ABSOLUTELY VITAL

A Newsletter of the Toronto Public Library Foundation Fall 2011

Cedarbrae branch the living room of the community

To walk into the newly renovated Cedarbrae library is to enter a microcosm of Toronto life and learning. The bright, inviting space is a hive of activity.
Between 1,400 and 1,500 people use the branch each day, making it the third busiest district branch in Torontos Library system. Cedarbrae users borrow more than 800,000 items each year. But they dont just come for the books. At tables under tall windows, groups of adults study together. More than 200,000 people use the branchs public computers each year. The childrens interactive early literacy area KidsStop is decorated with a jungle riverboat theme, and hums with the energy of discovery. The quiet study area features breakout rooms, study carrels and tables. Upstairs, youll find the adult collections: stacks of books, a magazine lounge and chairs with laptop trays. Like all branches, Cedarbrae has free wi-fi. Theres also a large teens room designed,

says area manager Magdalena Vander Kooy kindly, so that teens can enjoy a certain level of noise without disturbing others. Teens can be themselves there. The branch reopened nearly a year ago after a two-year renovation. With a leaky roof, inefficient layout and outdated accessibility, the 40-year old building at Lawrence and McCowan in Scarborough was sorely in need of repair. The renovation provided the opportunity to refresh and modernize the branch, introduce state-of-the-art energy efficiency, and pilot new technologies. These include a self-check system and consolidated service points, which allow for more efficient staffing.

Libraries are the living room of the community, says Vander Kooy, and Cedarbraes salon is hopping: programs include computer instruction, ESL and a 10-week series on starting a small business. The branchs book club has been running for more than a decade. It hosts the Eh! List authors series, childrens storytimes, youth tutoring and the TD Summer Reading Club, which this year welcomed 997 children. A settlement worker visits weekly. This year, the childrens librarians hosted an Eid party. Its an example of the communitys rich diversity as reflected in the staff, whose enthusiasm infuses this splendid new branch.

Sun Life Financial recognized for making the arts more accessible
Since 2007, the doors of Torontos arts and cultural institutions have been open to more families thanks to the innovative Sun Life Financial Museum + Arts Pass program. Library users at all 98 branches can borrow a one-day MAP Pass that provides full admission to the AGO, ROM, Bata Shoe Museum, the Ontario Science Centre and 14 other iconic Toronto institutions. To date, almost 300,000 passes have been borrowed and more than 700,000 Torontonians have visited the participating cultural institutions. At right, Sun Life Financial accepts a Business for the Arts Award for Most Innovative Marketing Sponsorship for their support of the Sun Life Financial Museum + Arts Pass program at Toronto Public Library. We wish to thank them for their outstanding support of the MAP program and for their part in making the arts more accessible in Toronto.

Jane Pyper, City Librarian, Toronto Public Library, Linda MacKenzie, Assistant VP, Philanthropy, Sun Life Financial, Jim Fleck, Chairman, BFTA

Thank you for responding generously to our Spring appeals

With a postal strike and a lot going on this summer, we were heartened that 749 of you gave a total of $58,565 in response to our Spring appeals. These donations support Toronto Public Librarys priority needs. Thank you! Spring Direct Mail: $52,715 (715 donors) Spring Newsletter: $5,850 (34 donors)

this season

joy

give

Honour the book lovers in your life by making a donation to the Toronto Public Library Foundation in their name. Your gift will help Torontos Library provide the joy of reading, learning and discovery to many in our community. To make a gift, visit tplfoundation.ca/givejoy, call 416-393-7123 or visit your branch.

Fall 2011 tplfoundation.ca

Bequest by long-time library user to support financial literacy

The late Norman Hinton was a longtime library user. An avid investor, he used the Toronto Public Library resources to research his investments, learn about financial trends and plan his investment strategies. The library staff who assisted him over those many years may never have guessed that they were helping him earn millions on the stock market. And they certainly would never have imagined that he would one day pay it forward in a way that would impact thousands of future library users. Because of what the library meant to him, and what he knew it could mean to other people, Mr. Hinton was a faithful annual donor and he demonstrated the depth of his appreciation for the Library by bequeathing more than $1 million to the Toronto Public Library Foundation. This remarkable donation will be put to work in several ways that honour Mr. Hintons passion for financial literacy. The majority of the gift will be used to enhance the Librarys collections supporting small business development, investment knowledge and financial literacy. A portion will be devoted to a small business support program and small business month. Another portion will be used to create an endowment fund to support financial literacy programs in perpetuity. Finally, a portion will be directed to the Toronto Public Library Foundations capital campaign, in support of the learning theatre on the third floor of the Toronto Reference Library. This room will become the Norman G. Hinton Learning Theatre, in recognition of the Librarys gratitude for Mr. Hintons generosity and his lifelong patronage of Torontos Library.

Did you know?

Toronto children have free access to more than 149,000 new childrens books each year, thanks to the Toronto Public Library.

A thoughtful tribute from an admired volunteer

When Justice David Main stepped down from the Ontario Provincial Court (Family Division) in 2001, he and his wife Sylvia embraced retirement with gusto. They travelled, attended concerts and lectures, and signed on as volunteers with the Friends of the Toronto Public Library. Over the next ten years, they became valued and beloved members of the Library community, working side-by-side giving countless hours to the Book Ends, South bookstore. Davids sudden death this summer left a void that will be impossible to fill. He was an extraordinary volunteer, says Friends of the Toronto Public Library chair Frank Velikonja, who remembers David as a devoted, energetic, cheerful volunteer who was not afraid of hard work. You couldnt get him to slow down. A dedicated donor over many years, Davids final gift has special meaning for Book Ends, South. His will contained a

Dedicated volunteers David and Sylvia Main

bequest to enable the purchase of a showpiece work counter to befit the bookstores handsome new space in the Toronto Reference Library. This thoughtful tribute will stand to his lasting memory. Our heartfelt condolences extend to Sylvia and their family.

Fall 2011 tplfoundation.ca

One librarians legacy of learning

When Pauline Hinch became a librarian, she knew she had found her calling. The one-time violinist and radio personality came to library sciences as a second career, and worked for many years at the North York Public Library. After her death two years ago, her husband Gordon Hinch honoured her love of her profession by creating the Pauline Hinch Endowment Fund, which supports Toronto Public Library staff who are seeking to qualify as librarians. Currently at $70,000, the fund must grow to $100,000 in order to sustainably support an annual award of $3,500 each year. To this end, Mr. Hinch has offered to match all contributions this year up to a total of $4,000.

Upcoming Events
The Book Lovers Ball

in support of Torontos Library

The Book Lovers Ball is the must attend event of the year and, in its seventh year, will be better than ever. More importantly, proceeds from this extraordinary event will enhance the work of Torontos Library, the busiest urban public library system in the world.
Thursday, February 9, 2012 Fairmont Royal York Black Tie To book your table or tickets today, please contact Julie Flynn Still at 416-393-7225 or by email at jflynn@torontopubliclibrary.ca. Whole Foods Market Fundraiser Starting November 15th, Whole Foods Market in Yorkville will donate $5 from the sale of every stuffed Penguin to the Toronto Public Librarys Yorkville branch. November 15 to December 31, 2011 Whole Foods Market, 87 Avenue Road Cost of a stuffed Penguin: $25 ($5 will be donated to Yorkville Branch).

About Absolutely Vital

Toronto Public Library Foundations mission is to provide essential resources for the enhancement of Toronto Public Library and to allocate funds to priority needs not supported by municipal funding.

E-newsletter Option
Absolutely Vital is also available as an e-newsletter. To receive an electronic copy, please write to foundation@torontopubliclibrary.ca.

TPL Foundation Board of Directors

Janet McKelvey, Chair Richard Boxer, Vice-Chair Tim Pinnington, Treasurer Sarah Fulford, Steve Garmaise, Donna Hayes, Gillian Hewitt Smith, Wendy Pitblado, Jane Pyper, Donna Shea, David Strom

Absolutely Vital is a twice-annual publication for donors to the Toronto Public Library Foundation.
Let us know what you think! With comments or to suggest a story idea, please contact Julie Flynn Still at 416-393-7225 or jflynn@torontopubliclibrary.ca.

Look for our 2010 Annual Report at www.tplfoundation.ca (click on News & Media)

Annual report

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