Below is my report for the September 2025 Toronto Public Library (TPL) Board meeting. This report covers items that are not part of the Board agenda package.
Spaces
Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ branch unveils mural
On August 16, Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ branch officially unveiled “Past and Future Amongst Creation,” a mural by Tehatsistahawi (Tsista) Kennedy, an Anishinaabe Onyota’a:aka artist belonging to Beausoleil First Nation and Oneida Nation of the Thames.
Councillor Shelley Carroll and City Librarian Moe Hosseini-Ara gathered with branch staff to hear Tsista speak about his inspiration for the piece, the meaning behind it and his artistic process. The art project began in 2023 in partnership with the City of Toronto, with the goal to express an artistic narrative, chronicling traditional teachings that illustrate our connections to the land and how it connects us to one another.
The piece demonstrates our commitment to an ongoing and long-term response to Reconciliation. Together with our Strategies for Indigenous Initiatives, our Reconciliation Statement acknowledges our responsibilities to ensure that our spaces are culturally safe and relevant for Indigenous communities in Toronto, and to develop library programs and services to meet the needs of Indigenous communities.
The naming of Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ branch and the addition of this mural are just two of the many ways TPL is incorporating Indigenous place-making and place-keeping into library spaces.
Bookmobile makes a special visit
In June, TPL’s Bookmobile, “Big Blue,” made a special visit to the Fernie Youth Campus, an organization dedicated to supporting young men in and at risk of being in conflict with the law.
Recognizing that some residents experience challenges and barriers to accessing library services in our branches, the Bookmobile team took the opportunity to bring TPL directly to them. Staff met with residents, issued library cards and delivered a presentation on our programs and services.
TPL at the Canadian National Exhibition
For the third consecutive year, TPL took part in Canada’s largest annual community event at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE).
From August 25 to 31, visitors of all ages visited our Bookmobile, learned about our library services and won great prizes. New this year, we included a tent showcasing some of TPL’s offerings, including our digital resources, Library Settlement Partnerships service, digital literacy initiatives, volunteer services, Indigenous initiatives and our children and youth services.
Despite a couple of rainy days, our enthusiastic team of staff engaged with more than 8,000 visitors, welcomed 600 new members, renewed over 200 library memberships and loaned nearly 300 items.
Thanks to everyone who supported this event, helping to make it another memorable experience.
Planting pollinator gardens at Riverdale branch
The gardens in front of Riverdale branch are now blooming thanks to the hard work of staff. In late 2024, Jackie Ta (Public Service Assistant, Riverdale) and Luke D’Souza (Senior Branch Head, Riverdale) received a $5,000 grant from Pollinate TO, which supports community-led projects that create pollinator gardens. The gardens at Riverdale are now bursting with native pollinator plant species, providing continuous bloom from spring to fall.
A Garden Open House event recently took place, engaging the wider community, with several other gardening programs planned throughout the year. As the growing season comes to an end, the group will shift its focus indoors to explore a native seed bank in anticipation of the 2026 growing year.
This new shared community space has uplifted the streetscape, making the branch more welcoming for both library visitors and pollinators.
Summer Wonder and TD Summer Reading Club
Between June 21 and August 30, TPL hosted its annual Summer Wonder series, an exciting suite of learning programs for children, including the TD Summer Reading Club.
Children across the city participated in over 48 Summer Wonder STEM, arts, and author or illustrator-led workshops, designed to make reading and learning fun during the summer. Families also enjoyed 27 French language programs and 25 camps. Camp themes this year included coding, writing, digital animation, puppetry and drama.
TPL also set a new Wonder Workshop record by offering 89 workshops across 53 branches. Kids put on their design thinking caps as they prototyped solutions to challenges involving space exploration, supporting endangered ecosystems and designing vibrant neighbourhoods. Another successful Summer Wonder at TPL!
Celebrating Emancipation Month
This past August, TPL hosted a number of programs in celebration of Emancipation Month.
At Flemingdon Park, storyteller and percussionist Kwanza Msingwana entertained participants with his engaging storytelling. Malvern branch hosted historian Channon Oyeniran, who provided an overview of Black History in Canada. Additionally, audiences at Jane/Sheppard and Albion branches created Afro-inspired accessories using wax and crochet in programs led by local artisan Stella Diebou.
TPL also launched a new Emancipation Month reading list for adults, teens and children. This year’s list focuses on the many contributions of Black Canadians and aims to educate, engage and assist in the ongoing fight against anti-Black racism and discrimination.
Celebrating National Indigenous History Month
June was National Indigenous History Month, also known as Indigenous Peoples’ Month. To honour the month, TPL hosted 23 in-branch, Indigenous-led programs that shared Indigenous cultures, history and heritage. Over 400 people attended programs that included music and drumming, storytelling, writing workshops, author talks, discussions on Indigenous fusion cuisine, the history of Haudenosaunee stick games and more.
Our staff also participated in several Indigenous-led events in the city to promote TPL’s Indigenous Initiatives and share the 2025 Read Indigenous booklists—TPL’s annual list of must-read titles by Indigenous authors. Staff engaged with more than 450 people, issued 39 new library cards and registered 43 children for the TD Summer Reading Club.
During the month, TPL promoted its new Indigenous Initiatives webpage, which invites Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to explore a wide range of resources and events that build community and broaden perspectives.
Albert Campbell branch wins Toronto Urban Design Award of Excellence
2025 marked the 35th anniversary of Toronto Urban Design Awards. The program celebrates outstanding projects contributing to the beauty, functionality and livability of our city. This year, the jury of architects, educators and planners selected the Albert Campbell branch renovation for one of three awards of excellence in the Public Buildings in Context category. The project is in distinguished company, alongside the Union Station renovation and the new Anishnawbe Health Toronto.
Jury comments include: “[This project] exemplifies innovative adaptive reuse of an entire site. From the outside, the most obvious intervention is the relocation of the original second-floor entrance to the ground floor… creating a playful meandering approach to the new main entrance that is accessible to all.
The undulating geometry of the timber soffit throughout creates a gentle complexity in scales of spaces that are well suited to the programmatic needs of a modern library.”
2025 Toronto Urban Design Awards Jury Report
Collections
Attending the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show
On August 17, TPL attended the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show, an evening open-air cinema event at Christie Pits Park.
Before and during the film screening, staff issued 65 library cards, provided the opportunity to win prizes through the very popular trivia wheel and promoted the library's collections, including its DVDs and streaming videos. Streaming partner Kanopy was also on-site, giving away custom t-shirts and promoting access to its library resource for streaming movies and TV shows.
TPL hits 90 million digital loans
In August, TPL became the first library system in the world to reach 90 million digital loans through OverDrive. This milestone recognizes Toronto as a city of readers who continue to borrow digital books, audiobooks and magazines at an increasing rate.
This achievement has been further supported by recent changes to our holds system, which reduced wait times for ebooks and audiobooks by 20% year over year. These system changes, as well as ongoing advocacy by staff with ebook and audiobook partners, is helping get titles into the hands of Torontonians faster.
Spotlighting TPL’s Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection
On August 17, Sharuka Thangalingam (Library Assistant, Maria A. Shchuka) and Amanda Bisram (Library Assistant, Maria A. Shchuka) had the opportunity to support Rastafest, Canada’s largest celebration of Rastafari heritage, near Maria A. Shchuka branch on Reggae Lane.
Sharuka and Amanda connected with the community and highlighted our Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection, which focuses on the Black and Caribbean historical and cultural experience, with a special emphasis on Canadian content. The collection sparked enthusiastic conversations and attendees shared how titles from the collection connected them to their roots and made them feel celebrated. Children received book bags and library-branded merchandise, adding joy to the festivities.
The Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection is available at four TPL branches—Malvern, Maria A. Shchuka, Parkdale and York Woods—each a vibrant hub for Black and Caribbean heritage and storytelling.
Dial-A-Story highlights diverse stories
Kids and their families can listen to a story by phone any time of day for free by calling the library’s Dial-A-Story service. With June being National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month, our Children’s Services department highlighted two Indigenous and two 2SLGBTQ+ stories on the platform.
The stories received nearly 3,500 calls in total, demonstrating the importance of diverse stories and this service to our city. The stories featured were Benny the Bananasaurus Rex, On the Trapline, Llama Glamarama and Prince and Knight.
TPL is committed to increasing visibility of 2SLGBTQ+ and Indigenous stories year-round.
Staff expertise
Celebrating Pride Month with our staff
To kick off Pride Month in June, TPL’s Pride Alliance hosted its annual staff social at Riverdale branch on the evening of Saturday, May 31. Approximately 40 staff, family and friends connected with each other and enjoyed a potluck and pizza co-sponsored by TPL and TPL Workers Union Local 4948. It was wonderful to see so many new staff attend.
On Sunday, June 29, more than 60 Pride Alliance members, staff, family and friends, plus drag performer Dank Sinatra, marched in the Toronto Pride Parade. Marchers once again held signs featuring titles of frequently banned and challenged 2SLGBTQ+ works to highlight how TPL and public libraries champion intellectual freedom.
Pride Alliance is an employee resource group that fosters diversity and inclusion for 2SLGBTQ+ staff and allies. Their other key initiatives include organizing and facilitating mandatory Positive Spaces training for staff in collaboration with The 519.
Programs
TPL’s first ever romance festival, BookCrush, a huge success
From August 21-24, TPL’s inaugural BookCrush festival gathered and celebrated fans and writers of romance literature through panels, book signings, workshops, activities and more. The four-day festival featured more than 5,000 attendee interactions at 28 thoughtfully-curated events presented over four days at the Toronto Reference Library and North York Central Library, captivating the hearts and minds of romance readers in Toronto.
Panel discussions and book signings featured bestselling romance writers, including Alex Aster, Melissa Blair, Amy Daws, Bal Khabra, Ashley Poston, Anna Todd and many more. The conversations ranged from fun themes exploring rugged cowboys and hockey hunks to vacation flings and spellbinding romantasies.
Beyond ticketed programming, the festival created an incredible buzz with fun, interactive workshops and craft-making stations, a photo booth, and a marketplace where enthusiastic shoppers could support local booksellers and artisans. These spaces and activities created fun opportunities for book lovers to connect. Hundreds of additional visitors explored the festival atmosphere and its free offerings, contributing to the vibrant energy.
Feedback from the festival has been overwhelmingly positive, with several authors calling this the best romance event they've participated in. Attendees also shared positive feedback on social media about their experience at BookCrush, expressing their appreciation for the free event and their hopes for its return next year.
TPL shows its Pride
During Pride Month, TPL remained steadfast in its commitment to intellectual freedom, equity, inclusion and Reconciliation. Continuing our year-round work around 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion, staff did an incredible job making the month-long celebrations a success.
We hosted 66 in-person programs attended by more than 1,100 customers, showcasing diverse 2SLGBTQ+ voices, stories and expertise. This included a powerful author talk with Canada Reads 2025 winner Ma-Nee Chacaby–a 2-Spirit, Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder. TPL’s 2SLGBTQ+ Services Committee also hosted two spotlight author talks with Iranian-Canadian Roza Nozari and Nigerian-Canadian Vincent Anioke. Staff at all three programs received warm, positive feedback from attendees, demonstrating the importance of highlighting intersectional voices and contemporary issues impacting 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
The month also provided many opportunities for staff to talk about 2SLGBTQ+ services at community events across Toronto. This included hosting a table at Pride Toronto's Community Connect in Etobicoke, the fourth annual 2-Spirit Powwow at Downsview Park and the Bentway's Pride Skate. Staff connected with the community and shared about our broad range of library services and offerings, including TPL’s Pride Collection, which has been available since 1991 and housed in Yorkville branch since 1996.
Outreach at TDSB Summer Model Schools
This summer, TPL staff supported the Model Schools for Inner Cities program, which focuses on improving access and opportunities for all students. We visited over 15 classrooms across TDSB Summer Model Schools and connected with more than 1,000 students across Toronto.
During these visits, students had the opportunity to register for library cards, join the TD Summer Reading Club and explore library tools to enrich their summer learning experiences. They also learned about exciting Summer Wonder programs at their local branches, designed to help them discover new interests in STEM subjects, the arts, and reading and writing.
This initiative highlights TPL’s ongoing dedication to supporting young learners by fostering curiosity, building connections and expanding access to learning opportunities.
City Librarian visits Seniors Club at Jane/Sheppard branch
Right image: Buttons featuring Moe and congratulatory phrases.
Every Friday at the Jane/Sheppard branch, a group of older adults gathers for Seniors Club, a program filled with fun activities, engaging games and lively presentations.
When it was announced that Moe Hosseini-Ara had been appointed City Librarian, one participant recalled fond memories of when Moe was the children's librarian at Downsview branch. Inspired by the news, staff at Jane/Sheppard branch reached out to Moe and invited him to join the program, providing participants with an opportunity to congratulate him in person.
In preparation for the visit, both staff and program participants created a hand-painted banner and congratulatory buttons with playful phrases such as "Way to Go, Moe!" and "Let’s Have Moe Fun!" The group was thrilled to share personal stories and express how much the library means to them.
Moe was warmly welcomed by the group, with participants eagerly taking turns posing for photos with him. One participant shared, "I remember you from Downsview. I used to bring my kids to your storytime. You were their favourite librarian, and we are thrilled you are now the City Librarian.”
It was a touching moment that underscores the importance of social connection and the significant role libraries play as community spaces. At the end of the visit, participants enthusiastically exclaimed, “Let's Have Moe Fun!"
Technology
Combatting misinformation and disinformation
The rise of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation (MDM) presents a critical need to provide customers with information and programs to increase their awareness and mitigate the harms it causes. Our Misinformation and Disinformation webpage offers tips and tricks for identifying MDM and shares a list of related library resources and fact checking websites.
Recent programs have offered expert-led talks and discussions. This includes TPL’s 2024 Digital Expo, which featured a keynote from award-winning journalist Craig Silverman and insightful discussions about the impact of MDM on society and the role of public education in combatting MDM. Other programs have explored MDM in health and through a film screening of The Manchurian Candidate, hosted by film writer Adam Nayman.
Staff-facilitated programs on digital privacy and digital life skills for seniors also discuss MDM. TPL’s “What is Mis-Disinformation” staff-led pilot program will be expanded across the system, following staff training, by the end of this year. We also provide staff training, including lunch & learns with experts in the field.
Specialized services
Partnership with Gerstein expands to 12 locations
Since July of 2023, we’ve partnered with Gerstein Crisis Centre to provide social and mental health support in select library branches as part of TPL’s Social and Crisis Support Services. After a successful pilot at four locations, the partnership has expanded to 12 branches, helping us reach more communities in our city.
Gerstein crisis workers are now on-site at seven branches to provide drop-in crisis services, spend valuable time with customers and offer short-term support. They also connect individuals to longer-term supports, including referrals to mental health services, addiction resources, wellness and recovery programs and more.
Additionally, Gerstein offers peer-led programming at 12 branches, providing low-barrier opportunities for individuals to strengthen their social connections, build new skills and have fun. More information about this initiative and its programs is available at tpl.ca/socialsupports.
This innovative partnership was featured widely in media outlets across the country including the Globe and Mail, Winnipeg Free Press and CBC.
We are grateful to the donors who are supporting this important initiative that is providing access and connection to social service and mental health supports to address challenges faced by our city’s most vulnerable residents.
TPL at TRANScendTO
TPL is one of the many organizations supporting the City of Toronto's newly released Access Plan for Two-Spirit, Trans and Non-Binary (2STNB) Youth. As part of this work, we participated in TRANScendTO, a gathering and service provider fair for 2STNB youth held at Toronto Metropolitan University on June 6.
Staff hosted a table at the fair and engaged with over 40 youth about TPL resources and services available, with many asking about job and career opportunities. We shared our reading lists to celebrate Pride Month and issued library cards, welcoming new members to the library. The fair was also a great opportunity to connect with other city organizations and learn about resources available for supporting 2STNB youth living in Toronto.