While reading Salt Lake City Public Library’s case study on fine free library reflection (Salt Lake City Public Library, 2018), I found myself thinking not only about their journey, but about ours at Toronto Public Library (TPL) and how the pandemic unexpectedly accelerated a shift toward a more open, compassionate, and participatory library environment. COVID disrupted everything: our routines, our services, our assumptions. But it also revealed which policies were essential and which were simply carried over. At TPL, the temporary suspension of fines during lockdown created a moment of clarity. When the world paused, fines paused and yet the library remained steady. Like Salt Lake City Public Library, we…

Christoph’s Day at the Library It is 10:20 a.m., and I find myself wondering what happened to Christoph. Our Toronto Public Library (TPL) branch opened at 10:00 a.m., and our regular unhoused patron is usually waiting at the door. Just as the thought crosses my mind, the accessible doors slide open and in comes Christoph, dragging two heavy bags of belongings in each hand. We already know where he’s headed: the computer with the large print accessible keyboard. Some days the smell is faint and on other days we open all the windows for fresh air. When it becomes overwhelming our branch head gently reminds him that he needs a…

Working at Toronto Public Library (TPL) for more than seventeen years has given me a front row seat to the evolving landscape of public library service. When I first began in a public‑facing role at the library, reference work often involved patrons asking in‑depth, research‑based questions that required specialized staff expertise and strong knowledge of library collections. Today, those types of questions are far less common, as many users turn to online tools and AI to find information on their own. Instead, one of the most frequent questions we receive is simply how to send a print job from their mobile phone to our TPL printers. This shift reflects broader…

All About Me My name is Vinothiny Kumaradevan. I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with my husband and our 5‑year‑old daughter. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. I have been employed with the Toronto Public Library for 17 years, beginning as a Page and moving through roles including Public Service Assistant and Payroll/Accounting Clerk. I now work as a Library Assistant. I’m completing my MLIS while working full‑time, with the goal of becoming a Children’s Librarian. My Library Story I was born in the midst of a civil war. Fortunately, we were able to escape its violence three decades ago and immigrate to Canada. When we settled…