Funds to be used for annual Canadian Children’s Literature Festival

Toronto Public Library Foundation is the recipient of an endowment fund honouring Lawrence Muller, retired president of Scholastic Canada, designated to celebrate the magic of Canadian literature for children, their families, teachers and all those who delight in creative endeavours. The endowment fund will support an annual Canadian Children’s Literature Festival to promote reading, and in particular, the reading of Canadian children’s books, while celebrating the accomplishments of the many talented Canadians who create books for children.

“It is a privilege for the Toronto Public Library Foundation to be the steward of this fund in support of a festival that will play an important role in so many lives, and appropriately recognize the wealth of talent we have in Canada when it comes to children’s literature,” said Heather Rumball, Toronto Public Library Foundation president.

“I am just delighted that Toronto Public Library has taken on the challenge of launching an annual festival to celebrate Canadian children’s book authors and illustrators across the country. I love Toronto Public Library’s energy and vision, and I am sure that we will see wonderful things happening in the years ahead,” said Larry Muller.

The endowment fund was announced recently at a ceremony held at the Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books at Toronto Public Library’s Lillian H. Smith Branch. The endowment fund was first established by Scholastic, US to celebrate Canadian children’s literature and support the continued interest in Canadian children’s materials. Famed Canadian author Jean Little was in attendance at the event as Mr. Muller donated a rare copy of her first book From Anna,  which the author first self-published as a teen, to the Osborne Collection.

Ken Setterington, Toronto Public Library’s Children and Youth Advocate, thanked Mr. Muller and Scholastic for the contribution to Canadian children’s literature, and added, “The library is thrilled to be able to help realize the goals of this endowment fund. Celebrating children’s literature, and promoting the love of reading for children of all ages, is a significant and longstanding mandate of the library, and we’re very thankful to Larry for entrusting us with the resources to broaden and amplify this work.”

The Toronto Public Library Foundation believes in the social benefits of a strong and healthy public library system. As a registered charity, the Foundation fosters relationships with people of vision to provide Toronto's Library with improved and expanded collections, enhanced programs and services, and revitalized community spaces.

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Media Contact:

Michelle Leung, Communications Officer, 416-397-5936

mleung@torontopubliclibrary.ca

Heather Rumball

President, Toronto Public Library Foundation, 416-393-7134

hrumball@torontopubliclibrary.ca