Toronto Public Library celebrates 6th annual city-wide reading festival
TORONTO (Wednesday, March 30, 2011) - April was officially declared Keep Toronto Reading Month this morning at an event at Hunter’s Glen Junior School in Scarborough. On behalf of Mayor Rob Ford, Toronto Public Library Board member Councillor Sarah Doucette read the official proclamation in front of over 250 enthusiastic primary school students gathered in the school’s gym.
Through a partnership with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), 15 Scarborough primary schools are holding their own Keep Toronto Reading Day in April, and 14 high school classes across the city are reading this year’s One Book community read selection, Midnight at the Dragon Café, by Judy Fong Bates.
“We’re very happy to have so many Toronto students taking part in our festival this year,” said City Librarian Jane Pyper. “And so we thought Hunter’s Glen Junior School would be the perfect location to kick off our sixth annual city-wide celebration of reading.”
This morning’s event featured a story time and performance by children’s author and illustrator Robin Muller, as well as a surprise “flash mob” by the students that musically celebrated their love of reading.
“This year's literacy focus is about giving students the knowledge and skills to make good decisions and think critically about their surroundings," said Kurt McIntosh, Principal of Hunter's Glen Junior School. "Our partnership with the Toronto Public Library, and today's launch, will highlight our month-long celebration of the many forms of literacy, both locally and across the Board.”
The first of Toronto Public Library’s Keep Toronto Reading Festival events is an onstage conversation with Judy Fong Bates at the Toronto Reference Library on April 1. There are more than 80 other free events spread across the city all month long. Visit www.keeptorontoreading.ca for complete details.
Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 18 million people visit our 99 branches and borrow more than 32 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.
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Media Contact:
Tina Srebotnjak, Manager, Cultural and Special Events Programming
416-393-7098
media@torontopubliclibrary.ca
