On Monday, March 11 Toronto Public Library welcomed the community back to its much loved Mount Dennis Branch. The library has been redesigned to create an accessible, welcoming environment with improved customer service and more access to technology and collections. It also features improved space for meetings and programs to respond to the neighbourhood’s growing need for community space.

New elements include:

• Inviting redesign: Complete redesign of the 11,350 square foot interior space with convenient express check out, a new layout of collections and equipment, programming space and staff work areas.
• Access to new materials: Over 6,000 new books, CDs, magazines and DVDs
• More accessible community space: Improved programming and community meeting space including two multi-use rooms with kitchenettes and accessible washrooms.
• Library outdoors: Addition of a new outdoor reading garden.
• Welcoming for everyone: Improved lounge and casual reading space, a new teen zone, new study space, an art lounge, increased number of computers and a new laptop lending service.
• An interactive early literacy centre: A new KidsStop - KidsStops are literacy-rich interactive centres where parents and caregivers can learn about the importance of developing pre-literacy skills in their children through play. The KidsStop at Mount Dennis has a photography theme linking the present with the past of this unique neighbourhood. For many years the Kodak plant, now closed, was a major fixture in the community. The KidsStops are supported in part by the Toronto Public Library Foundation through Sophie’s Studio

We invite you to visit the new Mount Dennis branch.

KidsStops are exciting innovative tactile learning environments where parents and caregivers can learn and play independently with children birth to five. KidsStops transform the Library into a destination for young families. The Library becomes not only a place to pick up books quickly but also a place to stay for an extended time, sharing books and other literacy-based toys and material. The centres also enable staff to share ideas with parents and caregivers on how to create literacy-rich home environments. KidsStops are available at S. Walter Stewart and Dufferin/St. Clair branches and will soon be available at Thorncliffe and Cedarbrae branches.

KidsStops are supported in part by Sophie’s Studio.