Visit to the Children's Book Bank

A few months (!) since the last post, but here we are...

Yesterday (November 17, 2011), the CYA group had a field trip to the Children's Book Bank, where we were hosted by the charming and engaging Jackie Flowers (past Co-Chair of CYA). It being a chilly day at the end of November, we had a few less people come than anticipated, but our group of five had a lively and interesting discussion. Our topics ranged from the founding and business operations of the Children's Book Bank (thanks to founder Kim Beatty for her insights), to discussions of book talks, story times, outreach, and more.

As it says on their website:

"The Children’s Book Bank is a registered charitable literacy organization that provides free books and literacy support to children in low-income neighbourhoods.

From its store-front location in the Regent Park neighborhood, The Children’s Book Bank collects, recycles and distributes free books to children who need them across Toronto."

Such a great service!

While we were there, a large group of kids from a local after school program came in. It was fun to see their curiosity and excitement at getting to take home a book of their own. Some kids made a beeline for a certain book (obviously, they had been to the Book Bank before!). Others had a more difficult time choosing just one, and exchanged their selection several times. In the end, everyone chose a book to take home and keep as their own, with the assistance of volunteers and librarian Jane Crist.

The Book Bank also has a fundraiser coming up on Monday, Nov 21; you can find out more details on the Children's Book Bank blog.

Thanks again to Jackie Flowers, Kim Beatty, and Jane Crist at the Children's Book Bank; we had a wonderful time!

~Val Stevens, CYA Chair (2011-2012)

TIME FOR A FIELD TRIP!

It's time for us to finally take a tour of the Children's Book Bank (see post below). 
Please RVSP to cya.ischool@gmail.com


Date:  Tuesday, February 9th
Time:  4:00pm - 6:00 pm
Cost:  2 tokens for the streetcar


WE'RE REALLY EXCITED!!!

Upcoming Field Trip: The Children's Book Bank

Yesterday afternoon, the iSchool student chapter of Librarians without Borders (“LWB”) organized a panel session featuring individuals who are doing inspiring work to bring literacy and libraries to different high-needs communities, both domestically and internationally.  The founder of The Children’s Book Bank, Kim Beatty, was on the panel and she spoke about how her organization came to be. 

Ms. Beatty's idea to form a book bank for children came from her volunteer work in running book drives.  After delivering books to children in low-income neighbourhoods, she learned that there is a huge demand by these children to own their own books. 

Something we should stop to consider for a moment is how valuable a free book is to a child who has never been able to own a book because of its cost.  It's probably difficult for most of us to understand.  

The Children’s Book Bank opens its doors to children five days a week.  It is a fresh, clean space, organized to help children make a meaningful book selection.  The book that the child selects is their book forever.  Children may take one book home with them each visit and some children visit every day.    

Watch this short news segment video of The Children’s Book Bank featured on their website (http://www.childrensbookbank.com/ctv1.html) to get a glimpse of its impact. 

Children and Youth Advocacy is organizing a tour of The Children’s Book Bank in the coming weeks.  Email cya.ischool@gmail.com if you’re interested in joining us for a trip to this wonderful place and we’ll send you the details (date: TBD). It's a trip you don't want to miss!


-Jackie Flowers, Co-Chair

Details - Where the Wild Things Are

Date:  Friday, November 6th, 2009
Time: 6:30pm (meet in the theatre lobby at 6:15pm)
Location:  Cineplex Odeon Varsity - 55 Bloor St. W (Bay/Bloor)

Buy tickets at the theatre or save $$$ and buy them for $8.25 at the Student Union.

Post-Movie Fun:  Bedford Academy (36 Prince Arther Ave. near University/Bloor)

Exhibit: Osborne Collection-Cinderella Went to the Ball (till December 12)

From the iSchool:

Leslie McGrath, who is head of the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books at TPL, and an iSchool PhD graduate, has extended an invitation to iSchool faculty and their students interested in children's literature and publishing, to a talk and exhibition on Thursday Sept. 24

This Thursday Sept. 24th at 8PM, the Toronto Public Library will be opening an exhibition of children's literature entitled "When Cinderella Went to the Ball: 500 years of Fairy Tales."

The exhibition is at the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books, which is housed in the Lillian H. Smith Library on College Street - only a 10 minute walk from U of T!

Michael Solomon, the art director at Groundwood Books (a fantastic children's book publisher in Toronto), will give a talk on light and shadow in children's books.

Thanks to the iSchool, Brenda Halliday & Michele Collins for promoting the event!