Community Knowledge Centre - Toronto Community Foundation

About this organization

Mission

The mission of the Toronto Public Library Foundation is to provide essential resources for the enhancement of Toronto Public Library and to allocate funds to priority needs not supported by municipal funding. The urgent needs for the Library include: improved and expanded collections, enhanced programs and services, upgraded technology, and revitalized community spaces to respond to the changing needs of the people of Toronto. The Foundation believes in the social benefits of a strong and healthy public library system. As a registered charity, we foster relationships with people of vision to provide Toronto’s Library with improved and expanded collections, enhanced programs and services, and revitalized community spaces.

History of Organization

Toronto Public Library Foundation was established in 1997 as a registered charity governed by its own Board of Directors. Our mission is to foster relationships with people of vision to provide Toronto's Library with essential resources for the enhancement of Library collections, programs and services, and community spaces, and to allocate funds to priority needs not supported by municipal funding. The Foundation believes that the character and quality of a city depends on the resources available to its people. We believe that a great Library is a fundamental requirement for any city to achieve its full social and economic potential. We believe that Toronto's Library is vital to the city, and vital to support. Since its inception, the Toronto Public Library Foundation has raised $48 million in support of Toronto's Library.

Accolades and Accomplishments

The Toronto Public Library Foundation has partnered with individuals, corporations and foundations to enhance the collections, programs and services and spaces of the Toronto Public Library.

Key accomplishments include:

• A one million dollar gift from an anonymous donor to support enhanced library collections and services including the purchase of accreditation, skills training and multilingual materials as well as supporting the Library’s early children’s literacy programming, Ready for Reading.
• An over $3 million lifetime and bequest gift to support a variety of programs and services including services for disabilities, programs and services that support early literacy such as KidsStops, and much more. 
• A gift from the Toronto Star resulting in the Toronto Star Newspaper Room through a $2.5 million cash and in-kind commitment.
• A multi-million dollar partnership with TD Bank Financial to develop a national TD Summer Reading Club to encourage children to read during the summer months.
• A partnership with Sun Life Financial in support of the library’s Museum & Arts Pass program introducing families, particularly in high priority neighbourhoods, to experience Toronto’s cultural treasures free of charge with their Toronto Public Library card.

Programs

>Enhancing Services and Collections for People with Disabilities at Toronto Public Library and in the community
>Leading to Reading at Toronto Public Library
>Dial-A-Story

The Toronto Public Library Foundation support three main areas within the Library:

1. Collections - Foundation funding enables the Library to:

• Add more high-demand books to its shelves.
• Keep up with the demand for children's books.
• Offer books youth want to read to help them succeed.
• Provide accreditation materials for foreign-trained professionals.
• Offer large print/other formats for the sight and hearing impaired.

2. Programs & Services - Foundation funding enables the Library to provide high impact, specialized programs addressing areas of greatest need such as:

• Ready for Reading introduction to early literacy for preschoolers and their caregivers.
• Leading to Reading for children grades 2 to 6 who are reading below grade level or need help with homework.
• English Can Be Fun for newcomer children.
• Dial-A-Story offered in 11 different languages.
• Hear-A-Story offered in French, English and Italian.
• Outreach Story Time Program for young children.
• School Outreach from kindergarten to high school, from children to youth. 
• Adult literacy programs, services and collections.
• Home Library Service for housebound seniors.
• SunLife Financial Museum & Arts Pass offering families free access to the city’s arts and cultural spaces.

3. Community Spaces - Foundation funding enables the revitalization of Library spaces including new KidsStop centres in two, soon to be four branches. Kids Stops are tactile learning environments where parents and caregivers can learn and play independently with children birth to 5 years of age. 

The Foundation is also currently undertaking a capital campaign to support the recreation of one of Toronto's most well-used public institutions, the Toronto Reference Library, with the re:vitalize – Toronto Reference Library Campaign.

Enhancing Services and Collections for People with Disabilities at Toronto Public Library and in the community

Through its operation’s budget Toronto Public Library provides a strong base level of support for people with disabilities across its 99-branch library system. From a dedicated Centre for People with Disabilities, to Home Library Services, Toronto Public Library is committed to providing people with disabilities with broad range access to services and collections.

The Centre for People with Disabilities:

• Located at the Toronto Reference Library provides a range of services, equipment training and personal assistance to help patrons get the most out of the Toronto Reference Library.

Home Library Services:

• Home Library Service is available for Toronto residents who are homebound for three months or longer due to age, illness or disability. A variety of library materials, including books, paperbacks, large print books and talking books, are selected and delivered to you free of charge.

Gifts to the Toronto Public Library Foundation have helped fund significant service and collections enhancements beyond the Library’s operating budget including the purchase of: 

• assistive reading devices that help people with disabilities access a full range of information. 
• a new van for Mobile Library Services which provides delivery of library materials to those unable to visit their library branches.
• new collections for Home Library Services in a variety of formats (large print, talking books).

Program Impact

M. is a legally blind senior who listens to Toronto Public Library’s talking books and who utilizes the Library’s Home Library Services program. In describing what the talking books mean to her, she said: “They give me something to look forward to, something that I feel keeps me on this earth”. M. is not alone. Home Library Services is a program that is used by over 3,100 customers annually. By bringing library materials directly to their homes, Toronto Public Library is linking people with disabilities to a broad range of materials they want and need. The Toronto Reference Library’s Centre for People with Disabilities is a well-used information hub with a broad range of materials serving the disabled community.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

“The 2008 health profile of Toronto residents (12 years old and over) reveals that

• One quarter (25.5%) are sometimes or often limited from participation in activities by disability or illness.” (Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

Participant Vignette

"I was so ill that I had been confined to bed for many years. Yet your books kept me occupied... The Home Library Service provided me with a connection to the outside world... It is truly one of the most important home services for the disabled and the frail elderly." - Ms. H.

“The Toronto Public Library's audiobook service is an essential resource for me, as a blind reader. I love being able to go to different libraries and actually browse among the cd collections for new and unexpectedly rewarding discoveries as well as requesting specific books I've already heard about. I also make use of the Centre for People with Disabilities at TRL, which is another vital tool for my work as an academic researcher.” - Ms. S.

“The (recently re-opened) S. Walter Stewart Library branch is totally renovated, and is so accessible. The material that is available for the visually impaired, with the audio books is amazing. Then the shut-ins and the seniors having books picked up & delivered is such a benefit. And, of course, there is the library Bookmobile!” -  Mr. K

Leading to Reading at Toronto Public Library

Since 1979, Toronto Public Library’s innovative Leading to Reading program has helped children identified with low literacy skills improve their reading and performance at school. The Leading to Reading program helps to significantly improve children’s chances of continuing their education and securing fulfilling career options that would not be available if their literacy skills continued to be ignored. More than simply improving a child’s ability to read, the Leading to Reading program increases a child’s self-esteem and hope for the future, and links them to the vast resources available at the Library – resources that are essential for success as they progress through life. Leading to Reading programs are located in high-needs communities as determined by socio-economic factors such as income, education levels and the number of residents whose first language is not English. The school year program is based on one-to-one tutoring with trained volunteers who commit hours of their time to help children develop the reading skills they need to succeed. The summer program involves daytime activities and is run with the assistance of hired summer students. In addition, the Library reaches out to the community by regularly visiting three family shelters during the summer to help children in residence maintain or improve their reading skills.

Program Impact

Leading to Reading transforms lives - providing children with the reading help they need and instilling a lifelong love of learning. The program impacts lives.

• It empowers children with the confidence and skills to succeed in school and their lives.
• Although not created to target new immigrants, it reaches out to newcomers and a diverse range of cultures.
• Parents or caregivers of children in the program are given an orientation to library services and support in helping their children to become better readers.
• Over 1,000 volunteers support the program and are provided with excellent work experience; many go into the educational field.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

• “The number of full-time librarians in Toronto District School Board elementary schools fell by nearly 50% in the last ten years”
• “Toronto schools have yet to meet the special educational needs of all students.”
• “After-school programs make a critical difference in safety and skills development.” (Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

This program helps to fill gaps left by the loss of school librarians as well as meet some of the special educational needs of students. It supports children when they are out of school and focuses on high-needs areas of the city.

Participant Vignette

“As a child, I struggled with reading and writing. My mother enrolled me in the Leading to Reading program and it changed my life. In high school, I volunteered as a program tutor and gained valuable experience that helped me get accepted into teacher’s college.” Magda Socha, Teacher and Library User “A long while back, two of my children attended the “leading to reading” program at the York Woods Library. One is now 2nd year pre-law at Guelph University and the other is graduating York with a Creative Writing degree next fall. Thank you so very much.” Deb, mother of two Leading to Reading participants These stories are not isolated ones and just two examples of the difference the program makes in the lives of each of its participants. Magda’s time in the Leading to Reading program made an impression in her life, setting the course for her future. Deb looks at her sons’ progress as a result of the program with pride and love.

Dial-A-Story

Dial-A-Story is a telephone story program for children of all ages, their parents and caregivers, and which transforms lives by providing support for early language acquisition and the improved reading readiness of children. It is a unique literacy program that moves the Library out into the community. It does not require children or parents and caregivers to attend a literacy program if they are not able to and it is available 24 hours a day. It also uses technology that is accessible to virtually every household. By calling a local Toronto telephone number, children can listen to a professionally told story. Last year, there were 310,000 calls to Dial-A-Story. The service currently offers 476 stories in 12 languages - English, French, Cantonese, Mandarin, Italian stories, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Somali, Tamil, Gujarati, and Urdu. Dial-A-Story has three categories in each language group - stories for younger children (3-6 years), stories for older children (7-12 years), as well as a third segment of stories promoting cultural groups, holidays, or special promotions including Black & Caribbean Stories for Black History Month, stories during Asian Heritage Month, National Aboriginal Day and TD Summer Reading Club Promotion Story.

Program Impact

Dial-A-Story is a program that empowers both children and parents – it is something that children can learn to do on their own and allows parents and caregivers who may have their own literacy challenges an opportunity to assist in the advancement of their children’s literacy skills. Dial-A-Story also addresses a real need for children who may not have a parent at home to read to them. Dial-A-Story also reflects the cultural diversity of Toronto’s communities and provides children with an opportunity to enjoy stories in their heritage language. In 2009, over 72,000 calls were placed to the non-English component of the service. Educators recognize the benefits of storytelling. It’s now being viewed as an important educational tool to bring children back to language and reading.

Research demonstrates that there are many compelling reasons to endorse storytelling for children:

• Promotes reading readiness.
• Expands knowledge and vocabulary.
• Improves listening ability and communication skills.
• Improves listening and comprehension and overall success in school.
• Helps children to develop communication and thinking skills at a younger age.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

• “The number of full-time librarians in Toronto District School Board elementary schools fell by nearly 50% in the last ten years”
• “Toronto schools have yet to meet the special educational needs of all students.”
• “After-school programs make a critical difference in safety and skills development.” (Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

This program helps to fill gaps left by the loss of school librarians as well as meet some of the special educational needs of students. It supports children when they are out of school and focuses on high-needs areas of the city.

Participant Vignette

“A little boy called to ask how he could get the book that had the story “Minister of State” which he had heard on DAS.I found a book in our collection that included that folktale (The Tiger’s Whisker & Other Tales from Asia & The Pacific” by Harold Courlander). When I called his number to tell them that I had placed a hold on the title for him, his mother was happy to receive the news. As I was about to hang up she said enthusiastically, “Thank you for Dial-A-Story. It has really helped our family.” The family listens to the stories in English. When I asked her what language they spoke at home, she replied Eriterian. Where upon, I replied we didn’t have that language and she said “But you have English and that is what we listen to.” Then she thanked me again for the Dial-A-Story service. It is lovely to be reminded how much the DAS service can mean to people and how helpful it is to new immigrants. Her gratitude was very sweet as well as her son’s enthusiasm!” Isobel Lang, Librarian “My four year old son loves to listen to the Mandarin on Dial-A-story every night, it has become part of his bedtime routine. As a parent, DAS is helpful, especially when your children want a bedtime story and you are too tired and busy. We speak Mandarin at home and we feel DAS is helpful in trying to teach my children the language. I also like that you offer different languages because I think it will help my son learn a new language”. Anonymous