Below is my report for the September 2026 Toronto Public Library (TPL) Board meeting. This report covers items that are not part of the Board agenda package.
Spaces
A new TPL branch coming to the eastern waterfront
In June, TPL participated in an event to announce that a new library branch is coming to Quayside, creating a vital community hub to support a rapidly growing neighbourhood.
The announcement was made in partnership with the City of Toronto and Waterfront Toronto, and builds on more than a decade of planning by TPL in collaboration with the City to expand library services along the eastern waterfront.
As the project moves forward, TPL will lead a comprehensive community consultation process. Beginning in 2028, community members will have opportunities to share input on programming, services and collections, ensuring the space reflects the needs, interests and aspirations of the residents it will serve.
Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik; Waterfront Toronto's Chief Strategy & Public Affairs Officer Joe Cressy and Chief Development Officer Meg Davis; and City Librarian and CEO Moe Hosseini-Ara spoke at the event. TPL Librarian Jason Behzadian gave a taste of what's to come by delivering a storytime for children from a local childcare centre. Watch a video of the event.
Swansea Village turns 100
Swansea Memorial staff hosted an Open House on June 13, alongside Swansea Town Hall, to celebrate the Village of Swansea’s centennial birthday.
Built in 1919 to honour the local men who served in the First World War, Swansea Memorial branch, located in Swansea Town Hall, is steeped in history. For the Open House event, staff created a time capsule craft for participants to take home, a photo wall showcasing the library’s history, book displays featuring famous local authors, and a scavenger hunt focused on the branch’s history. Staff spoke with nearly 100 customers, many of whom expressed their appreciation for TPL.
Despite being one of TPL’s smallest branches, Swansea Memorial continues to be an important gathering space for people of all ages to work, learn and connect with their community.
TPL at the Canadian National Exhibition
From August 31 to September 6, TPL participated in the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), Canada’s largest annual community event.
Despite rainy weather during parts of the week, staff engaged with more than 6,000 visitors, welcomed 639 new members, renewed 329 library cards and checked out 267 items from the Bookmobile. In addition, nearly 200 members replaced their library cards with one of TPL's new card designs.
This year, the Bookmobile was transformed into an enchanted forest to match CNE’s immersive fantasy theme. Visitors of all ages explored a curated collection of fantasy, fairy tale and nature-themed titles. Staff also developed reading lists for children ages birth-5, 6-8 and 9-12, as well as for teens.
The event offered a valuable opportunity to connect with thousands of Torontonians, introduce new audiences to TPL's collections and demonstrate the many ways library services and programs support communities across the city.
Collections
TPL participates in the 40th IBBY World Congress
From August 6 to 9, TPL participated in the 40th IBBY World Congress in Ottawa, Ontario, marking the first time the biennial event was held in Canada. Hosted by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), the event brings together experts in children’s literature from around the world to share ideas and build connections.
Ariana Ferrone, TPL’s Senior Services Specialist for Children's Services, presented "Disability and Change: A Retrospective Examination of TPL's IBBY Collection for Young People with Disabilities," tracing the collection’s development over 40 years and linking key historical items to milestones in disability rights and justice.
Jennifer Yan, TPL’s Services Specialist for the Osborne Collection, led a poster session on the Osborne Collection for Early Children's Books, which highlighted rare and notable children’s books found in the world-leading research collection’s four areas: the Osborne Collection (items before 1910), the Lillian H. Smith Collection (items after 1910), the Canadiana Collection (items related to Canada) and the Jean Thomson Collection of Original Art (items by Barbara Reid, Maurice Sendak and more).
TPL staff also attended panels, keynotes and poster sessions led by international scholars and celebrated Canadian authors. Several award ceremonies and book exhibitions were held as well, including a showcase of the Outstanding Books from the 2025 IBBY Collection for Young People with Disabilities.
Staff expertise
Adult Literacy Volunteer Learning & Development Day
In June, TPL’s Adult Literacy team hosted a professional development event for Adult Literacy Services volunteers, providing opportunities to build new skills, connect with peers, share best practices and exchange experiences. A total of 47 volunteers attended the event, which featured a presentation on boundary-setting by TPL Social Worker Rahma Hashi, followed by an interactive session led by Adult Literacy staff. Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many noting the opportunity to hear learner success stories as one of the most meaningful highlights of the day.
Programs
Summer Wonder and TD Summer Reading Club
Returning for another successful summer, TPL's Summer Wonder series and the TD Summer Reading Club engaged children and families through a variety of learning and creative experiences.
From June 20 to September 5, more than 1,200 children and their families attended 50 featured programs focused on STEM, arts and music, and had opportunities to connect with Canadian authors and illustrators. In addition, staff led 41 cardboard engineering challenges and 64 design-thinking activities, providing hands-on opportunities to explore foundational STEM concepts. TPL also offered 39 French-language programs that reached nearly 800 participants.
This year’s camps introduced new themes, including storytelling, improv, DJing, culinary arts, ukulele, LEGO Spike, AI, dinosaurs and nature in the city. More than 1,000 children took part in 27 camps, including nine led by TPL’s Pop-Up Learning Labs team. Demand was high, with many camps reaching capacity. The programs sparked excitement among children and their caregivers, offering memorable opportunities for learning, creativity and discovery.
Pride Month
This past Pride Month, TPL delivered 132 programs to 2,500 customers, more than doubling last year’s attendance. Over 70 of these programs were for children and their families, including Rainbow and Drag storytimes, as well as TPL’s new Rainbow Day and Library Pride Parade events. The programs engaged families in celebrating Pride through crafts, games, music, storytimes and parade sign-making activities.
Additionally, TPL's 2SLGBTQ+ Services Committee coordinated three spotlighted adult Pride programs featuring intersectional authors: Montreal-based lesbian, disabled author, journalist and cartoonist Gabrielle Drolet; Pakistani-Canadian playwright and actor Zaiba Baig; and Black, queer, non-binary, femme, disabled activist, writer and award-winning sex educator Ericka Hart. The programs were a huge success, with Hart’s event drawing 238 attendees. Some attendees travelled from as far as Hamilton, Montreal, Buffalo and even Winnipeg.
Staff from across the organization worked to ensure the spotlighted programs were accessible, welcoming and inclusive. Participants shared positive feedback and appreciated the availability of American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and live captioning, reaffirming the importance of creating accessible experiences where all Torontonians feel represented and can participate fully in programming.
Entrepreneurs in Residence: Melanie Cruickshank & Vivian Kaye
Throughout July and August, TPL’s summer Entrepreneur in Residence program connected aspiring and established small business owners with experienced entrepreneurs through interactive workshops and one-on-one guidance.
At Mount Dennis branch, entrepreneur and business mentor Vivian Kaye led a residency focused on supporting Black entrepreneurs. Vivian's programs consistently drew full audiences, reaching a total of 120 participants through eight programs. Customer feedback highlighted both the practical value of the programs and Kaye's accessible approach. One participant wrote, “I really liked the instructor and her insights and appreciated her down to earth, open approach to engaging us.”
At S. Walter Stewart branch, entrepreneur and cosmetics company founder Melanie Cruickshank led a residency focused on supporting women entrepreneurs. A total of 140 attendees participated in eight programs covering topics such as branding, marketing and funding opportunities. Demand extended
beyond programming, with 56 customers applying for 31 available one-on-one consultations. Participants frequently connected with Melanie before and after her sessions, eager to continue learning from her beyond the residency. One participant praised the series for helping them gain traction with their small business.
Both residencies underscore the strong demand for accessible, community-based entrepreneurial programming and personalized business support.
The Entrepreneur in Residence supporting Black entrepreneurs and the Entrepreneur in Residence supporting Women entrepreneurs is generously supported by Meridian.
Arts Mentor in Residence: Elaine Chan-Dow
From July 16 to September 3, TPL's Malvern branch hosted an eight-week Arts Mentor in Residence program led by artist, researcher and educator Elaine Chan-Dow. The residency provided mentorship and entrepreneurial guidance for artists seeking to strengthen their skills and build confidence in their creative careers.
More than 45 participants attended each of the eight presentations, with many remaining after programs to continue discussions and seek additional guidance.
Elaine Chan-Dow also provided hour-long one-on-one consultations to more than 40 participants, offering support on topics including portfolio development, income diversification and grant writing.
Participant feedback highlighted the value of the residency in helping artists develop knowledge and confidence. One participant noted that the program increased their understanding of professional artistic practices and helped them feel more confident in making career decisions as an artist.
Celebrating soccer in the city: World Cup
During and leading up to the World Cup, more than 60 TPL branches across the city celebrated soccer’s biggest event, welcoming over 8,000 customers to more than 1,000 drop-in watch parties, livestreamed games and related programs. Customers of all ages came together to cheer on their favourite teams and participated in programs ranging from soccer-themed robotics workshops and 3D-printing activities to special guest lectures.
National Indigenous History Month
During National Indigenous History Month in June, TPL presented a lineup of programs celebrating the diversity, history, heritage, culture, achievements and resilience of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Nearly 250 people attended 15 Indigenous-led programs at branches across the city, including a food tasting, author visits, a puppet show, a workshop on plant knowledge, painting activities and discussions facilitated by Indigenous academics.
Throughout the month, TPL staff attended Indigenous-led community events where they promoted TPL collections, programs and services, including the 2026 Read Indigenous list. Staff engaged with over 300 people, issued new library cards and renewed library memberships. Many visitors expressed their appreciation for TPL and commended the library for its commitments to Reconciliation. Interest in Indigenous initiatives was also strong online, with the 2026 Read Indigenous list receiving twice as many visits during its launch period as in 2025.
Celebrating Emancipation Month
Last month, TPL hosted a wide range of programs across the city in celebration of Emancipation Month, which recognizes the struggle for human rights and the rich contributions made by Peoples of African descent.
Morningside branch and North York Central Library featured an engaging retelling of the history and impact of the American folksong, Follow the Drinking Gourd, led by storyteller Frances Greenidge. At Maria A. Shchuka, customers explored the vibrant traditions of African drumming with master drummer Isaac Nii Akrong. Other branch programs included screenings of Caribbean films and Black-led wellness and self-care workshops.
TPL also created a new Emancipation Month reading list for adults, which highlights the contributions of Black Canadians and aims to educate, engage and support the ongoing fight against anti-Black racism and discrimination. TPL continues to celebrate Black history and culture year-round through engaging programs and initiatives.
Health literacy for Seniors Month
On June 4, in recognition of Seniors Month, the Toronto Reference Library's Business, Science and Technology department welcomed more than 80 community members to Snacks & Science: Finding Online Health Information You Can Trust. Presented in collaboration with Dixon Hall and the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging, the program featured Dr. Milena Head, Professor of Information Systems at McMaster University, who discussed how to assess online health information and identify reliable sources.
Using real-life examples, Dr. Head explained why misinformation can be persuasive and shared strategies for recognizing misleading information. Participants asked questions and shared their own experiences, sparking discussions about health literacy, digital literacy and healthy aging. Attendees also explored resources for seniors available through TPL and Dixon Hall.
This event was one of more than 45 programs TPL offered during Seniors Month, reaching over 550 attendees who came to the library to learn and to connect meaningfully with their community.
Celebrating Francophone seniors
Also as part of Seniors Month in June, TPL partnered with Salon du livre de Toronto to host the French-language event Un livre, une communauté : célébrons nos aînés at the Toronto Reference Library. The event showcased the book “Un livre, une communauté : récit collectif des aînés et aînées francophones du Grand Toronto,” a collection of stories exploring the experiences of Francophone seniors across the Greater Toronto Area.
Contributors to the book took part in a panel discussion and public reading, sharing personal stories and reflections. The event concluded with an opportunity for attendees to connect with the authors and one another. A total of 45 community members participated, engaging in meaningful conversations that celebrated Francophone heritage, lived experiences and community connections. The program celebrated the contributions of Francophone seniors and strengthened their sense of belonging and cultural pride.
TPL attends The Next Chapter Festival
On August 29, TPL participated in The Next Chapter Festival at Scarborough Town Centre, an annual event hosted by The Reading Partnership that celebrates children’s books, the power of storytelling and the Scarborough community. TPL’s outreach booth welcomed approximately 200 visitors, with children and families taking part in literacy-focused activities, including a “Build a Story” challenge and a book-themed voting activity.
Staff from Children’s Services as well as Scarborough Civic Centre and Malvern branches engaged with community members throughout the day, raising awareness of TPL’s programs and resources and registering people for library memberships. The event provided an opportunity to engage families in literacy activities, highlight library resources and services, and strengthen connections with the community.
Technology
Celebrating Toronto Games Week
On June 12, TPL celebrated Toronto Games Week, a weeklong celebration of arts and game culture in Toronto, by hosting No Bosses! Real Talk from Cooperative Video Game Studios, at the North York Central Library. The event, which was attended by 67 participants, featured an interactive panel discussion with independent video game developers who shared the many rewards of building cooperative game studios from the ground up. Following the discussion, participants enjoyed a video game showcase with game creators from Covert Sky, Polyvale Studios, Rocket Adrift, System Panic and Void Blob.
The event was developed in partnership with Baby Ghosts, a non-profit providing professional development and open resources for marginalized creators in Canada’s interactive digital arts sector.
Exploring AI in music production
From April to June, Fairview branch hosted Innovator in Residence Joel S. Silver, who delivered programs, workshops and one-on-one consultations focused on exploring the creative potential of AI in music production. Participants of all ages and skill levels experimented with emerging tools and learned how AI can support songwriting, composition, sound design and production workflows.
The residency offered a balanced perspective on AI, examining topics such as copyright, intellectual property and environmental impacts. Guest speakers included a lawyer, an environmental advocate, and a representative from the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), who shared diverse perspectives to help participants better understand the legal, ethical and practical considerations of using AI in creative work.
Over the course of the residency, 38 workshops engaged 374 participants, while 24 one-on-one consultations provided personalized support to participants on their own creative projects. These offerings helped bring to life Fairview's new Digital Innovation Hub and Audio-Visual Studio, both added through the branch's recent capital project.
The residency received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with a 97% satisfaction rate. One attendee noted, "This is one more reason why I'm in love with TPL and libraries in general; so innovative and relevant and interesting—the programs as well."
This residency program was part of TPL's AI Upskilling Initiative and was made possible with support from Google.org.
Specialized services
Financial Empowerment Service expands
TPL’s Financial Empowerment Service has expanded to three additional branches, making free financial counselling more accessible for individuals and families living on a low income. The service is now available at eight branches across the city: Albion, Cedarbrae, Downsview, Flemingdon Park, Malvern, Northern Elms, Riverdale and Thorncliffe.
Available by appointment or drop-in, Financial Empowerment staff from North York Community House and WoodGreen Community Services provide free financial information, guidance and support. They work one-on-one with customers to help them file taxes year-round, find and apply for government benefits, budget and save on a low income, manage financial challenges such as debt and credit, and set financial goals.
Since 2022, the Financial Empowerment Service has helped customers access more than $6.1 million through 6,024 tax returns and benefit applications, supporting the financial well-being of communities across Toronto.
This initiative is made possible thanks to generous support from Bank of America, Burgundy Legacy Foundation, CIBC Foundation, Osmington Inc. and W.J. Properties.