PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS AND VIEWS VOLUME 5 • NUMBER 4 • APRIL 2005 I Wrote On All Four Walls recognized by publishing industry Book by youth grew out of Library’s Young Voices creative writing program

I WROTE ON ALL FOUR WALLS, a book developed by the Library in cooperation with Annick Press, is tied for fifth place on the children’s non- fiction bestseller list according to the April issue of Quill & Quire. The Audubon’s Double-crested Cormorant (detail shown) made an appearance at City Hall book is about Toronto youth and their as part of “Welcome Back Home Cormorant Day,” as proclaimed by Mayor Miller. experiences with violence — told in the voices of the youth themselves. Published in 2004, I Wrote On All Four “Welcome Back Home Walls came as a result of the Library’s annual Young Voices creative writing Cormorants Day” program. This fall, the Library will be publishing another book for youth, Library lends 1835 Audubon print to local naturalists also with Annick Press. Research Ate My Brain will be a practical and fun guide to ONE OF THESE fine spring After years of DDT poisoning, the completing research projects. BY JOHN JAMESAUDUBON days, take a trip on the wild side. Visit Double-crested Cormorant is now Toronto’s own little piece of paradise, making a remarkable comeback. The the , tucked into east- colony, along with dozens of other end Tommy Thompson Park, and species, live only steps from downtown

BIRDS OF AMERICA acquaint yourself with a thriving colony in a wild space internationally of Double-crested Cormorants. The designated as an “Important Bird Area” bird is one of hundreds depicted in in this well-loved reclaimed urban park. John James Audubon’s Birds of America; April 12 was deemed an appropriate ’s Special day to honour the Double-crested

Collections owns the full set – one Cormorant and the bird’s rightful place ANNICK© PRESS, 2004. of only five complete sets in Canada. in our environment as they return The Double-crested Cormorant print from their winter homes to nest here. recently made a public appearance at “Toronto Residents for Cormorants City Hall as part of “Welcome Back and Nature” – an ad hoc collection of I Wrote On All Four Walls, published by Home Cormorant Day,” as proclaimed local birding, animal protection and Annick Press with assistance from the by Mayor Miller. Please see Welcome back home, page 3… Toronto Public Library. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, PLATE #257, FROM I WROTE ON ALL FOUR WALLS Focus on Pape/Danforth district Part of an occasional ongoing ser ies of branch profiles

O N E O F T H E most interesting libr ary dist r ic ts in the city of Toronto, the Pap e/Danforth dist r ic t, is an excel lent example of the ‘ libr ary as community cor nerstone’ concep t b e cause of the bro a d r ange of communities the dist r ic t ably serves. T he Pap e/ Danforth dist r ic t includes the areas known as T he Danforth, Riverdale, Little India, Leslievil le, Chinatown East and the B ea ch. Ea ch br anch in the dist r ic t is unique, and wor king hard to me e t Queen/Saulter Br anch its community’s ne e ds. Jones Branch predominately of Chinese Pape/Danforth Branch Man, a p er io d movie Or ig inal ly built as a children’s or ig in, and g rowing numbers Located in the hear t of blo ckbuster by Ron Howard br anch in 1962, Jones b e came of young families. T he Toronto’s “Greektow n,” (to b e release d in ear ly 2005); a ful l-service br anch in neig hb our ho o d mix is Pape/Danforth was built as and two Canadian tele vision 1976. T he Br anch caters to reflec ted in the p opular ity a “shopping center branch” shows: Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye a large Chinese-speaking of three lo cal pro g r ams w ith an English shop front and Pupp e ts Who Kil l. p opulation (b oth Mandar in – B abyt ime, English appearance. The branch and Cantonese). A solid core Conversat ion Circle and Tea celebrated its 75th anniversary Gerrard/Ashdale Branch of p e ople come to Jones and B o oks. on November 20, 2004 and Opened in 1924, Ger rard/ br anch e very day and stay remains a popular stop for Ashdale Branch was built on for hours. Many school age Beaches Branch neighbourhood residents. A the site of St. Monica’s Church children frequent the libr ary Branch of the major renovation w ill beg in in what is now Little India. to so cialize, do homewor k and Toronto Public Library opened this month. The high arching wooden play on the Inter ne t. on December 13, 1916 in a roof beams were designed, corner of Kew Gardens. One not to mirror the former Main Street Branch of three identical structures church, but to mimic Main St ree t opened on constructed w ith a $50,000 the style of the collegiate D e cember 15, 1914 as Easter n Carnegie grant, the Tudor g rammar school of 17th- Br anch, lo cated on the north Gothic interior featured an century England. Despite east cor ner of Main and open timbered ceiling, stone several renovations over the Ger r ard St ree ts. In 1921, a new fireplaces, leaded glass casement years, the wooden beams building , desig ne d by architec t w indows and a minstrel’s have endured. The Branch James P. Hynes, opened gallery. Beaches was one of the boasts large collections in coincidental ly on the same first libraries to allow readers to Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali, date and was renamed Main browse open shelv ing instead of Urdu and Panjabi. St ree t in 1977. In D e cember requesting material from staff. Pape/Danforth planned r enovation 1986, the community showed A pioneer in promoting Riverdale Branch its appreciat ion for the its community’s cultural Queen/Saulter Branch Histor ic and b eautiful Br anch by presenting it with life, the Beaches Branch Que en/Saulter is house d in Riverdale Br anch, on the the Ward 9 S esquicentennial began hosting art exhibits, a b eautiful, stately building , banks of the D on River, is Quilt (in p er p e tuity). Nine ty booklovers evenings, a the for mer Postal Stat ion one of the Toronto’s Car ne g ie Ward 9 cit izens were involve d drama league and a music G, desig ne d by architec t E.J. libr ar ies. D esig ne d in the in its creation, ea ch square hour in the 1920s. Recently Lennox in 1913. T he libr ary Ge org ian Re vival sty le, w hen it representing building s and renovated by Phillip H. Carter shares the building with opened on Oc tob er 19, 1910, landmar ks in the Ward. Architects & Kingsland + R alph T hor nton Cent re, a it featured an area for children Inc., the original architectural multi-pur p ose community and mo der n r a dial she lving Danforth/Coxwell Branch beaut y was maintained. A fa cility serving Riverdale. A (b oth unusual in those T he newest br anch in the lake-view reading lounge, favour ite of movie lo cat ion days). Now, having survive d dist r ic t, Danforth/Coxwel l, community and program agents, the building has b e en a fire and the D epression, opened in 1989. Tr a dit ional ly room, dedicated local history featured in In the Mouth of the Br anch is the cent re of an Italian neig hb our ho o d, space, a teen zone and a Story Madness, a hor ror movie by the East Toronto Chinese the area is now a mix of older Book House for the children’s John Car p enter; Cinderel la community. Italians, new immig r ants department were also added.

2 Toronto Public Library Shelf Life • April 2005 Hans Christian Andersen Library makes tax birthday celebrated time less taxing! Exhibit features variety of some of the world’s best-loved children’s stories Service assists low income residents from all over the city A VERY SPECIAL toy theatre production of The Sleeping Beauty was performed VOLUNTEERS TRAINED by for an enthusiastic March Break audience Canada Revenue Agency offer a free at The Osborne Collection of Early community Income Tax clinic at North Children’s Books. The production, co- York Central Library, Tuesdays to Fridays, written by Osborne librarian Martha 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. until April 29. The Scott and Deer Park librarian Mariella program is available to single persons Bertelli, was produced to highlight the whose income is under $20,000 or to current exhibit, In the Children’s Room, families with incomes under $25,000. celebrating the 200th anniversary of Clockwise from front left, Jesse “SpareMe” Volunteers help individuals fill out their Hans Christian Andersen’s birth. The toy Littleorg-Meilleur; Jamie “Kingpin”Farley; 2004 Income Tax return. Sessions are theatre, planned by the storytellers and Deryck “Gutterball” Cumberbatch; Margaret 45 minutes long and are provided on a constructed by Osborne staff member “Rental Shoes” Mikulinski; Christine “Ten first come, first served basis. For more Pin” Sanchez and Sharon “Lucky Strike “ information, please call 416-395-5614. Moynes. Welcome back Library staff home Cormorants bowl for dollars to help youth continued from page 1… environmental groups and individuals – JVS Toronto Bowl-A-Thon initiated the designation of this official supports expansion of day to celebrate the importance of this youth programs native species. Knowing that the Library owned this magnificent print, the group TORONTO PUBLIC Library staff arranged to show it at a media conference, recently took part in the JVS Toronto delighting bird lovers and art lovers alike. Bowl-A-Thon at Thorncliffe Bowlerama The Library is thrilled to highlight to support the expansion of community this collection, as John James Audubon Librarians Martha Scott and Mariella youth programs into communities (1785-1851) was the creator of one of Bertelli wrote and performed a toy theatre in need, namely the development of the world’s most outstanding scientific production of The Sleeping Beauty for an Youth Services’ Willowdale Youth and artistic publications. In the 1820s, enthusiastic March Break audience. Drop-in Centre. Fairview Branch while bankrupt and living in what would staff was particularly supportive of become Ohio, he was determined to Masako Yanagimoto, is a larger version of this event because the new Youth paint all the birds in North America, in the kind of toy theatre Andersen played Centre will be built very close to natural, life-sized poses, in their normal with as a boy. that branch and staff hope to build a habitat. He arranged that the hand- The exhibit, which is open to the strong relationship with the Centre. coloured engravings of these paintings public, features the amazing stories The Library team raised close would be bound in enormous volumes of Hans Christian Andersen, offering to $1,000 and the total raised by contrary to the more modest style of a variety of illustrated versions and all involved was over $40,000. JVS ornithological books of his day. This collections of some of the best-loved programs support youth at risk, mammoth project was financed solely children’s stories of all time. newcomer youth and vocational by Audubon, his family and individual Feb. 1-May. 21 training for youth; the group is a non- subscriptions sales. Working before Osborne Collection of profit, non-sectarian organization the camera was invented, driven by Early Children’s Books that partners with government and his passion and guided by his years of Lillian H. Smith Branch business sectors to help individuals observing birds in the wild, Audubon 239 College Street, 4th floor to achieve their educational spent some 20 years of his life realizing Admission free. and employment potential. his dream of publishing Birds of America. Call 416-393-7753

April 2005 • Shelf Life Toronto Public Library 3 Library Board Highlights between childhood and adulthood. Planning Framework for Capital April 2005 The new policy would fine teens 15¢ a Program for Library Branches day for late materials to a maximum The Board received the Planning Circulation and Collection Use of $6 per item/per loan period. Framework for Toronto Public (including Fees and Fines) Policy Library’s Capital Program The Board approved a decrease in teen Recognition for Friends of Toronto for Library Branches, which fines; previously teens (aged 13-17) Public Library – North Chapter outlines the existing framework paid adult fines on late materials. In The Board recognized the contribution for developing the five-year implementing this reduced rate, the of Friends of the Toronto Public capital program. The Board also Board hopes to encourage more youth Library – North Chapter in their recent approved the recommended to become regular users of the Library milestone of having raised half of a process for assessing new capital by recognizing the transitional period million dollars for Library programs. requests outside the program.

Calendar in the St. Lawrence River. For the next use room and increased hours five years, the war effort permeated in the Children’s Department. April/May 2005 Canadian society. All actions at home, at work and at play were focused on In the Children’s Room Canadians On Guard: victory. Indeed, the Second World War (see Andersen article on page 3 the Home Front 1939-1945 was fought on the home front as well for information on exhibit) May 8, 2005 is the 60th anniversary as in Europe and in the Pacific theatre. February 1 – May 21 of VE Day, the end of World War April 9 – May 29 Osborne Collection of Early II in Europe. This exhibition of TD Gallery, Toronto Reference Library Children’s Books colour posters, unique ephemera, 789 Yonge Street Lillian H. Smith branch manuscripts, books, periodicals 239 College Street, 4th floor and photographs is dedicated Northern Elms Branch Reopens Admission free to those who served their in New Location 416-393-7753 country at home and abroad. The Northern Elms Branch is reopening In September 1939, Canadians after almost two years. The public From West to East prepared for war with memories is invited to visit the new branch Miriam Toews, Winnipeg-based of the Great War still fresh in and attend the opening ceremony. author and the winner of the 2004 their minds. It was determined Branch Location: 123 B Rexdale Governor General’s Literary Award, that Canada’s war effort would Blvd., Unit 5 (Kipling at Rexdale) reads from A Complicated Kindness. be concentrated in financial and Opening: Saturday, April 16 Elisabeth Harvor, Ottawa- industrial support, and the first Time: 9 a.m. based author, reads from All priority would be to secure the Ceremony: 11 a.m. (with official Times Have Been Modern. nation’s borders. By the spring of ceremony and refreshments) A question and answer period 1940, the progress of the war in follows the readings. Europe had changed dramatically. Pape/Danforth Branch closes for renovation Tuesday, April 26, 7 p.m. With the German invasion of On Saturday, April 16 at 5 p.m., the Toronto Reference Library, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and Pape/Danforth Branch (701 Pape Beeton Auditorium Holland, and the fall of France, Avenue), will close for up to one 789 Yonge Street Canadians reassessed their own year for renovation. The renovated vulnerability. People feared that there Pape/Danforth Branch will feature For a complete listing of activities, check might not always be an England, completely redesigned, more accessible What’s On, available in all branches; and disturbing reports confirmed space, quiet study space and reading visit www.torontopubliclibrary.ca; the presence of German U-boats areas, a program and community or call Answerline 416-393-7131.

Shelf Life is published 10 times a The Toronto Public Library Board meets Toronto Public Kathy Gallagher Ross year by the Toronto Public Library monthly at 6 p.m., September through Library Board Murthy Ghandikota Board, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, June, in the Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium, Gillian Mason, Chair Okeima Lawrence Ontario, Canada M4W 2G8. Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge William Booth, Vice-Chair Councillor Kyle Rae Marketing & Communications Office: Street, Toronto. Louise Aspin Councillor Karen Stintz 416-393-7117. Meetings are open to the public. Matthew Church Councillor Sylvia Watson

Next Board Meeting: Board Contact: Nancy Marshall Councillor Gay Cowbourne Kate Wilson Monday, May 9, 2005. 416-393-7215. Councillor Janet Davis

4 Toronto Public Library Shelf Life • April 2005