I, for one, love what you do at the library and find the e-news very informative.
As the busiest public library system in the world, Toronto Public Library is constantly innovating, finding new ways to connect with Torontonians; taking great ideas and making them work for neighbourhoods and the city; creating new kinds of reading and learning experiences for our customers.
Toronto's public library has become more than a place to access books – we've made strategic investments to create a modern, efficient and sustainable library system that supports learning, information access, collaboration, and self-discovery.
Furthering our commitment to excellence in customer service, we broadened our engagement in social media to promote our collections, programs and services; to participate in conversations and have meaningful dialogue with customers; to gather feedback; and to build better relationships with key audiences and potential new audiences.
Always innovative Toronto Public Library lets us check out humans as well as books.Credit: Yonge Street Media
Human Library creates new ways to learn
http://www.yongestreetmedia.ca/features/humanbooks1208.aspx
In November 2010, the library hosted its inaugural Human Library program at five branches across the city, making it one of the largest human library events in the world The Human Library supported a number of the library's key strategic objectives, including providing new and creative ways to learn and access information. The pilot event was a huge success, with over 200 people taking the unique opportunity to "check out" one of our 60 human books for a one-on-one conversation. The program garnered huge interest from local, national and international media as well, with dozens of media calls and stories from literally all around the world.
"I didn't really know what to expect but was very curious and I am so happy I took out a human book. I learned a lot from him."
"I found the experience of speaking with a book who had survived crushing poverty and breast cancer, life changing. I feel like I have a completely new perspective about people facing obstacles out of their control."
"This was the most exciting & meaningful thing I've done all year."
"The library has given me so much in my life and this was an opportunity to give back in some small way."
Toronto Public Library customers "share the books they love" on Twitter.
Engaging our customers in new, interactive and "social" ways
Toronto Public Library was very active and popular on our social media channels in 2010 – our Twitter feed and Facebook fan page grew to over 6,000 followers/fans – an increase of 30% over the previous year.
The library uses online and social media channels in a number of ways to improve service to our customers, to raise awareness of the library, and to deliver and engage customers in library programs, services and activities.
For Keep Toronto Reading 2010, the library used social media channels to not only promote the annual reading festival; it was also an opportunity to engage our customers and let them "share the books they love" in all kinds of different ways – we asked Twitter users to tweet their favourite reads with the #keeptorontoreading hashtag, share YouTube book reviews, and tell us about all the programs they went to all month long. The interactive campaign was a huge success in terms of customer engagement and participation, with over 800 Twitter mentions, 12,000 YouTube views, and 11,500 website visits.
Toronto Public Library's new e-Newsletter
Improving customer communications through virtual outreach
Toronto Public Library launched its e-newsletter last year as part of the library's online strategy to reduce printed materials and improve the way we communicate with our customers. By year's end, close to 2,500 customers had signed up for our service and the number of subscribers continues to grow. Customer feedback has been great.
"I, for one, love what you do at the library and find the e-news very informative. I forward the e-newsletter on to so many friends and contacts and clients. The free events are such a nice surprise for so many. So many folks are having a hard time making ends meet, and your events and updates offer a way to have a night out which they might otherwise not enjoy. Keep up the good work!"
Inside the newly renovated Cedarbrae Branch
Delivering 21st century library services
Our branches are welcoming for everyone, with comfortable reading lounges, interactive early literacy centres (KidsStops), vibrant Teen Zones, older adult spaces, and even outdoor reading spaces. We renovate our branches to support the delivery of 21st century library service in a welcoming, accessible environment, with improved customer service and increased access to technology for research, learning, work and recreation.
When one of our most popular branches, Cedarbrae, reopened one of the branch regulars sent us this lovely poem.
Opening day is over
(as chaotic as they say?)
Now operating smoothly
I'll visit every day
To say I'm overwhelmed
is no exaggeration-
After a two year hiatus
this is worthy compensation
Now I can saunter over
no need to drive
Your friendly, smiling greetings
when I arrive
New books and magazines
oh, such pleasure
Reading and ruminating
at leisure...
Chuckling to myself
maybe taking time
To dream up another
nonsensical rhyme...
Oh, a final comment
before I stop -
Cedarbrae, quite simply
is over the top!
Congratulations!
Dragon dance to celebrate 100th anniversary of Riverdale Branch
Still innovative at 100
In 2010, the Toronto Public Library celebrated its third branch centenary at the Riverdale Branch. This beautiful library, designed in a Georgian Revival style by Robert McCallum, demonstrates every day how it continues to provide modern, relevant 21st century library service, even at the ripe old age of 100.
"I think reading is important for starters, and the library has just such a welcoming environment and it is a great place for the kids to grow up. There is just so much more to a library than books. There are programs, seminars and other activities for anyone who comes here. It is extremely important for the library to be here because it brings the community together. You just don't see kids here, you see people of all ages here."
Black Creek project brings history to life
Last year, York Woods Branch brought the past to life through the Black Creek Living History project. Seniors were invited to share their stories, past and present, about living in the Black Creek community. Teens learned how to conduct interviews and use digital camcorders to record and edit the seniors' stories.
In this video, one of the participants shares his happiest memories of living in the community. Seven other interviews are available for viewing on the project's website.