Leading to Reading Volunteers

About the service

Leading to Reading is a literacy-based service that assists children in Grades 1-6 who are struggling with reading.

Through the assistance of adult and teen volunteers, the Leading to Reading service strives to turn reading and learning into a fun and positive experience. The service relies heavily on the assistance of volunteers. Volunteers admitted to the service are paired off with a child who they meet with once a week, for an hour, at the library. Under the supervision and guidance of Leading to Reading staff, the volunteer assists the child with further developing their reading skills.

Volunteering with this service can be an extremely rewarding experience for both the volunteer and the child they work with. Helping children to gain experience and confidence in their reading ability will have a far reaching and lifelong impact on the child. It will also provide volunteers with a sense of achievement that they have helped their community. Volunteering with Leading to Reading is about giving your skills, time and energy freely and with enthusiasm.

Please note that volunteer hours gained by volunteering with this service qualify towards the forty hours community service graduation requirement for Ontario High School students.

What the Volunteer Does

As a Leading to Reading Volunteer you will be required to:

Volunteer Requirements

To qualify as a volunteer with the Leading to Reading service the following qualifications are required:

Volunteer Benefits

Time and Place

The Volunteer and child meet for a maximum of 1 hour once a week at a dedicated library space during service hours under the supervision of library staff.

Locations and Hours

Leading to Reading operates in the following branches within the Toronto Public Library System:
Library Days and Hours
Agincourt
Phone: 416-396-3589
Email: LTReast@tpl.ca
Wednesdays
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. -12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Albert Campbell
Phone: 416-396-3589
Email: LTReast@tpl.ca

Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Albion
Phone: 416-394-5015
Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca

The Leading to Reading service at this location is not accepting applications at this time.

Tuesdays
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Barbara Frum
Phone: 416-394-5015
Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca

The Leading to Reading service at this location is not accepting applications at this time.

Mondays & Wednesdays
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
Bridlewood
Phone: 416-396-3589
Email: LTReast@tpl.ca

Tuesdays
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
Cedarbrae
Phone: 416-396-3589
Email: LTReast@tpl.ca
Tuesdays & Thursdays
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
7:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Downsview
Phone: 416-394-5015
Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca

Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Eatonville
Phone: 416-394-5015
Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca

The Leading to Reading service at this location is not accepting applications at this time.

Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Fairview
Phone: 416-396-3589
Email: LTReast@tpl.ca
Tuesdays & Thursdays
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Flemingdon Park
Phone: 416-396-3589
Email: LTReast@tpl.ca
Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Jane/Sheppard
Phone: 416-394-5015
Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca
Tuesdays & Thursdays
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
Kennedy/Eglinton
Phone: 416-396-3589
Email: LTReast@tpl.ca
Mondays & Wednesdays
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
Lillian H. Smith
Phone: 416-394-5015
Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca

The Leading to Reading service at this location is not accepting applications at this time.

Thursday
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
Malvern
Phone: 416-396-3589
Email: LTReast@tpl.ca
Mondays & Tuesdays
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
7:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Maria A. Shchuka
Phone: 416-394-5015
Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca

The Leading to Reading service at this location is not accepting applications at this time.

Mondays
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Mount Dennis
Phone: 416-394-5015
Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca
Tuesdays
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
Parkdale
Phone: 416-394-5015
Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca
Wednesdays & Thursdays
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Parliament
Phone: 416-396-3589
Email: LTReast@tpl.ca
Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Richview
Phone: 416-394-5015
Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca

The Leading to Reading service at this location is not accepting applications at this time.

Tuesdays & Thursdays
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
Sanderson
Phone: 416-394-5015
Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca
Mondays
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Scarborough Civic Centre
Phone: 416-396-3589
Email: LTReast@tpl.ca
Tuesdays & Thursdays
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
St. James Town
Phone: 416-396-3589
Email: LTReast@tpl.ca
Tuesdays & Thursdays
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
Thorncliffe
Phone: 416-396-3589
Email: LTReast@tpl.ca
Tuesdays & Wednesdays
4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
Weston
Phone: 416-394-5015
Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca
Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Woodside Square
Phone: 416-396-3589
Email: LTReast@tpl.ca
Saturdays
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
York Woods
Phone: 416-394-5015
Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca
Wednesdays
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.

Volunteer Application Form

To begin the application process please fill out an application form and submit it in person at your nearest local branch, or email it to LTRsubmissions@tpl.ca.

We thank all applicants and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Interviews are scheduled throughout the year when openings become available at selected branches. From the interview date, the recruitment process (including processing a Vulnerable Sector Police Check and completing volunteer training) will take 2-3 months to complete. Volunteer Applications are kept on file for 12 months.

Volunteer Application Form (PDF Version)
Volunteer Application Form (Word Version)
Reference Letter Form - Personal or Family (Word Docx)
Reference Letter Form - Work Academic Volunteer (Word Docx)
Volunteer Profile (PDF)

For more information about the service and/or becoming a Volunteer, contact:

East of Yonge Street

West of Yonge Street