Reading builds a more just, responsible, happy, and innovative society. Which is why it’s disturbing how frequently libraries are the target of budget cuts.
To be a part of this upward movement and to make the most of your tax dollars too (213.6 million dollars of city funding from property taxes made up the majority of Toronto Public Library's funding in 2023), visit your local library to get your very own library card. And looking at Toronto’s public library system (TPL) in particular, consider the following resources, including some Estonian content of interest.
Ebooks and audiobooks: It goes without saying that you can borrow physical books from the library, but TPL offers ebooks and audiobooks as well. The Libby app is the place to go on mobile devices. On computers, once you have a library card, you can login and access everything on the TPL website.
Once logged in, peruse the titles, which are organized by age group, genre, and format. Just as with e-commerce sites like Amazon, you'll find a description, book cover images, publication details, and page length/duration. In addition, you can view or listen to a sample of the book and either borrow the title or reserve it when someone is already borrowing the book. With a book borrowed, you’ll typically have a few weeks to enjoy it before it’s lent to someone else.
The mobile reading experience is straightforward, with swipes or taps to move through the pages. Tapping the bottom of the screen opens a taskbar, where readers can enable a two or one-page view, text and lighting adjustments, and an intra-text search function.
Borrowing audiobooks is a matter of temporarily downloading them to your device, almost like you would with music on Spotify premium. Within the audiobook player mode, it’s simple to play and pause or move around with the table of contents.
For ebooks, tap the upper right corner to create a bookmark when you want to “put down” the book and take a break.
Among the available titles is Peter Robinson's crime novel Watching the Dark, an Inspector Banks story set in Tallinn's Old Town.
Unlimited magazine access: Dipping into the top magazines of the world is a breeze. Some available publications (in partnership with Flipster) include TIME, Newsweek, and Rolling Stone. You'll have even better luck with more niche publications like Fine Woodworking, Canadian Running, Adbusters, and Dance Current (Canada's Dance Magazine).
When accessing Kanopy through the public library, a virtual ticket system is used. Some titles charge more tickets than others. Kanopy Kids, on the other hand, gives unlimited access without any tickets.
Films, TV, and music: You don’t need to keep scrolling Netflix with that sensation that you’ve already seen everything. With your library card, you can rent DVDs and stream films, many of which are outside of the usual streaming or cinema rotation, on the Kanopy app. When streaming, watch films on-the-go or play them on your home screen with a Chromecast or similar device.
When accessing Kanopy through the public library, a virtual ticket system is used. Some titles charge more tickets than others. Kanopy Kids, on the other hand, gives unlimited access without any tickets.
One movie to watch out for here is To Breathe as One, a documentary about the California-based Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir’s participation in the Estonian Song Festival. Be sure to also watch Elmo Nuganen’s historical war film 1944.
Those readers looking for a great view of live classical, jazz, opera, and ballet must access Medici.tv on mobile devices and computers. Enthusiasts of the Järvi family alone will find hours of interviews and concert footage, from the work of Mozart to Dvořák to Steve Reich. Students of music should view Medici.tv's series of Master classes with solo musicians, ensembles, and conductors.
Musical instruments: Beyond music education and viewing, TPL's Parkdale, Downsview, and York Woods branches have a physical offering: their musical instrument lending library. Let’s say you want to learn a new instrument but you’re not committed to purchasing your own. You can check each of their 51 different instruments to find out which location has one available, head over, and borrow it. Popular instruments like acoustic guitars, violins, and 88-key keyboards are the most available. However, you can rent rarer instruments like an accordion, an oud, conga drums, or a theremin if you’re willing to wait a little bit.
Did you hear about a local event through Eesti Elu? Go visit it at one of these spots and remember to show your library card and pass.
Workshops, programs, and lectures: In branches around the city and online, soak up the culture of the city through library programming. Keep your craft projects going in a knitting and crochet club. Take the first steps of entrepreneurship through e-commerce. Get tips about healthy living for seniors. Get a one-on-one career consultation with ACCES Employment. Experts are ready and excited to help you achieve your goals.
For families, children under 12 years old have a broad selection of educational programs that include STEM, design, the TD Summer Reading Club, and author visits.
Discounts galore: Going out on the town comes with a discount for library card holders.
Believe it or not, after getting a library card and a tpl:map pass, you can walk in completely free of charge at the Bata Shoe Museum (a fellow member of the Bloor St. Culture Corridor along with VEMU Estonian Museum Canada), the Art Gallery of Ontario, Black Creek Pioneer Village, the CN Tower, the ROM, and select events at the Royal Conservatory of Music, among other locations. Did you hear about a local event through Eesti Elu? Go visit it at one of these spots and remember to show your library card and pass.
Your library card is an all-access pass to knowledge and ideas that will invigorate your mind and activities. Freshen things up with a visit to the local library or through a few taps on an electronic device.
