Your questions answered by Moe. Your questions answered by Moe.

Thank you! I’m excited to be here. We’re actually in a really strong position right now. Overall usage of TPL services has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with 81% of Torontonians using the library in the last year—that’s up from 68% in 2019. We’re also seeing incredible satisfaction rates: 91.5% customer satisfaction overall, and a 2025 Ipsos survey found a 95% satisfaction rate with library programs specifically.

So, while we definitely want to continue growing usage and maintaining these satisfaction rates, we’ve set out specific goals in our strategic plan that go beyond those traditional metrics. We’re focused on four key priorities: social connection, civic engagement and democracy; shared community spaces; learning and growth; and access and awareness. We’ve identified metrics for each of these areas and will report back on our progress regularly to our Board.

We’re going to be going beyond quantitative metrics. The numbers are important, but we will also be capturing the qualitative performance indicators, such as achieving outcome and the impact our initiatives have on the community.

We will be listening closely to how what we do and the programs and services we are providing make a difference in people’s lives. It’s about deepening the impact we have on the community and ensuring the library continues to evolve to meet the needs of all Torontonians.

Thank you! Public libraries, including TPL, have always played a critical role in bridging the digital divide by providing equitable access to emerging technologies and skill-building programs, and AI is no different. Our Strategic Plan specifically identifies AI skills expansion as a priority under the Learning and Growth focus area. Through our strategic planning research, we discovered just how important it is to prepare Toronto residents and staff for AI’s growing impact.

TPL’s AI programming will offer a balanced approach to the benefits and risks of AI technology, equipping participants with knowledge to use these tools safely and responsibly while understanding privacy, safety, and ethical considerations.

From 2025 to the end of 2026, our new AI Upskilling Initiative will bring AI programs and tools to approximately 11,000 people across the city, helping them build the knowledge and skills to use AI effectively. This initiative is made possible through generous sponsorship by Google.org that was received by our Foundation.

We’re also investing in our staff. Those delivering this initiative have been trained on AI, and one of the strategic actions in our plan is to create a structured learning pathway for staff in core skill areas related to digital literacy, including AI. All of our work in AI—for both staff and the public—will be guided by our AI Policy to ensure we’re approaching this technology thoughtfully and responsibly.

One of the things I love most about our branches is that they maintain their own character, reflecting the communities they serve. Our branches host events and many participate in community festivals and outreach initiatives in partnership with BIAs and other local organizations. Branches also have local information boards where they post community events.

While we do have a policy not to promote third-party events or initiatives that have an associated cost, we absolutely encourage our branches to continue being active members of the communities they serve. That connection to neighbourhood life is part of what makes each branch unique and valuable to the people who use it.

We are currently working on a new website and user interface for the catalogue that will have many exciting new features, including the ability to create a username instead of using your library card number. There is also an app coming as a part of this rollout which will allow you to access the catalogue and user account on your mobile phone. Stay tuned for more information early in 2026. Thank you for your patience!

The Centre for Democracy will be housed at the Toronto Reference Library. This will be a first-of-its-kind space to support civic engagement and defend democratic freedoms, which are core priorities in our new strategic plan.

As democratic values face growing challenges, including increased book banning efforts, public libraries like TPL are stepping up to defend the freedoms at the heart of our mission. The Centre for Democracy will bring people together to learn, connect, and build the skills needed for meaningful civic participation, including understanding why intellectual freedom and access to diverse perspectives matter. We will provide programming, opportunities for civil discourse and initiatives allowing the community to participate in the democratic process.

We’re working with the Foundation to secure funding and aim to open before 2029.

What a tough hypothetical question! The librarian in me is rebelling against this premise!

The whole point of libraries—and something TPL is deeply committed to—is intellectual freedom and ensuring diverse perspectives are available to everyone. We don’t ban books, we don’t censor; we provide access to information in all its forms and from diverse perspectives and trust people to make their own choices about what they access and read.

TPL has strong policies grounded in the Canadian Federation of Library Associations’ statement on intellectual freedom, and we’re committed to defending people’s right to access information.

That said, if this scenario were real, I’d definitely be looking for a loophole. Maybe my grade 9 yearbook or an old IKEA catalogue, or an outdated travel book that contains dated and inaccurate information that is of no use to anyone…something along those lines!

That’s like asking me to pick my favourite child! Impossible to answer, though there are certain branches that hold a special place in my heart, whether it’s the unique architecture, the story of how we came to the design, look and feel, or having spent my undergrad in it studying by the fire (yes, we used to have branches that had real fireplaces in them!). They are all special in their own way and definitely all special to the community that they are in.

I’ll close by quoting a senior that I recently spoke with who had visited 70 of our 100 branches. When I asked her which was her favourite branch she responded, “the one that I’m in at the time”.

No, not yet!  That said, I am very familiar with the alarming trend of book challenges and bans, particularly in the United States. It’s been escalating dramatically over the past few years, with well organized and well funded efforts targeting books about LGBTQ+ identities, racial justice, and other topics.

Here in Canada, and specifically at TPL, we’re not immune to these pressures, but we have strong protections in place. Our intellectual freedom policies are grounded in the Canadian Federation of Library Associations’ principles, and we have formal processes for handling challenges to materials. When someone raises a concern about a book, we review it carefully, but we don’t remove materials simply because someone finds them controversial or uncomfortable.

Even so, I am concerned about the contagion effect. These movements don’t respect borders. We’ve already seen some of this rhetoric creeping into Canadian discourse, and public libraries need to remain vigilant and proactive. Part of our job is educating the community about why intellectual freedom matters, why diverse perspectives are essential, and why access to information – even information that makes some people uncomfortable – is a cornerstone of democracy.

Libraries have always been on the frontlines of defending people’s right to read, think, and make their own choices. That’s not changing on my watch, but it does mean we need to be prepared, principled, and vocal about why this work matters.

That’s a great question. What drew me to libraries is the unique combination of access, equity, and choice that they represent.

In a library, people come to us on their own terms. There’s no curriculum, no grades, no mandatory attendance. We’re here to support people’s curiosity and needs wherever they are, whatever stage of life they’re in.

In a single day, a library might help a newcomer practice English, provide a kid with their first chapter book, support a senior learning to use a smartphone, and give someone experiencing homelessness a safe place to be. That breadth of impact—combined with our commitment to being a welcoming, barrier-free space for everyone—is what called me to this career. I am also often amazed by the hidden impact libraries and our staff have on the community, I have lots of stories about how a program, a book, providing access to a resource or service changed someone’s life.

I know this also happens in teaching. Teaching is vital work, but even in education there are barriers to access. Libraries offer something distinct: freedom to chart your own course, barrier free access to information in all its forms, and possibility without conditions. The most amazing thing about public libraries is that they are open and welcoming to all!

With my busy schedule, I have to squeeze in whatever time I can to consume media, whether it’s a book, music, TV shows, etc. It’s not that I necessarily prefer e-books and e-audiobooks to the physical book, it’s just much more convenient for me to read a book that’s on my mobile device or tablet or listen to an audiobook or podcast on my commute to and from work. I use several news apps to access current news and also listen to news podcasts while in the car. As far as TV shows go, we don’t have cable, instead I watch streaming shows and series with family on evenings or weekends when we have time together (and admittedly sometimes during meals). I have quite the eclectic taste in music, again lots of listening while commuting or on walks and I also go to at least 4 or 5 concerts a year with my eldest son. We already have tickets to see Rush and the Foo Fighters when they’re in Toronto next year.