Below is my report for the January 2025 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
SPRINT Senior Social program series
Northern District branch has partnered with SPRINT Senior Care to offer SPRINT Senior Social, a recurring eight-week program series that provides social, educational and creative opportunities for older adults and their caregivers.
The inaugural series took place this past fall, bringing together more than 50 participants over eight weeks to meet new people, express their creativity and learn from experts on subjects including mental health and lifelong learning. From painting and pedestrian safety to Alzheimer’s education and sharing music memories, the weekly social featured a wide range of topics and activities.
The second iteration of SPRINT Senior Social began this month and will continue until mid-March.
What Toronto read in 2024
Last month, TPL unveiled its annual lists of the most read and borrowed books of the year, offering a fascinating glimpse into the literary tastes of Torontonians. Our 2024 list of top reads reveals a growing interest in stories that celebrate strong female characters and the profound impact of community. Among top Canadian reads, romance and mystery novels by Toronto-based authors reigned supreme.
Both lists were featured by news outlets, including the Toronto Star, NOW Toronto, CP24 and CityNews. We look forward to seeing what Toronto reads in 2025.
TPL’s First and Best of 2024
In December, we also released our 2024 First and Best list, showcasing TPL’s top picks of the best Canadian children’s books for building reading readiness. Books featured on the list have been written and illustrated by talented Canadian authors and illustrators. Not only are they fun to read, but they also inspire a love of reading from a young age, setting children on a path for success in school and beyond.
The First and Best list is part of our Ready for Reading program, which is designed to assist parents and caregivers in fostering early literacy skills in children from birth to age 5 through enjoyable, everyday activities. View the full list, along with previous years’ selections, on the First and Best webpage. These books are available at library branches throughout the city.
Broadening Toronto's digital access and inclusion
Digital storytelling with Innovator in Residence Liz Whitmere
From October to November, the Toronto Reference Library hosted award-winning Canadian filmmaker Liz Whitmere as TPL’s 2024 Innovator in Residence. Liz delivered 24 programs and workshops related to digital storytelling and 30 one-on-one consultations, engaging more than 500 customers. The residency’s kick-off event, Crafting Compelling Narratives at TVO, drew 90 aspiring storytellers with its lineup of renowned producers and hosts, including Jeyan Jeganathan, Nam Kiwanuka and Steve Paikin of TVO’s The Agenda.
During her residency, Liz also produced "... and Found," a captivating video project and community-driven artifact that commemorates TPL’s 140th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of our Digital Innovation Hubs. Featuring heartwarming stories from staff and customers, the project showcases meaningful discoveries at TPL—both tangible and intangible—that highlight the library’s impact on social connection and its community.
Programs with TELUS Wise
In partnership with TELUS Wise, TPL delivered nine innovative workshops on digital literacy and privacy in the last quarter of 2024, reaching more than 260 participants. Workshops were available for all ages, covering topics including social media safety, cyberbullying, managing screen time and maintaining a clean digital footprint.
One workshop was held at Bendale branch, where 102 students from local schools gathered to learn about cyberbullying and online reputations. Bendale’s Branch Head, Seema Rambharose, shared:
“The presentation was not only excellent but also highly relevant to the challenges that children and teens face online. The instructor helped them explore safe and appropriate ways to intervene when they witness cruel behaviour.“
These workshops reflect our strong commitment to supporting digital literacy and online safety, and we look forward to hosting more sessions across the city throughout 2025.
Building pathways for workforce development
Bridlewood branch launches a new Virtual Interview Room
This past November, our newly reopened Bridlewood branch introduced TPL’s third Virtual Interview Room. This new room provides job seekers in the Bridlewood community with access to a quiet, welcoming space equipped with everything they need to participate in virtual job interviews and related online meetings.
The Virtual Interview Room was a successful submission in TPL’s 2020 City Librarian’s Innovation Challenge, an annual program inviting staff to pitch and develop their ideas. TPL launched its first Virtual Interview Rooms in early 2023 at two locations: North York Central Library and Malvern branch (currently closed for renovations). The rooms have proven valuable to the community, hosting approximately 600 job interviews, exams and citizenship tests in 2023. The program’s success was highlighted on CityNews.
Providing the vital ingredients for a democratic society
The future of investigative journalism with CBC’s The Fifth Estate
On November 28, TPL presented a sold-out event with CBC’s The Fifth Estate, Canada’s flagship investigative documentary program, celebrating 50 seasons of ground-breaking investigative journalism.
Nearly 400 guests gathered for the event in the Bram and Bluma Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library. Bob McKeown, co-host of The Fifth Estate and member of the Order of Canada, and I delivered opening remarks, followed by an advance screening of The Fifth Estate: 50 Years of Truth. A lively and inspiring panel discussion on the future of investigative journalism featured The Fifth Estate co-hosts Mark Kelley and Steven D’Souza, BBC News Investigative correspondent Rianna Croxford, and Globe and Mail reporter Robyn Doolittle, and was moderated by author and host of CBC Radio Commotion Elamin Abdelmahmoud.
Watch a replay of the panel discussion.
Investing in staff and an innovative service culture
Revitalizing staff spaces
In 2024, we renovated our first group of break rooms, improving and modernizing staff spaces at Taylor Memorial, Long Branch, Port Union, Danforth/Coxwell, Parliament and Deer Park branches. Some of the renovated rooms serve as flexible, multifunctional spaces that can be used for both breaks and meetings. Branches welcomed new kitchens, lounge seating, lockers, carpets and lighting—all creating more comfortable and uplifting spaces for staff to recharge, connect and collaborate.
The six renovations are now complete and more branches will be renovated throughout 2025 and 2026 over three additional phases.