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:
- meet with your assigned child at the library for a one hour weekly scheduled session
- motivate and encourage them to read
- read together, as well as play reading-related games and activities
- help improve their reading skills
- take notes on each weekly session
- report to service staff as well as parents/guardians about the child's progress
Volunteer Requirements
To qualify as a volunteer with the Leading to Reading service the following qualifications are required:
- speak and write English fluently
- relate and communicate well with children
- work independently
- act as a mature role model for reading
- upon acceptance as a volunteer with the service, training will be provided. It is mandatory that all volunteers attend the training session
- volunteers must complete and submit a valid Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) form before starting (paid for by TPL)
- fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine series and are able to show a proof of vaccination upon request
Volunteer Benefits
- Volunteer references and confirmation of hours can be provided upon request
- Volunteers may make personal photocopies at the staff rate
- Non-resident fees are waived for current volunteers with six months or more of active service
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
Library | Days and Hours |
---|---|
Agincourt 416-396-3589 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. |
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Albert Campbell 416-396-3589 LTReast@tpl.ca The Leading to Reading service at Albert Campbell will start in fall 2022. |
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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 416-394-5015 LTRwest@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. |
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. |
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Barbara Frum 416-394-5015 LTRwest@tpl.ca |
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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. |
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Bridlewood 416-396-3589 LTReast@tpl.ca The Leading to Reading service at Bridlewood is full and 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. |
Cedarbrae 416-396-3589 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. |
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Downsview 416-394-5015 LTRwest@tpl.ca |
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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. |
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Eatonville 416-394-5015 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. |
Fairview 416-396-3589 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. |
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Flemingdon Park 416-396-3589 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 416-394-5015 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 416-396-3589 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 416-394-5015 LTRwest@tpl.ca |
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 416-396-3589 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. |
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Maria A. Shchuka 416-394-5015 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. |
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Mount Dennis 416-394-5015 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 416-394-5015 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 416-396-3589 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 416-394-5015 LTRwest@tpl.ca The Leading to Reading service at Richview is full and 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 416-394-5015 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. |
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Scarborough Civic Centre 416-396-3589 LTReast@tpl.ca |
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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. |
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St. James Town 416-396-3589 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 416-396-3589 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 416-394-5015 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 416-396-3589 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. |
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.
Please note: The volunteer Application process will take approximately three (3) months to complete.
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
- Telephone: 416-396-3589
- Email: LTReast@tpl.ca
West of Yonge Street
- Telephone: 416-394-5015
- Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca
COVID-19 Impacts
All Toronto Public Library volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine series, and will be required to show proof of vaccination before they can begin. For more information, please review TPL’s mandatory vaccination policy which is available on our website.