Absolutely Vital Programs & Services

Toronto's Library creates programming and services to meet the needs of the communities it serves.

Foundation funding enables the Library to provide high impact, specialized programs addressing areas of greatest need such as:

• Ready for Reading for preschoolers
• English Can Be Fun for newcomer children
• Dial-A-Story offered in 11 different languages
• Hear-A-Story offered in French, English and Italian
• High School Outreach to youth
• Home Library Service for housebound seniors

Programs:

TD Summer Reading Club

The TD Summer Reading Club is one of Toronto Public Library’s free cornerstone programs for children, providing materials and incentives that encourage boys and girls in Toronto and across Canada to keep reading and enjoying books during the long lazy days of summer.

The theme of TD Summer Reading Club 2012 is Imagine and encourages children to read whatever and whenever they'd like this summer; and through reading, become whoever they want and go wherever their imagination takes them.  They will have their heads in the clouds reading tales and novels set in fantasy worlds where strange, magical creatures mix with robots and other fantastical machines.

Kids can register for free and receive a poster and activity book, and a sticker with a secret code for every book they read during the summer.  There are nine stickers to collect, and the secret codes unlock reading rewards on the TD Summer Reading Club website.

To find out more about the TD Summer Reading Club and how kids can join, drop in to your local branch, pick up a copy of the July-August What’s On, or visit the official  TD Summer Club website.

 Sun Life Financial Museum & Arts Pass and Family Saturdays Program

With the Sun Life Financial Museum and Arts Pass (MAP), you and your family can explore the best of Toronto's arts and cultural treasures for free.

With a valid adult Toronto Public Library card, you can borrow a MAP for your family at any Toronto Public Library branch. The pass provides full admission to a family of up to two adults and five children (admission restrictions vary by venue) to:

• Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
• The Bata Shoe Museum
• Black Creek Pioneer Village
• Gardiner Museum
• Museum of Inuit Art
• Textile Museum of Canada
• City of Toronto’s Historic Museums

As well, the following passes are available at select library branches

• Casa Loma
• Ontario Science Centre
• Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

NEW: Now we're bringing the museums to you! On Saturdays in October and November, library branches around the city will host family events featuring activities and exhibits from Toronto's museums.
 

For more information about the Sun Life Financial Museum and Arts Pass, or about the MAP Family Saturday Program, please click here.

Ready for Reading

Ready for Reading at Toronto Public Library is founded on extensive research into the importance of key skills and principles in building reading readiness in preschool children between birth and five years of age. It is adapted from the America Library Association's Every Child Ready to Read program.

To learn more about about how to help your child get ready for reading click here.