Toronto Museums are Coming to the Library

Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.

Toronto Museums are Coming to the Library
Enhancement to popular Museum+Arts Pass program back for third season

TORONTO (Tuesday September 21, 2010) - One of Toronto Public Library’s most popular programs, the Sun Life Financial Museum + Arts Pass, allows anyone with a valid adult library card to borrow a free family pass to one of several Toronto museums.

And once again, the museums are coming to the library!

On Saturdays in October and November, library branches around the city will feature crafts, games, artifacts and activities from Toronto’s top museum attractions.  Programs will last an hour, and suit kids aged 5-12 and their caregivers. 

Venues participating in the fall programming include the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Bata Shoe Museum, Black Creek Pioneer Village, Casa Loma, the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, the Museum of Inuit Art, the Textile Museum of Canada, Colborne Lodge, the Scarborough Museum and the Toronto Zoo.  A complete list of programs is available on the library website at torontopubliclibrary.ca.

The Sun Life Financial Museum + Arts Pass (MAP) provides full admission to families of two adults and up to five children (admission restrictions vary by venue) to the Art Gallery of Ontario, Bata Shoe Museum, Black Creek Pioneer Village, Casa Loma, City of Toronto Historic Museums (comprising eight museums, houses, and historic sites), Gardiner Museum, Museum of Inuit Art, Ontario Science Centre, Royal Ontario Museum, the Textile Museum of Canada, and now, the Toronto Zoo.

Since its inception in 2007, MAP has become tremendously popular, with nearly 10,000 passes borrowed every month. Several program partners offer passes at all 99 Toronto Public Library branches, while passes to all venues are available at 32 of the library’s branches.  Sun Life Financial generously sponsors this program, continuing its long-standing commitment to making the arts accessible to all. Full borrowing rules are listed at torontopubliclibrary.ca/museumpass.

MAP Family Saturdays

Saturday, October 2, 2010, 2 p.m.

Art Gallery of Ontario
Make fans and miniatures like the maharajahs with the Art Gallery of Ontario. Kennedy/Eglinton Branch, Liberty Square Shopping Plaza, 416-396-8924

Casa Loma
Learn about medieval armour and weapons and get dubbed a medieval knight with Casa Loma.
Humber Summit Branch, 2990 Islington Avenue, 416-395-5840

Saturday, October 16, 2010, 2 p.m.

Colborne Lodge
Discover Toronto's past with the Toronto Historic Museums: Hear a real-life, interactive story of high seas adventure with storyteller Harriet Xanthakos of Colborne Lodge in High Park.
Long Branch Library, 3500 Lake Shore Blvd West, 416-394-5320

Gardiner Museum
Make your own animal out of clay with help from artists from the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art. Free tickets available 30 minutes before program.
Victoria Village Branch, 184 Sloane Avenue, 416-395-5950

Saturday, October 23, 2010, 2 p.m.

Art Gallery of Ontario
Make fans and miniatures like the maharajahs with the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Lillian H. Smith Branch, 239 College Street, 416-393-7746

Black Creek Pioneer Village
Learn to card and spin wool and make your own yarn bracelet with Black Creek Pioneer Village.
Centennial Branch, 578 Finch Avenue, 416-395-5490

Scarborough Museum
Discover Toronto's past with the Toronto Historic Museums. Play games, hear stories and see old-fashioned toys from Scarborough Museum.
Guildwood Branch, Guildwood Plaza, 123 Guildwood Parkway, 416-396-8872

Saturday, November 6, 2010, 2 p.m.

Black Creek Pioneer Village
Learn to card and spin wool and make your own yarn bracelet with Black Creek Pioneer Village.
Locke Branch, 3083 Yonge Street, 416-393-7730 

Museum of Inuit Art
Listen to Inuit stories, make an Inuit toy and learn to play an Inuit game with the Museum of Inuit Art. Please register.
Sanderson Branch, 327 Bathurst Street, 416-393-7653

Toronto Zoo
Touch animal fur, feathers and teeth. Learn about the variety of life on earth. Suits kids ages 5-12 and their caregivers. (Note: there will not be live animals at this event.)
Bendale Branch, 1515 Danforth Road, 416-396-8910             

Saturday, November 13, 2010, 2 p.m.

Museum of Inuit Art
Listen to Inuit stories, make an Inuit toy and learn to play an Inuit game with the Museum of Inuit Art.
Oakwood Village Library & Arts Centre, 341 Oakwood Avenue, 416-394-1040

Bata Shoe Museum
Learn all about shoes, from baby moccasins to ballet slippers, with the Bata Shoe Museum.
Parkdale Branch 1303 Queen Street West, 416-393-7686

Saturday, November 20, 2010, 2 p.m.

Art Gallery of Ontario
Make fans and miniatures like the maharajahs with the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Albion Branch, 1515 Albion Road, 416-394-5170

Toronto Zoo
Touch animal fur, feathers and teeth. Learn about the variety of life on earth. Suits kids ages 5-12 and their caregivers. (Note: there will not be live animals at this event.)
Dawes Road Branch, 416 Dawes Road, 416-396-3820             

Saturday, November 27, 2010, 2 p.m.

Textile Museum of Canada
Learn about weaving and make a colourful bookmark with the Textile Museum of Canada. Suits kids ages 5-12 and their caregivers.
Gerrard/Ashdale Branch, 1432 Gerrard Street East, 416-393-7717

Toronto Zoo
Touch animal fur, feathers and teeth. Learn about the variety of life on earth. Suits kids ages 5-12 and their caregivers. (Note: there will not be live animals at this event.)
Morningside Branch, 4279 Lawrence Avenue East, 416-396-8881

Gardiner Museum
Make your own animal out of clay with help from artists from the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art. Free tickets available 30 minutes before program.
Maria A. Shchuka Branch, 1745 Eglinton Avenue West, 416-394-1000

Casa Loma
Learn about medieval armour and weapons and get dubbed a medieval knight with Casa Loma.
Mount Dennis Branch, 1123 Westno Road, 416-396-8881

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 17.5 million people visit our 99 branches and borrow more than 31 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:
Wendy Banks, Communications Officer, 416-7181
Media@torontopubliclibrary.ca