At the heart of your neighbourhood is a self-initiated campaign created to promote the resources and services of the Toronto Public Library (TPL). During the research process, I noticed that our library provides us with more than simply just books. You can learn how to use the 3D printer, borrow museum passes or musical instruments, and even practice the piano at TPL. However, due to the lack of promotion, the existence of these resources and services is unknown to many. By promoting the TPL through various design deliverables such as posters, a brochure and a website redesign, the ultimate goal of this campaign is to make the TPL more visible and accessible to the general public. In addition, I hope my campaign can also remind Torontonians to not take our public library for granted. For Torontonians who have spent most of their lives dismissing the local libraries in their community, I hope my project can inspire these people to finally pay a visit to their library.

At the heart of your neighbourhood is a self-initiated campaign created to promote the resources and services of the Toronto Public Library (TPL). During the research process, I noticed that our library provides us with more than simply just books. You can learn how to use the 3D printer, borrow museum passes or musical instruments, and even practice the piano at TPL. However, due to the lack of promotion, the existence of these resources and services is unknown to many. By promoting the TPL through various design deliverables such as posters, a brochure and a website redesign, the ultimate goal of this campaign is to make the TPL more visible and accessible to the general public. In addition, I hope my campaign can also remind Torontonians to not take our public library for granted. For Torontonians who have spent most of their lives dismissing the local libraries in their community, I hope my project can inspire these people to finally pay a visit to their library.

English journalist Caitlyn Moran once described libraries as the “cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination.” A library is a place where students can go after school to relax, study, or sometimes to even get away from the violence and coercion they may be facing in their neighbourhood. It is also a place where individuals can spend their time to sit and rest for free, regardless of their age, economic status or ethnic background. Essentially, the library is one of the most valuable institutions in every community for the purposes of more than just providing information and knowledge, but also offering a space for child development, community-building and a safe environment for minorities. Therefore, it is unfortunate to see libraries undervalued by politicians who advocate for budget cuts and occasionally under fire when they become targets of information censorship. It is precisely issues like these that make the preservation and promotion of public libraries more important than ever.

English journalist Caitlyn Moran once described libraries as the “cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination.” A library is a place where students can go after school to relax, study, or sometimes to even get away from the violence and coercion they may be facing in their neighbourhood. It is also a place where individuals can spend their time to sit and rest for free, regardless of their age, economic status or ethnic background. Essentially, the library is one of the most valuable institutions in every community for the purposes of more than just providing information and knowledge, but also offering a space for child development, community-building and a safe environment for minorities. Therefore, it is unfortunate to see libraries undervalued by politicians who advocate for budget cuts and occasionally under fire when they become targets of information censorship. It is precisely issues like these that make the preservation and promotion of public libraries more important than ever.

Whether it is a Torontonian who is looking for something fun to read, hunting for a new job, searching for information to complete a school project or applying for social benefits, they can all go to one place: the library. When our local public library is providing us with all the information and resources we need for free to complete every big or small task, isn’t it our obligation and responsibility to support libraries, to use libraries and to encourage others to use libraries?

Whether it is a Torontonian who is looking for something fun to read, hunting for a new job, searching for information to complete a school project or applying for social benefits, they can all go to one place: the library. When our local public library is providing us with all the information and resources we need for free to complete every big or small task, isn’t it our obligation and responsibility to support libraries, to use libraries and to encourage others to use libraries?