Louise Claire Johnson

View Original

Toronto Public Library Campaign for Canadian Library Month

Louise Johnson

Did you know October is Canadian Library Month?

This Thursday, October 3, Mayor John Tory officially proclaimed as “I’m Library People Day” in the City of Toronto – the first ever! – to celebrate and support the Toronto Public Library, which I was amazed to learn is the BUSIEST public library system in the WORLD!!!

When the Toronto Public Library (@torontolibrary and @tpl.foundation) asked me to be a part of their #ImLibraryPeople campaign and share what the library means to me, as well as ways we can all support this selfless place, I legitimately teared up.

I’ve been a library lover from my earliest childhood days, into adolescence and now into adulthood.

As a kid, Matilda and Harriet the Spy were my idols (you too?!) and all these years later, I can truly attest the library fostered my love of reading and writing so much that I grew up wanting to be an author and have made it my life’s mission to surround myself with books.

My Mom took my sisters and I every day after school and on weekends to our local library. Even when I couldn’t articulate it, visits to the library made me feel calm and safe. I got so excited picking out bedtime storybooks, swiping my very own library card (with chicken scratch signature), putting them in my tote bag, reading them at home and later returning them for other kids to enjoy.

The library allowed me to discover some of my favourite youth series (The Babysitter’s Club, Little House on the Prairie, etc.) and authors (J.K. Rowling, Louisa May Alcott, Kit Pearson, etc.) as well as check-out every Mary-Kate and Ashley straight-to-VHS tape!

Now that I’m an adult (well, questionable), I’m on a first-name basis with my neighbourhood librarians at the Toronto Public Library in The Annex – last night my boyfriend and I even went on (my idea of a perfect) date night as we walked hand-in-hand, leaves crunching under our feet, for a post-dinner stroll to return books at the TPL on Palmerston St.

I’ll be sharing more throughout the month, but you can show your library love and support the heartbeat of our city in a few ways:

  • Donate to the TPL Bookmobile that helps bring books and vital library services to under-served Toronto communities: imlibrarypeople.ca/toronto

  • Purchase some cool merch (like this super soft tee I’m wearing) from the I’m Library People collection: imlibrarypeople.ca/merch

  • Don’t forget to hashtag #ImLibraryPeople and share why you love the lib too!

Photo: Katherine Holland (@thekittyholland)

Makeup: Holly Jones (@hollysmakeupartistry)

Toronto Public Library Foundation’s Social Media accounts: