Thanks, Dragons, but no thanks. That’s the message Scratch Labs DJ Institute sent to the moguls of the CBC’s Dragon’s Den when the school turned down the Dragon’s offer to train, then make money off its students. Instead, Scratch Labs offers free sessions, including one at Malvern Public Library on March 16, because it says it puts education and opportunity ahead financial gain.
Residents got their first look at the design of a new library planned for Scarborough Centre. The Toronto Public Library (TPL) plans to start building a 15,000-square-foot library branch south of the Scarborough Civic Centre by 2012 with the expected completion date in 2014.
Anne Marie Aikins, the TPL’s manager of corporate communications, said that demand for downloadable e-books saw a spike in the midst of the holidays. Even after an over 80 per cent increase in popularity in 2009 and another jump of over 70 per cent in 2010, the desire for e-books during the holiday season was stunning.
For Christine Hirtescu, finding happiness through art was more important than finding money. “I didn’t pursue art initially for fears of financial gain,” she says. “But … ultimately everyone needs to do something that makes them feel good.”
The Highland Creek library bustled with animated adaptations of Shakespearean plays recently. The library is one of 30 to host the Shakespeare for Kids Library Club, a kids literacy program created by Shakespeare in Action, a professional theatre company bringing the playwright’s works to young people across Ontario.
The Cedarbrae District Library opened its doors for the first time since October 2008 on Dec. 6, revealing its $9.15-million renovation. It had been eagerly awaited.
The series continues to showcase the most brilliant Canadian authors of 2010. It also gives readers and authors a chance to meet each other face-to-face, which Fielding called an encounter like no other.
The Toronto Public Library’s latest initiative is about as low tech as it gets, but it’s sure to get people talking.
The Cedarbrae library will reopen at the end of December following a two-year closure for renovations.
On Nov. 6, Toronto Public Library cardholders will have access to a variety of “human books” that will be available for one-on-one conversations focusing on diversity, unity, tolerance and new,positive ways of thinking.