How will the role of public libraries be changed?

This is an amazing one hour long conversation between some of Canada's awesome librarians. It has some great take aways and sharing of best practices. Well worth the listen.

It was hosted by Canadian Urban Institute; thanks to Edmund and Russ at Whitehots for sharing.

 

TTC Library Map

Maybe this is going to give you a headache; maybe you'll think it's the coolest thing ever. The reddit user prettydisposable has created a TTC map that includes a listing of every Toronto Public Library Location. If you need help deciphering this behemoth (like most of us do), check out the full blog.to article right here:

Infused: Adventures in Tea

2020 is off to a bit of a rough start, so we could all use a steaming cup of tea and a dip into the history and culture of this beloved beverage. Written by Henrietta Lovell, tea expert and founder of the Rare Tea Company, Infused is halfway between armchair travel and a loving ode to the perfect brew, complete with recipes!

Lovell made an appearance on CBC's The Current, which you can listen to or read here. Pour yourself a cuppa and dive in!

Child of Glass by Beatrice Alemagna

A tribute to strength and sensitivity, Child of Glass perfectly expresses our dual desires to embrace ourselves and to fit in. Italian author Beatrice Alemagna uses transparent pages and collage-like illustrations to bring her heroine to life in this poignant tale.

Resonating with many, the book has received a starred review in the School Library Journal, and was a 2019 NYT/NYPL Best Illustrated Children's Book.

Kirkus Reviews say it will "reach both small and older readers struggling to conceal, manage, and express complicated inner worlds."

The Most Borrowed Library Books of 2019 - So Far!

Amidst all the great studies and data sifting, BookNet Canada put together a study that delves into library books and Canadians' borrowing habits in the first half of 2019. They explore the metrics of popularity within age range and genre, coupling together the most popular titles with a few surprises. Curious? Check out the full article here - and remember to keep supporting your local library branch!

Library Venues are Trending!

Who said libraries are only for reading?  Libraries are becoming the latest venue trend for weddings and party celebrations! These venues are central and affordable, and are perfect for dance parties and dinner events. Plus, everyone is surrounded by beautiful books!  Contact Toronto Public Library at venuerentals@torontopubliclibrary.ca, to plan your next event!

Loan Stars Jr is rocking and rolling!

Loan Stars Jr. is here! The adult program has been a great success. 

Every month for three years, library staff have voted for their most anticipated fiction and non-fiction reads. And thanks to their efforts, the Loan Stars top pick lists boast over 300 adult titles! 

And now the kidlets (books) can join in.

Titles publishing in March 2019 (and beyond) are eligible for Loan Stars Jr. picks. The first list will be released in March and it will consist of March and April 2019 titles (10 in total).  Read more about how you can participate. 

If You Build It, They Will Come

Following in the footsteps of Oslo's Deichmanske bibliotek and Stuttgart's City Library, Calgary's $245 million Central Library is expected to open its doors to the public on November 1st. The library is located in Calgary's historic East Village, itself part of a huge revitalization project. "This [library] doesn't belong only to the rich, or to a university...everybody has access to it," says Calgary Public Library's chief executive officer Bill Ptacek. 

Gone are the days when the public library was thought of as a dying institution. Libraries like the Calgary Central Library, or the 216,000-square-foot "super library" set to be built in Ottawa, prove that, more than ever, we consider libraries a necessary part of our community. 

Check out the Globe and Mail's article here. 

We ❤ TPL

Toronto Public Library has done a very cool map showing the most read books by neighbourhood.

Do Not Say We Had Nothing, was a clear favourite. Other top choices were:

• The Couple Next Door 
• Animal Farm 
• The Twenty-Three 
• To Kill A Mockingbird
• The Alchemist
• The Girl on the Train
• The Whistler
• The Wrong Side of Goodbye

Check out all of their top ten lists for 2017.

Not Your Grandparent's Library!

Did you know that between 1990 and 2014, library visits have grown by nearly 200 percent?! With continued community engagement and partnering, libraries are as popular as ever, and this rise in attendance doesn't look to be slowing any time soon. Head over to medium.com, and check out librarian Oleg Kagan's take on the whopping rise in library visits!

What's the Worth of Your Public Library?

The Globe and Mail did a great piece celebrating the value of libraries in our communities.

Ryerson University Library receives record donation

Almost fifty years after the original Ryerson Press was sold in a controversial deal to McGraw-Hill Education, much of the original collection is finally returning to Toronto. The donation of 3,000 books and 2,000 archival materials to the Ryerson University Library's Archives and Special Collection is worth nearly one million dollars, and includes first editions of the works of many landmark Canadian authors. An exciting contribution to the archives!

PW's Top Library Stories of 2016

PW did a review of 2016 and the big library news stories of the year. In it they discuss Carla Hayden's appointment as the librarian of Congress, the first African American woman to the post. They als touch on ebooks, Orlando and a whole bunch more.

Flavorwire on the State of Libraries

It's not a pretty picture, according to Flavorwire, North American libraries are seeing very slow growth in libraries are seeing very little increases (if any) to their budgets. The reality is the libraries need an increased budget to support growing populations.