It’s Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving back and supporting charitable causes in the wake of the heavy consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday (of which I most definitely indulged and am feeling a bit of a materialistic hangover).

The Toronto Public Library and their #LibraryPeople campaign has been an initiative I’ve happily dedicated myself to this year. Reading was the catalyst for just about everything in my life and has shaped who I am today. I don’t know where I would be without books or the places that house them. Libraries are such selfless institutions, providing access to free resources (books, computers, magazines, historic archives, audio, movies, programs, activities, etc.) and are safe havens for so many people in need of a welcoming escape from whatever chaos is going on in their lives.

I had the honour of attending their annual fundraiser, Hush Hush Party in the Stacks at the Toronto Reference Library where over $145,000 was raised in support of FREE access to all of the incredible programs, services, technologies, collections, and resources available across all 100 branches of the TPL.

I highly recommend buying a ticket for the 8th annual next year (it was my favourite event of the year!), but on this #GivingTuesday, and all year long, you can support lifelong learning by donating or purchasing some of their merch.

Long live the library!!! My tote bag and I are headed there this weekend to pick up some new reads :)

Happy Giving Tuesday erry’body!