NEWS

Toronto Public Library celebrating Pride throughout June

Despite the cancellation of festivals by the city, the Toronto Public Library is celebrating Pride and supporting the LGBTQ2S+ community through virtual events throughout June.

TPL kicked off the month with the traditional wrapping of the Yorkville branch, its oldest branch, with the pride colours and is now gearing up for other fun stuff.

The library has been doing this since 2014 and will be continuing this tradition to show support to the community.

A group consisting of 14 staff members from different departments and TPL’s Pride Alliance came together back in April to put together these events.

“Branches have been closed since mid-March,” TPL innovation manager Ab Velasco said. “However, the members thought it was important to present this month a series of online programs and activities that support the communities and all the different voices in the community.”

The TPL has posted a calendar on its website showcasing the events ranging from kids’ story-times, book clubs, puppet shows,panels, book talks and more.

“We have rainbow story times — parents can log on and watch these wonderful videos for children and families launched by our children’s librarians,. The first one just launched yesterday,” Velasco said.

They also have a long list of books, movies and magazines from their Pride collection available online for the public during June.

“We have over 3,500 books, movies, magazines of interest to the LGBTQ2S+ community,”  Velasco said.

The library also will host podcasts on its website featuring prominent Canadians from Broad City actress Abbi Jacobson to award-winning writer and journalist Saeed Jones.