Leading to Reading Volunteers
About the service
Leading to Reading is a literacy-based service that assists children in Grades 1-6 who are struggling with reading.
Through the assistance of adult and teen volunteers, the Leading to Reading service strives to turn reading and learning into a fun and positive experience. The service relies heavily on the assistance of volunteers. Volunteers admitted to the service are paired off with a child who they meet with once a week, for an hour, at the library. Under the supervision and guidance of Leading to Reading staff, the volunteer assists the child with further developing their reading skills.
Volunteering with this service can be an extremely rewarding experience for both the volunteer and the child they work with. Helping children to gain experience and confidence in their reading ability will have a far reaching and lifelong impact on the child. It will also provide volunteers with a sense of achievement that they have helped their community. Volunteering with Leading to Reading is about giving your skills, time and energy freely and with enthusiasm.
Please note that volunteer hours gained by volunteering with this service qualify towards the forty hours community service graduation requirement for Ontario High School students.
What the Volunteer Does
As a Leading to Reading Volunteer you will be required to:
- meet with your assigned child at the library for a one hour weekly scheduled session
- motivate and encourage them to read
- read together, as well as play reading-related games and activities
- help improve their reading skills
- take notes on each weekly session
- report to service staff as well as parents/guardians about the child's progress
Volunteer Requirements
To qualify as a volunteer with the Leading to Reading service the following qualifications are required:
- speak and write English fluently
- relate and communicate well with children
- work independently
- act as a mature role model for reading
- upon acceptance as a volunteer with the service, training will be provided. It is mandatory that all volunteers attend the training session
- volunteers must complete and submit a valid Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) form before starting (paid for by TPL)
Volunteer Benefits
- Volunteer references and confirmation of hours can be provided upon request
- Volunteers may make personal photocopies at the staff rate
- Non-resident fees are waived for current volunteers with six months or more of active service
Time and Place
The Volunteer and child meet for a maximum of 1 hour once a week at a dedicated library space during service hours under the supervision of library staff.
Locations and Hours
Library | Days and Hours |
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Agincourt Phone: 437-655-4648 Email: LTReast@tpl.ca |
Wednesdays 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. |
Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. -12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
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Albert Campbell Phone: 437-655-4648 Email: LTReast@tpl.ca |
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Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
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Albion Phone: 416-394-5015 Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca |
Tuesdays 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
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Barbara Frum Phone: 416-394-5015 Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca The Leading to Reading service at this location is not accepting applications at this time. |
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Mondays & Wednesdays 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
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Bridlewood Phone: 437-655-4648 Email: LTReast@tpl.ca The Leading to Reading service at this location has limited availability. |
Tuesdays 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
Cedarbrae Phone: 437-655-4648 Email: LTReast@tpl.ca |
Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. |
Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
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Downsview Phone: 416-394-5015 Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca |
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Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
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Eatonville Phone: 416-394-5015 Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca |
Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
Ethennonnhawahstihnen' Phone: 437-655-4648 Email: LTReast@tpl.ca Leading to Reading sessions are temporarily being offered at this location until Fairview reopens. |
Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
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Evelyn Gregory Phone: 416-394-5015 Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca |
Tuesdays 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
Fairview Phone: 437-655-4648 Email: LTReast@tpl.ca Temporarily relocated to Ethennonnhawahstihnen' until Spring of 2025 due to the branch closure. |
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Flemingdon Park Phone: 437-655-4648 Email: LTReast@tpl.ca |
Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
Jane/Sheppard Phone: 416-394-5015 Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca |
Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
Kennedy/Eglinton Phone: 437-655-4648 Email: LTReast@tpl.ca |
Mondays & Wednesdays 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
Lillian H. Smith Phone: 416-394-5015 Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca |
Thursday 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
Malvern Phone: 437-655-4648 Email: LTReast@tpl.ca The Leading to Reading service at this location has limited availability. |
Mondays & Tuesdays 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 7:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. |
Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
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Maria A. Shchuka Phone: 416-394-5015 Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca The Leading to Reading service at this location is not accepting applications at this time. |
Mondays 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
Mount Dennis Phone: 416-394-5015 Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca |
Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
Parkdale Phone: 416-394-5015 Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca |
Wednesdays & Thursdays 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
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Parliament Phone: 437-655-4648 Email: LTReast@tpl.ca |
Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
Richview Phone: 416-394-5015 Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca |
Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
Sanderson Phone: 416-394-5015 Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca The Leading to Reading service at this location is accepting applications for Saturdays only. |
Mondays 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
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Scarborough Civic Centre Phone: 437-655-4648 Email: LTReast@tpl.ca |
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Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
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St. James Town Phone: 437-655-4648 Email: LTReast@tpl.ca |
Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
Thorncliffe Phone: 437-655-4648 Email: LTReast@tpl.ca |
Tuesdays & Wednesdays 4:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m. |
Weston Phone: 416-394-5015 Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca |
Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
Woodside Square Phone: 437-655-4648 Email: LTReast@tpl.ca |
Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
York Woods Phone: 416-394-5015 Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca |
Wednesdays 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. |
Volunteer Application Form
To begin the application process please fill out an application form and submit it in person at your nearest local branch, or email it to LTRsubmissions@tpl.ca.
We thank all applicants and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Interviews are scheduled throughout the year when openings become available at selected branches. From the interview date, the recruitment process (including processing a Vulnerable Sector Police Check and completing volunteer training) will take 4-6 weeks to complete.
Volunteer Application
Form (PDF
Version)
Volunteer Application
Form (Word Version)
Volunteer
Profile (PDF)
For more information about the service and/or becoming a Volunteer, contact:
East of Yonge Street
- Telephone: (437) 655-4648
- Email: LTReast@tpl.ca
West of Yonge Street
- Telephone: 416-394-5015
- Email: LTRwest@tpl.ca