80 events across the city during April will “Keep Toronto Reading”

TORONTO, March 10 – Toronto Public Library is celebrating the transformative power of books in its sixth annual Keep Toronto Reading Festival this April. The month-long celebration of books and reading offers 80 free events at 40 library branches across the city, inviting Torontonians to “Let Books Transform You this April”.

Highlighting this year’s festival are internationally acclaimed authors Howard Jacobson, Donna Leon and Tim Flannery, as well as Canadian luminaries David Bezmozgis, Stephen Hayward, Alissa York, Michael Winter, Gail Bowen and first time novelist Sylvia Tyson.

The library will also be celebrating its 4th annual 2011 One Book community read, Midnight at the Dragon Café, by Judy Fong Bates. As part of this city-wide book club, Torontonians can meet Judy, discuss her book, and go to one of more than a dozen One Book events, including a performance of Chinese Opera, a public lecture at the University of Toronto, and a sampling of Chinese dumplings.

Keep Toronto Reading also offers poetry recitals, storytelling for both adults and kids, anime, and crafts for kids. Book Bash, a special day-long event celebrating Canadian children’s literature, will take place on April 30th.

Toronto schools are a big part of this year’s festival, with 13 high school classes studying Midnight at the Dragon Café. In addition, 15 primary schools in Scarborough will hold their own Keep Toronto Reading Day filled with fun activities celebrating the joy of reading.

Keep Toronto Reading will be officially launched on March 30 at Hunter’s Glen school in Scarborough, where April will officially be declared “Keep Toronto Reading Month.”

For complete event listings, go to keeptorontoreading.ca

Toronto Public Library is the world’s busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 18 million people visit our 99 branches and borrow more than 32 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.

For further information:

Media Contact:
Tina Srebotnjak, Manager – Cultural & Special Events Programming
416-393-7098