2014 Annual Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION 2014 ANNUAL REPORT Toronto Public Library and the Toronto Public Library Foundation thank the individuals, corporations, foundations and associations that generously supported the Library in 2014. Because of donors, the Library was able to further its goals of growing a city of readers, developing a city of learners and connecting a city of creators. In 2014, donors gave a total of $3,788,289. This report highlights how these funds helped enhance exemplary collections, support groundbreaking programs and services and create innovative community spaces at Toronto Public Library. To all those who gave – thank you. GROWING A CITY OF READERS Reading is the foundation of learning. It increases emotional intelligence and helps people navigate diverse opinions, ideas and experiences. Toronto Public Library is uniquely positioned to support readers of all ages by offering broad access to reading in a variety of formats, expertise that supports literacy and a wide range of reading programs that introduce and promote the joy of reading to all Torontonians. The Toronto Public Library Foundation thanks the following donors for their 2014 support of childhood literacy, Mobile Library Services, enhanced collections and more. Friends of Toronto Public Library are friends of reading The Friends of Toronto Public Library, North Chapter and South Chapter are volunteer groups that run the Library’s two used book stores: Book Ends at North York Central and Book Ends at the Toronto Reference Library. Thousands of books are donated every year and are sorted, shelved and sold by these committed volunteers. Donated books are sold through Book Ends. 1 Friends of Toronto Public Library, North Chapter In 2014, the Friends of Toronto Public Library, North Chapter generated a record $75,000. All money raised went toward Leading to Reading, a program that helps children in Grades 1 to 6 who read below grade level. Since 1993, the Friends of North Chapter have raised a remarkable $1 million for the Library’s childhood literacy programs. Friends of Toronto Public Library, South Chapter The Friends of Toronto Public Library, South Chapter also generated a record $75,000. Their funds supported the Library’s Grade 4 Outreach program, Storytime Outreach, Dial-A-Story, Family Literacy Day and Toronto Reference Library literary programs. Over the past 17 years, the Friends South Chapter have raised close to $800,000 in support of Toronto Public Library literacy and literary programs. When school’s out, reading is in In 2014, TD Bank Group renewed their support of the TD Summer Reading Club (TDSRC) with an unprecedented commitment of $2,600,000 for the years 2015 through 2017. The TDSRC is a key Library program that promotes and supports childhood literacy and the joy of reading. Research shows that when reading is fun for kids, they’ll read more and make it a lifelong habit. The more kids read, the more successful they will be in school and in life. Research also shows that children who attend summer reading clubs improve their reading skills and increase their love of reading, thus returning to school in the fall without learning loss. In 2014, more than 34,000 children participated in the TDSRC through Toronto Public Library branches. An additional 289,000 children participated in 2,005 library systems across Canada. “It’s not like school, it doesn’t feel like we’re reading.” “I read more this summer than over the whole year.” TD Summer Reading Club participants There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favourite book. Marcel Proust The TD Summer Reading Club is generously sponsored by TD Bank Group. 2 Read up on Word Out The Library is grateful to TD Bank Group for its continued support of Word Out, a virtual summer book club for teens. TD Bank Group donated $80,000 in 2014 for staffing, promotion and a series of events across Toronto. Hosted on Toronto Public Library’s website, Word Out provides book suggestions and an online platform for teens to share their love of reading with their peers. Word Out branch events give teens the opportunity to socialize and meet authors, artists and other literary creators. Participation in 2014 was enthusiastic, with more than 21,700 visits to the website and 15 Word Out events offered at branches across the city. Many branches hosted wrap-up parties so teen readers could meet in person Word Out is an online teen and continue the conversations they started online. reading club. “I loved how inclusive the whole program felt. I loved that no matter what your interests were, there was something on the site that you would be able to enjoy and/or relate to.” Word Out participant If you can’t come to the Library, the Library will come to you The Library’s Mobile Services include Bookmobiles and Home Library Service that are largely funded by the ongoing, generous support of The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation. In 2014, the Foundation donated $60,000 to support these vital services. Home Library Service More than 2,400 people receive Toronto Public Library’s Home Library Service (HLS), which provides free delivery of Library materials to people who are housebound for three months or longer due to age, illness or disability. The gift from The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation purchased talking books and large print books for the HLS collection. “I have recently found that you deliver large print books too – what a fabulous service. Books have been my companion all my life (I am 89) for information and recreation. That they are made so accessible for Home Library Service is available me enriches my far-too-many leisurely hours.” for seniors and people who are housebound. Home Library Service user 3 Bookmobiles In 2014, the Library’s two Bookmobiles made 28 regular stops across the city and received almost 24,000 visits. September 2014 saw the launch of the Bookmobile Outreach to Family Shelters pilot, whereby the Bookmobiles and librarians visited two family shelters weekly. Many of the families at the shelters had been displaced from their homes and communities. Children who had to leave their belongings behind loved getting access to books and other materials. In addition to providing Library materials, librarians ran storytime sessions and issued Library cards. For many families, this was their first experience with the Library. “Bringing the Library to them meant a lot. It helped them feel less isolated and showed that we cared about their well-being.” Librarian with the Bookmobile Outreach to Family Shelter pilot program In 2014, the Bookmobiles began visiting family shelters. 4 Standing ovation for the Michael & Sonja Koerner Charitable Foundation Thanks to a $25,000 donation from the Michael & Sonja Koerner Charitable Foundation, musicians, actors, dance enthusiasts, set designers, writers and film historians will have access to an even more robust Performing Arts Collection. This generous gift will purchase materials in print and DVD formats with special emphasis on enhancing the Music Library Collection. Once upon a time, a donor gave $200,000 for children’s books In 2014, a $200,000 bequest from the Estate of Wentworth Walker established the Margaret and Wentworth Walker Endowment Fund. It will support acquisitions and exhibitions for the Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books. The Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books was established in 1949 and now consists of 80,000 rare and notable children’s books, including cuneiform tablets dating from 2,000 B.C.E. and a fourteenth-century manuscript of Aesop’s fables. In addition to the monetary gift, Brian and Peter – the sons of Margaret and Wentworth – presented the Library with a collection of books that spans a hundred years and includes many classics. Conserving the Library’s treasures Rare and historical materials need to be properly conserved so that they can be made accessible to the public. A very welcome gift of $25,000 from The Norman and Marian Robertson Charitable Foundation enabled conservation of materials from the Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books. Thanks to this donation, scholars, historians and researchers will have quicker access to this special collection. 5 DEVELOPING A CITY OF LEARNERS Toronto Public Library provides free and accessible opportunities for learning beyond formal education, throughout all phases of a person’s life. Without community support, the Library simply could not provide the courses, seminars, programs, lectures and collections that it does. Youth Hubs score an A+ In 2014, RBC Foundation made a gift of $50,000 that enabled Toronto Public Library to continue offering its two Youth Hubs at the Centennial and Sanderson branches. These Hubs provide youth in priority neighbourhoods with a safe space to get homework help from volunteer tutors and to take part in leadership activities. RBC Foundation’s gift also funded technology upgrades including 12 new laptop computers. These new resources support digital literacy and are helping to close the digital divide for at-risk youth. “What I’m learning about the community is that a lot of youth lack the support and assistance that they need, so places like the Hub are like a small community where these youth can seek guidance, assistance and any other resources that they need. Also, the volunteers and tutors here are helping them to feel a sense of belonging.” Volunteer Youth Hub tutor Youth Hubs provide homework help after school. 6 CONNECTING A CITY OF INNOVATORS, ENTREPRENEURS AND CREATORS Toronto Public Library is unique in its ability to provide free access to information resources, modern technology and spaces for collaboration. In supporting the Library, donors help Torontonians participate in today’s knowledge economy through better access to culture, ideas and business- building resources.