Tour
leader: Alec Keefer, Toronto Architectural Conservancy
Sunday, September 22, Meet at the library at 1:30 pm.
Walking Tour: Bloor/Gladstone
Branch Neighbourhood
Explore
the long history of the neighbourhood from native encampments to Denison family
fiefdom, immigrant reception and today’s gentrification. Tour leaders: Barbara
Myrvold (Toronto Public Library) with local resident Cara Simmons. Co-sponsored
with Heritage Toronto.
Sunday,
September 29, Meet at the library at 1:30 pm.
Meet local author
Cary Fagan
Avid
user of Bloor/Gladstone Branch and popular author Cary Fagan will speak about
his writing from children’s books to adult literature
Thursday,
October 3, 6:30 pm.
Architectural Talk
about Bloor/Gladstone Branch
Join
us for a fascinating look at the career of Alfred H. Chapman, original
architect of the Bloor/Gladstone Branch, and a discussion of the current award
winning renovation. Presented by rdh rounthwaite dick and hadley architects
inc.
Thursday,
October 10, 6:30 pm.
Events for Teens:
Teen Console Gaming
Play some old favourites on the PS3, 360, and Wii. Check
out some recent titles and enjoy some older ones.
Monday October 21, 4:30 pm
14A Crowd
Enjoy a recent blockbuster at the library.
Monday
October 28, 4:30 pm
Events for Children:
Stories through the
past 100 years
September
21, 28, October 5, 12,19, 10 am.
Applefun Puppetry
presents The Monkey Show
Monday,
October 7, 10 am.
Meet ET the Mime
Thursday,
October 10, 4 pm.
Meet
and Greet with Local Children’s Authors
Join
us for an afternoon meet and greet with several children’s authors living in
the Bloor/Gladstone community. Authors will be available to talk about their
books and answer questions. Books will be available for sale.
Saturday,
October 19, 2 pm.