Below is my report for the June 2026 Toronto Public Library (TPL) Board meeting. This report covers items that are not part of the Board agenda package.
Spaces
Bridlewood branch receives two Ontario Association of Architects awards
The Ontario Association of Architects revealed the winners of its 2026 Awards on May 14, with Bridlewood branch receiving awards in two categories: Design Excellence and People’s Choice. The Design Excellence award recognizes the innovative skills of Ontario architects in designing spaces, buildings and communities that respect and enhance the environment and enrich human activity. The People’s Choice award invites members of the public to vote on the winning Design Excellence projects. The Bridlewood project received the most votes in the history of this award.
Comments from the jury:
“This project promotes adaptive reuse by repurposing an underutilized commercial space to create needed, inclusive and adaptable community space. For TPL’s Bridlewood branch, the exterior storefront is a functional, technologically innovative, artistic expression of environmentally responsive design and of the client’s demonstrable commitment to sustainability.”
“The vertical solar panel installation with integral programmable LEDs creates a visual reference to rows of books and the power of books, with the books opening up at night into a dynamic dreamscape. The interior is inspired by great spaces of historic libraries and from community history to make the library a unique and relevant expression for the neighbourhood.”
Inspiring young readers at the Forest of Reading Festival
Last month, TPL engaged more than 3,400 children and teens through interactive pop-up activations at the Forest of Reading Festival, held at Harbourfront Centre. The festival is Canada’s largest literary event for young readers, celebrating reading, creativity and community connection.
On May 12, Children’s Services staff welcomed elementary students to a literacy-themed booth where kids participated in activities, shared their favourite books and imagined new library spaces and programs. One child said, “This booth has such great stuff and it’s only the first one we’ve seen!” Children left with stickers and other materials, extending the excitement and inspiring continued reading and interest in the library.
On May 13, Youth Services connected with teens through a TPL pop-up showcasing how library spaces, collections and programs support belonging and well-being. Teens browsed books, took part in fun library-themed activities, received take-home craft kits and shared advice on a community pegboard. A teen left a note reading, “Trust that in the end everything will be OK. You are worth it.”
Through shared activities and experiences, the activations highlighted TPL’s role in supporting literacy, social connection and a welcoming community for young people.
The May 13 event activation was generously supported by the Estate of Claudia Krawchuk and Biblio Bash 2025 gala supporters, with special thanks to Sam Chaiton and Lindy Green, Dream Community Foundation, Maureen and Victor Dodig, and Fitzrovia.
Expanded library hours campaign
By July 2026, all 100 TPL branches will be open seven days a week, year-round (excluding holiday weekends), providing Torontonians with more accessible and welcoming spaces across the city. To help spread the word, the City of Toronto ran an ad campaign from March 23 to May 31, showcasing personal stories, opens a new window of residents using their local library.
The campaign ran on the City’s social media channels and across the city through digital and out-of-home advertising, including placements in subways and buses. It also featured multicultural digital and print ads offered in 12 languages.
Gerrard/Ashdale branch celebrates 102 years
Gerrard/Ashdale branch celebrated its 102nd anniversary on May 16, with more than 200 community members in attendance. The branch hosted a book sale along with activities such as adult and children’s scavenger hunts, button-making and bookmark-making. The book sale created opportunities for the community to learn about the branch’s history and connect with library services and one another. As an added bonus, the event raised approximately $700 for the TPL Foundation through sales and donations.
TPL participates in Toronto Newcomer Day
On May 29, TPL took part in the City’s 12th annual Toronto Newcomer Day celebration at Nathan Phillips Square. Each year, TPL supports the planning and delivery of the event, which welcomes newcomers to Toronto, connects them to a wide range of services and recognizes their contributions to the city.
Nearly 400 newcomers visited and engaged with library staff and learned about relevant TPL programs and services at the information fair. Additionally, over 80 new library cards were issued, and some customers stopped by to switch their library cards to one of the new library card designs now available. TPL also organized a lively traditional lion dance that drew over 110 participants. Chinatown Community Lion Dance explained various interesting aspects of the dance to attendees, and some stayed to take photos with the lions.
Collections
Promoting digital books with One eRead Canada
In April, TPL joined hundreds of libraries from across the country to participate in One eRead Canada. This national and bilingual book club makes one Canadian title available to borrow without waitlists for the entire month. This year’s One eRead selection, What I Know About You by Éric Chacour, was borrowed more than 2,000 times from TPL.
One eRead Canada is an initiative of the Canadian Urban Libraries Council that promotes digital books by Canadian authors and publishers. The program also highlights what is possible when libraries have access to affordable licensing models for ebooks and audiobooks.
Read Indigenous 2026
TPL’s annual Read Indigenous list launched this month, featuring a selection of must-read titles that aim to amplify Indigenous voices and raise awareness of Indigenous content in TPL’s collections. The list, available online and in branches, highlights materials for children, teens and adults that reflect the diversity of cultures, histories, experiences, creativity and perspectives of Indigenous creators.
The list was curated in collaboration with the Indigenous Advisory Council and responds to commitments made in TPL’s Strategies for Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation Statement.
tpl:map welcomes new partners
The tpl:map program recently welcomed three new partners from across the Greater Toronto Area, broadening the range of cultural experiences and attractions available.
In May, TPL added Reptilia Vaughan and Reptilia Whitby to the program, a reptile zoo and education centre that offers interactive learning and self-guided experiences. Reptilia’s facilities are dedicated to empowering children through wildlife education and conservation. This month, TPL welcomed the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the only publicly funded art gallery in Canada that focuses exclusively on collecting, preserving, and celebrating Canadian and Indigenous art.
TPL continues to expand tpl:map with new and exciting partners that improve access for Torontonians.
Staff expertise
Celebrating 2024-2025 City Librarian’s Innovation Challenge projects
On May 25, TPL staff gathered to celebrate five projects recently completed through the City Librarian’s Innovation Challenge, an annual opportunity for staff to submit creative ideas in response to a callout from City Librarian and CEO Moe Hosseini-Ara. To bring their innovative ideas to life, each selected project team received funding, mentorship from a designated manager and support from Innovation Senior Services Specialist, Wendy Banks.
The five celebrated 2024-2025 projects directly supported TPL’s Strategic Plan goal to foster social connection. Projects included a report on library reflection spaces; an intergenerational story time pilot bringing together children from a daycare and seniors at a retirement home; a sensory story time social program for neurodivergent children and their caregivers; a tabletop gaming toolkit for staff; and a teen mental wellness event.
The gathering was a testament to the creativity of TPL staff and showcased their commitment to continuously developing innovative programs and services.
Children’s Services Professional Development Day
Last month, more than 80 Children’s Services staff gathered for a full-day professional development event designed to broaden perspectives, spark new ideas and support excellence in children’s programming. The day featured a lineup of guest speakers and focused on Children’s Services priorities, including literacy skills development, inclusion and accessibility, fostering community connection and civic engagement, and broadening access to emerging technologies.
The event began with a keynote from Professor Siobhan Stevenson of the University of Toronto’s iSchool. Staff then took part in an exploration of STEM and literacy connections with educator Anjali Joshi, and an interactive workshop led by Recreate Place on amplifying children’s voices through storytelling and creative play.
Later in the day, TPL’s AI Innovator in Residence Joel S. Silver shared his experience working with artificial intelligence, Mass LBP led staff in a Democracy Fitness activity focused on active listening, and the Geneva Centre for Autism spoke about inclusive programming practices. The event also offered opportunities for staff to expand their networks and share ideas for enhancing community-centric programming.
Building belonging at the Outreach Service Exchange
On May 28, TPL’s Community Outreach and Engagement Committee hosted its annual Outreach Service Exchange at the North York Central Library. The professional development day brought together 75 TPL staff, presenters and community partners from across Toronto. This year’s theme focused on social connection, belonging and the library’s role in addressing social isolation in Toronto.
Participants had the opportunity to build practical skills in facilitating civic dialogue and community asset mapping. They participated in a Democracy Fitness training session, and there were presentations on major upcoming TPL projects such as Know Your Vote TO, Reducing Seniors’ Social Isolation and the TPL Centre for Democracy. Staff left with concrete tools and frameworks to address social connection, as well as strategies to strengthen everyday interactions with customers. The Exchange reinforced the idea that small, intentional moments of connection meaningfully contribute to community well-being and a sense of belonging.
Programs
Newcomer Entrepreneur in Residence: Lily Akagbosu
From March 23 to May 16, Deer Park branch hosted TPL’s Spring 2026 Newcomer Entrepreneur in Residence, Lily Akagbosu. Lily, a product manager and seasoned entrepreneur of multiple small-to-medium sized businesses, provided business support to over 120 new and aspiring entrepreneurs through workshops, one-on-one consultations and networking sessions.
Lily’s workshops guided participants through the business development process, covering topics such as clarifying business ideas, attracting customers, understanding funding options and preparing business pitches. Through one-on-one consultations, customers at various stages in their entrepreneurial journey received tailored advice and feedback. Customers described the residency as inclusive, collaborative and highly engaging, with attendees continuing conversations beyond the final session and forming new connections.
Environmentalist in Residence: Clementina Consens
From April 7 to May 30, Malvern branch hosted an Environmentalist in Residence program led by artist, researcher and environmental scientist Clementina Consens.
Clementina engaged over 80 participants through a program covering local ways to experience nature and strategies for addressing eco-anxiety, as well as hands-on eco crafting workshops and facilitated conversations on the state of the planet. Clementina also delivered one-on-one consultations, offering guidance on a wide range of topics, from native plants and starting vegetable gardens to health vulnerability, while sharing her perspectives and lived experience as an environmentalist.
The Environmentalist in Residence program began in 2018 and is presented as part of TPL's Our Fragile Planet environmental program series. The residency is generously supported by Friends of Toronto Public Library, South Chapter.
Inaugural AI Dialogues: On Healthcare
On June 1, 110 people participated in TPL’s inaugural AI Dialogues at the Toronto Reference Library, a new civic engagement program that encourages nuanced conversations about artificial intelligence. The event highlighted AI and health and featured Dr. Laleh Seyyed-Kalantari and Dr. Muhammad Mamdani. Moderated by Paolo Granata, their discussion explored the benefits and challenges with AI, equity and the digital divide, and navigating the tension between public trust and fear.
Participants took part in table discussions to explore their perspectives and the event concluded with a shared dialogue between speakers and participants. The goal of an AI Dialogue is not consensus, but clarity. As one participant shared afterwards on LinkedIn, “As we move forward, it's clear that achieving ‘clarity’ in healthcare AI requires sitting with these complexities rather than rushing to easy answers.”
Save the date for the next AI Dialogues—On Creativity—on October 7 during Digital Inclusion Week. Watch for details in early September.
Parkdale branch hosts beginner guitar series
In partnership with the Toronto Blues Society, Parkdale branch hosted a four-week beginner guitar jam program for aspiring musicians in the community. Participants learned basic chords, strum patterns and classic songs in a friendly group environment. Many participants borrowed guitars from the Musical Instrument Lending Library and brought them home to practice between sessions. The program was a success, with many participants reporting that they enjoyed learning a new skill and jamming with others.
Parkdale branch also hosts other programs as part of its Musical Instrument Lending Library, including Ukulele Squad, a ukulele camp for kids; and Live in the Library, a monthly concert series featuring local artists.
The Musical Instrument Lending Library is generously supported by The Estate of Thomas C.M. Logan.
Supporting health literacy and social connection
TPL's Your Health Matters initiative continues to connect Torontonians with trusted health information through expert-led programs delivered in collaboration with health partners across the city.
In April, TPL hosted Nourish Your Best Weight, an online session presented in partnership with the West Toronto Ontario Health Team. The session explored weight bias, nutrition, and practical strategies for supporting long-term health and well-being, drawing over 110 attendees.
Last month, as part of the Bridging Minds series, TPL partnered with Women’s College Hospital to present Finding Connection Close to Home: Addressing Loneliness in Our Communities. More than 160 customers attended the online program, which examined the impacts of loneliness on health and highlighted the role communities can play in fostering connection and belonging.
Your Health Matters is supported by the TPL Foundation, in partnership with the Martin Family.
TPL joins the Playful Library Network
Earlier this year, TPL joined the Playful Library Network, an international group of public libraries partnered with the LEGO Group’s Social Responsibility team. The network is dedicated to exploring how play can deepen civic engagement and interest in social justice topics, while helping children build confidence, imagination and resilience.
As part of the Playful Library Network, After School Clubs at Ethennonnhawahstihnen’, Humberwood, Maria A. Shchuka and Parliament Street branches have been equipped with LEGO bricks and other tools to support Build the Change workshops throughout 2026. During the workshops, children take part in fun challenges such as designing cities and libraries that reflect community interests and needs, and developing climate change solutions to save endangered species. Participants have been especially eager to protect sea turtles, proposing solutions including specially designed turtle shelters, sea cleaning devices and even turtle bodyguards!
Special thanks to the following donors for supporting After School Clubs and establishing snacks as an important component of this program. The Lead Donor, Good Future Family Foundation and Supporting Donors, The Bennett Family Foundation, Phil Cowperthwaite and Sue Hunter, the Estate of Claudia Krawchuk and The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation.
TD Summer Reading Club Library Awards
Last month, TPL and Library Archives Canada announced the , opens a new windowwinning libraries, opens a new window of the 2025 TD Summer Reading Club (TDSRC) Library Awards and CELA Accessibility Award at national library conferences in Calgary and Montréal. Developed by TPL in partnership with Library and Archives Canada, TDSRC is co-created and delivered by over 2,200 public libraries across Canada.
Since 2007, the Library Awards have recognized and rewarded the most innovative and effective TDSRC programs in local libraries across the country. The 2025 English‑language awards recognized Greater Sudbury Public Library, Westmount Public Library and Pickering Public Library. For the French‑language program, Bibliothèque de Jocelyne‑Larrivée‑Bates, Bibliothèque Raymond‑Laberge and Bibliothèque municipale de Saint‑Bruno were selected.
Established in 2017, the CELA Accessibility Award celebrates the creativity of library staff who engage children with disabilities in their TDSRC. The 2025 award was presented to Powassan & District Union Public Library for its efforts in supporting inclusive participation. Jury comments and videos submitted by the winning libraries highlight the range of creative literacy activities delivered and the work of staff in supporting children’s reading engagement.
Congratulations to all of the winning libraries, and thank you to the members of the selection committees who helped select the winners.
Technology
TPL takes the stage at the GO Open Data Conference
On May 6, TPL’s Fiona O'Connor (Senior Services Specialist, Digital Literacy Initiatives) and Yoojin Kwon (Senior Services Specialist, AI Upskilling Services) presented at the GO Open Data Conference hosted by the City of Mississauga, sharing insights from TPL’s AI Upskilling initiative, opens a new window.
Fiona and Yoojin highlighted the initiative’s key achievements, including delivering AI learning circle programs and thought leadership events, as well as expanding public access to generative AI tools and software. They also engaged with attendees from the public administration and civic technology sectors, discussing the initiative’s successes, lessons learned and the growing importance of AI literacy within public service organizations.
Specialized services
TPL partners with UHN Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine
Last month, TPL launched its new health partnership with the UHN Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine to deliver primary care and social supports at Sanderson branch. Services are provided in a mobile health clinic van parked on-site at the branch and staffed by nurse practitioners and registered nurses. The service offers low-barrier, community-based care, including outreach, system navigation, harm reduction–informed services, and referrals to broader clinical and community supports. By delivering care directly within the community, the program reduces barriers that many residents face when accessing healthcare services.
This partnership recognizes the library’s role as a trusted and accessible community space, with a focus on increasing access to primary care and addressing growing health inequities across the city. By bringing essential services to a familiar and welcoming space, the initiative strengthens support for underserved populations. It also demonstrates how trusted institutions like TPL can leverage their public infrastructure and expertise to respond more effectively to evolving urban health challenges.
Read more about the initiative in the Toronto Star.
Building awareness of Leading to Reading
For nearly 50 years, the Leading to Reading program has provided free one-to-one reading support for children in grades one to six. Children are paired with volunteer mentors and meet at the library for weekly one-hour sessions to practice their literacy skills in a fun and encouraging environment. Last year, Leading to Reading volunteers delivered more than 15,000 sessions to over 1,000 children.
To further expand the program’s reach and impact, new promotional materials were rolled out across branches last month. These included flyers, postcards, bookmarks, zip banners and volunteer recruitment resources to help families, caregivers and volunteers learn about the free literacy support program and how to get involved. Leading to Reading volunteers, participants and families helped create the new materials and are featured throughout the campaign. TPL continues to explore ways to build on the success of its programs by enhancing visibility, access and awareness.
We are grateful to the many donors who are supporting this vital children's literacy program at TPL. Leading Donors: In Memory of Penny Fine z”l and Friends of Toronto Public Library, North Chapter. Supporting Donors: The Ralph M. Barford Foundation, The Joan and Clifford Hatch Foundation, Lewitt Family Foundation, Cathy Spoel & Michael MacMillan and The Earle and Janice O’Born Family Foundation.