Idea Exchange Receives Two National Awards

Idea Exchange has received national recognition with two library awards: the 2023 TD Summer Reading Club Accessibility Award from the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) and a 2023 TD Summer Reading Club Library Award (Second, English), sponsored by TD Bank Group. The awards were presented at the Saskatchewan Libraries Conference on Thursday, May 3.

“On behalf of our Library Board and our staff, we are honoured to be recognized alongside other innovative libraries across Canada,” said Chrissy Hodgins, CEO, Idea Exchange. “We are committed to delivering meaningful and forward-thinking literacy services to our community and these awards, alongside the supportive feedback from our members, are an acknowledgment of this focus.”

“Driven by compassion for all our members' accessible service, especially for those dealing with sensory issues, was the inspiration for much of our Summer Reading Club programming in 2023", expressed Andrea Siemens, Manager, Youth Services. “From creating welcoming spaces that provided a sense of belonging to families with disabilities to making new connections within our community and creating inclusive learning experiences, our staff kept focused on their goal and these awards honour that.”

About the Awards

The TD Summer Reading Club Accessibility Award celebrates the creativity and dedication of library staff who engage children with disabilities in their Summer Reading Club. The TD Summer Reading Club Library Award is awarded to the most innovative and effective Summer Reading Club programs in local libraries across Canada.

Highlights from the 2023 program that were recognized as part of the award processes included the Multi-Sensory Room pilot project at Clemens Mill, inclusive programming, Summer Reading Club Mobile, and other elements that removed barriers to literacy and library services. In 2023, 2,735 young readers registered for the Summer Reading Club program at Idea Exchange.

About the TD Summer Reading Club

TD Summer Reading Club is Canada’s biggest, bilingual summer reading program for kids of all ages, all interests, and all abilities. This free program is co-created and delivered by more than 2,000 public libraries across Canada. It celebrates Canadian authors, illustrators and stories. It’s designed to inspire kids to explore the fun of reading their way – the key to building a lifelong love of reading. 

Our 2024 Summer Reading Club will launch on July 2!